We stock many commonly-prescribed drugs in our in-house pharmacy and are usually able to send the medicine home with you after your appointment so your pet can get started on the prescription right away.
From time to time, we may prescribe drugs we have to special-order, causing a delay of a day or two in filling the prescription. We will call you when the prescription is ready for pick-up.
For some prescriptions for drugs we don’t stock in-house, we may send you to a “human” pharmacy to have a prescription filled. In these cases, we will call or fax the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice or, if you prefer, provide a written prescription during your appointment.
Should we prescribe a drug classified as a controlled substance, we are required by state law to comply with Indiana’s Prescription Monitoring Program as described below.
Refills Policies
Our policies on refills vary depending on the drug and the condition being treated. We always put our own moral and ethical responsibilities for the pet’s health first and so may insist on an exam and/or screening test before signing off on a refill. In cases where the drug could potentially cause harm or even death to our patient—as with giving heartworm preventive to a pet with an active case of heartworms—we are not willing to risk refilling a prescription without first making sure it’s safe to do so.
48-Hours’ Notice for Refills
We ask for at least 48 hours’ notice, or two full business days, on prescription refills and encourage you to keep an eye on your supplies and ask for the refill in plenty of time for a special order, if needed. Even for drugs we have in stock, on our busier days, we sometimes need the extra time to get your prescription ready. We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Indiana’s Prescription Monitoring Program
Indiana state law mandates that when our clinic pharmacy dispenses more than a 72-hour supply of a controlled substance, we must file a report through the INSPECT (Indiana Scheduled Prescription Electronic Collection and Tracking) Program. By law, we are required to collect the following information before we dispense your pet’s medicine:
- Name of the pet patient to receive the prescribed drug
- Pet owner’s name
- Owner’s date of birth
- Patient’s address
- Prescription details, including the number of days’ supply and the number of refills
We have you show us a valid ID and sign and date the first section of our INSPECT form.
Indiana state law further requires us to submit additional information to identify the specific person to whom we deliver the prescription, even if it’s the same person we documented in the first section of the form. Before we can dispense the prescription for a controlled substance, we must see a valid identification card and record the following information about the person actually receiving the drug:
- Name as it appears on the ID card
- Date of birth
- The ID type, number and state issuing the ID
After we check the INSPECT program database to make sure there are no “red flags” associated with the person receiving the drug, we dispense the drug or give you the written prescription and then ask you to verify this information and witness your signature confirming the information is correct and that you received the prescription. If there are warnings in the database, we will let you know we are unable to dispense the medicine. You may check with your regular pharmacist to find out why your name is flagged in the database.
We realize this process may seem inconvenient and intrusive. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and patience as we fulfill our duties to keep our pharmacy in compliance with Indiana law.