NeedyMeds Forums

It certanly can be overwhelming! I know I've spent an hour looking to see if a medication has a PAP... then sometimes longer trying to fish around and find the forms! Other times I can find the information while I'm on the phone with the clinic staff. There are oceans of resources available online, and sometimes they have conflicting information. At our facility, we (pharmacy staff) do the bulk of the hunting for the patients. Because of the high proportion of indigent patients coming to our facility, we tend to do most of the searching for them. Many of them would not have access to a computer or transportation to the library to use one.

One thing we have done is to make a file drawer with the applications for medications with PAPs that are frequently used at our facility. We also keep a spreadsheet listed by class with the hospital's formulary medications for classified indigent patients (our financials department makes that determination) and PAP availability. When a patient comes in with a new prescription, we have the form immediately available for them. Unfortunately it doesn't help alot when you get a request for a medication that is not used at your facility often.

What we advocates do sounds simple, but it can be time consuming and very frustrating... especially if you don't have any support staff! The only suggestion I can think of for you Dana, is to keep a file (even on your comp instead of a file drawer for easy updating of PDF's) with frequently used applications saved by company name. Also have a spreadsheet list of the frequently used medications (and companies that sponsor the PAPs) listed by class. This might help you to guide your patients in the right direction to find what they need.
Syndie

We are working on some improvements to the PAP section of the website that should address some of the issues you mention. For example, we will have a way to search for drugs used to treat specific conditions - cardiac, endocrine, etc. We will also being adding a search for drugs by class - beta blockers, diabetes drugs, etc. We also hope to add a feature that will allow a user to enter the name of a drug NOT on a PAP and then see a list of drugs in the same therapeutic class. I can't say when these features will be added - hopefully within 2-3 months.

Hello,

Yes, this can be a daunting task, especially for patients who are usually too ill to search for programs that may benefit them. I have created resource binders for the various programs, applications, and contacts I have found to be especially useful to patients. This enables me to easily locate a particular resource for the patient without having to spend additional time researching or obtaining the same information again. I do try to update my information every chance I get (which is extremely limited). I have also added an information section to the wall across from my office which provides patients with various programs, resources and contacts that they may want to access anonymously.

In addition, our hospital participates in "Uninsured Week" every year. This year it is April 27 through May 3, 2008. During this week, we provide our employees, patients, visitors and residents of the community, information (applications, websites, contacts, articles, and much, much more) to inform them of possible resources they or someone they know may benefit from. For more information, log on to: http://www.covertheuninsured.org