Smart medicine strategies When your provider prescribes a medication, taking some simple steps can help you get the most benefit from your pharmacy. Notify the pharmacy if you have a specific timeline for your prescription. Prescriptions are typically filled in the order they are received, but if you communicate your needs, the pharmacy will do its best to accommodate you. To receive important updates from the pharmacy, please ensure you are signed up for pharmacy communications. Other helpful tips 1. Ask questions. Understanding your medications can help you use them safely and effectively. If you have any questions, please ask for a consultation with a pharmacist — they’re here to help. 2. Tell your providers and pharmacy about all your medicines. This includes prescription drugs, overthe-counter medicines and supplements. Sharing this information with your health care team can help you avoid problems with your medicines. 3. Follow directions. Always take your medicine exactly as it was prescribed to you. Check the label every time you take the medicine to ensure you’re taking the right medicine in the right way. Please inform the pharmacy immediately if the directions on your label do not match the instructions given by your provider. 4. Store medicines properly. Keep medicines in a cool, dry place. Heat and moisture may affect how well medicines work, so avoid storing them in a bathroom cabinet or the kitchen — though some medicines do need to be refrigerated. Your pharmacy can tell you where to keep your medicines. 5. If you’re having trouble paying for medicine, tell your provider. Your pharmacy may have ideas for how to save money on your medicines. For example, a lower-priced generic drug may work just as well, or there might be prescription assistance programs that offer free or discounted medications. In the works: We are looking into restarting the mobile app to make pharmacy communications more accessible and efficient. Ready to make the switch? Call the Astoria Pharmacy at 503-338-4560 or the Seaside Pharmacy at 503-738-3006 to transfer your prescriptions today. Discover more about the CMH Outpatient Pharmacies and their services at columbiamemorial.org/pharmacy. over-the-counter products at CMH are often more affordable than those at national chain pharmacies, making healthy living accessible for all. You don’t need to be a CMH patient to take advantage of the Outpatient Pharmacies’ full range of prescription and over-the-counter services. TOP: Patty Chow, RPh, in the original CMH Outpatient Pharmacy in Astoria. BOTTOM: Three of our pharmacy team members — Jennifer Shaw, PharmD, Jeff Chow, PharmD, and Danielle Nice, CPhT — completed training in compounding custom-made medications, a new service for the Outpatient Pharmacy in Astoria. COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Summer 2026 5
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