October 22, 1999

MGH pharmacist Gil Hoss, RPh, provides medication counseling to patient Mina Seren.

This year's theme for National Pharmacy Week (Oct. 24 to 30) – "Educate before you Medicate" – has long been the motto for pharmacy services at the MGH. The Outpatient Pharmacy, located on the first floor of the WACC, plays a particularly important role in educating patients, including employees, about their medications.

"Patients often leave their doctors' offices not fully understanding how to take a medication or what kind of impact that medication will have on their lives," says Lisa Franchi, RPh, manager of the MGH Outpatient Pharmacy. Our pharmacists are available to counsel patients in separate rooms, so they feel more comfortable asking questions in privacy rather than in front of others who are waiting to get their prescriptions filled."

The American Pharmaceutical Association and the MGH Outpatient Pharmacy suggest the following guidelines to patients when taking medications: 

• Do not take a medication out of its original container to store it.
• Read the entire label before taking a medication.
• Follow all directions regarding how long to keep taking a medication. It is often necessary to continue taking a prescription until all doses are gone  – even after you start feeling better.
• Discard any medicine that has not been used in six months.
• Do not share medications with family members. Medications should be taken only by the patient for whom it was prescribed.

The Outpatient Pharmacy is open to patients and employees, 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 12:30 pm, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. In recognition of National Pharmacy Week, the Outpatient Pharmacy will host an information table outside of the pharmacy Oct. 27, 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 4-3100.