Since opening its doors in November, Erie Community Pharmacy has established itself as a critical pillar of public health in the region, according to a news release.
A program of the Erie County Health Department and Erie County Community Health Center, the pharmacy has provided essential care to 354 unique patients and filled over 1,800 prescriptions, the release said.
These milestones reflect the success of integrating pharmaceutical care into the Community Health Center’s comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services.
As a program of the Community Health Center, Erie Community Pharmacy leverages the Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to lower the barriers to care, according to the release.
This designation allows the pharmacy to provide significantly discounted medications to eligible patients, acting as a financial safety net for the uninsured and underinsured while reinvesting in the community’s overall health infrastructure, the release said.
“The rapid growth we’ve seen since November is a testament to the need for integrated, affordable health care in our county,” said Joseph Palmucci, CEO of the Erie County Community Health Center, in the release. “Reaching 350 unique patients in such a short time demonstrates that by housing a pharmacy within our existing Health Department and Health Center ecosystem, we are making it easier for our patients to get the life-changing medications they need without the traditional barriers of cost and travel.”
The facility is accepting new patients.