One of the common tasks that occur in a pharmacy is the transfer of a prescription. It sometimes seems like a time-consuming process for you as a customer but in fact, it is straightforward.
This is a quick guide to prescription transfer and some of the common questions you might have along the way.
What does it mean to transfer a prescription?
When you want to transfer a prescription you are basically wanting to change your current pharmacy to a new pharmacy. Transferring prescriptions over to a new pharmacy is common and easy to do. It is an everyday occurrence in a pharmacy.
There are several reasons why you might decide to switch pharmacies. Maybe the new pharmacy is a local pharmacy within walking distance, has better prescription prices and service, offers more pharmacy services eg. focus on wellness, or has a mobile app that allows communication with them at your fingertips.
What is a prescription?
A prescription is an instruction order from your doctor to the pharmacist. It states the name of the medication, the required dosage, and strength, the duration, the number of refills as well as the directions for taking or applying it. Drugs that are classed as prescription only require a prescription. On the other hand, over-the-counter drugs can be purchased directly from a pharmacy.
How do I transfer my prescription to a new pharmacy?
This process is simple and effortless provided that you have all your prescription information and personal details. They must be accurate and up to date. If you are unsure your new pharmacy is there to help.
Essential information your new pharmacy will need:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Prescription number (Rx number)
- Name of the medications you would like to transfer
- Your medical history
- Insurance information
- The pharmacy where you are filling the prescription currently and their phone number
The information above will allow a smooth prescription transfer with minimal time delays.
It is recommended when transferring to a new pharmacy that you transfer every prescription you have. This will allow the pharmacist in charge to see a full picture of your medication usage, spot potential adverse reactions between medications and take into account any over-the-counter medication you may be taking.
Before transferring pharmacy you must be certain the new pharmacy will offer your prescription. Specific medications can not transfer to a different pharmacy including Adderall, Concerta, Vyvanse, Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, and certain Schedule II controlled substances. Additionally, other medications can only be transferred once, even if you have more than one refill left e.g. Ambien, testosterone, Ultram, and Xanax. After transferring them once, you’ll need a new prescription from your doctor to switch pharmacies again.
Your new pharmacy will generally take responsibility for making sure your prescriptions are transferred from the old pharmacy. The pharmacist can also contact your doctor to sort out refills. Some insurance plans have preferred pharmacies but your new pharmacy will know if this is the case.
Does a prescription transfer take long?
A transfer request can take a few hours or up to 24 hours. If it is urgent ringing the old pharmacy directly and requesting a faster process for whatever reason is the best solution.
Your new pharmacy will then contact you once the prescription has been transferred to them. They will then dispense your medication on your next prescription refill date advised by your doctor.
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The content on this website is intended for information purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information on this website should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always speak to your doctor regarding the risks and benefits of any treatment.
Transferring prescriptions usually happens when you decide to move your prescription from your current pharmacy to a different one.
Some reasons for deciding to transfer your medications could include that you are moving to a different neighborhood or province, found a pharmacy that sells the same medication for a lower price, your current pharmacy may have run out of stock, or most common you are unhappy with the service provided at your current pharmacy.
Regardless of your reasons, transferring prescriptions from one pharmacy to another can be a simple process. With this blog, we hope to answer any questions you have about the process.
What Is a Prescription?
Before we discuss how a person can transfer their prescription, it is better to understand first what a prescription is. Generally speaking, a prescription is a written or electronic order from a physician to a pharmacist.
A prescription usually includes the drug’s generic or brand name, the required dosage, how long you will take the drug, the number of refills, and other specific directions for the drug.
Every prescription is unique for a patient and can only be accommodated by a single pharmacy at any time.
How to Transfer a Prescription to a New Pharmacy
The process to transfer your prescriptions is simple. Your new pharmacy will do all the work. All you need to provide them with is:
- Your name and date of birth
- The medications you would like transferred
- The name of the pharmacy where the prescription is currently recorded
This information allows the new pharmacy to get in touch with the previous pharmacy and formally request the prescription transfer.
Typically, your new pharmacy will receive information such as drug allergies, specific health conditions, and insurance credentials from the previous pharmacy upon the transfer. It is still a good idea to review these items with the new pharmacy just in case this information did not make it over correctly.
Additional recommendations: It is a good idea to advise your doctor’s office of your move to the new pharmacy. This way you ensure that any prescriptions or refills are sent to the correct pharmacy.
When Should You Transfer A Prescription?
As mentioned earlier, there are many reasons why a person would request a prescription transfer. Here are some of them:
You’re unhappy with the service
Whether it’s unprofessionalism, tardiness or all of the above, there is no reason to stick with a pharmacy that doesn’t take your health care seriously. Lack of quality service is one of the most common reasons why people change their pharmacy, so you are not alone on this one.
Your prescription is out of refills
There may be times that your old pharmacy does not have stock of your current prescription medications. If that is the case, you may opt to transfer to a pharmacy with your current medications.
Availability of drugs
Same as with the above reason, your current pharmacy may have run out of stock, or you have a new prescription with a different drug that is not available. Again, you may opt to transfer to a different pharmacy.
You’re changing your location
If you plan to move to a different city or province, then changing pharmacies may be a good idea. If you plan to move to a different city, your pharmacy may still be able to deliver to you. Have a conversation with your pharmacist to see if they can make arrangements for this.
If you will not permanently change locations and are just packing for a simple road trip and realize that you may run out of medications, you need to plan beforehand. Inform your physicians and ask them if they can provide you a copy of your prescription that you can bring for your trip. You will be able to purchase your medications from any pharmacy and fill your prescriptions with this.
You’re looking for personalization
Most people these days are now looking for pharmacies that offer more personalization to make the experience better. Large and small pharmacies need to provide extras that customers look for nowadays, such as free same-day deliveries, same-day pickup upon order, and a focus on preventative care.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to transfer a prescription to another pharmacy, you can easily proceed with the transfer process. And if you are considering the change, Mednow.ca is a Canadian virtual pharmacy, providing exceptional patient experience at home, including free prescription delivery.
Overall, our services include:
- Easy access to a pharmacist or doctor
- Personalized medication packaging
- Online Over-The-Counter shop
- Free prescription delivery
- Full-service mobile app
Best of all, Mednow.ca accepts all Canadian insurance providers. Call us today at 1-855-MEDNOW-1 or send us an email at !
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