Cleveland's New 24/7 Drive-Thru Pharmacy

Getting medicine isn’t always easy. Maybe your child wakes up sick in the middle of the night. Maybe you leave the emergency department with a new prescription. Or maybe you work late and can’t get to the pharmacy before it closes.

Starting July 27, MetroHealth’s new 24/7 drive-thru pharmacy will make it easier to get medicine when you need it. Once open, it will serve the entire community—not just MetroHealth patients.

What Do You Do if You Need Medicine After Hours?

Finding a pharmacy open late can be difficult. Many pharmacies in Ohio have shorter hours or have closed permanently. This makes it harder for people to get the medicine they need, especially at night or on weekends.

“For many people, these closures mean fewer choices when they need medication,” says Ryan Mezinger, RPh, Chief Pharmacy Officer at MetroHealth.

To help people get the medicine they need, MetroHealth has added pharmacy services across Northeast Ohio.

A 24/7 drive-thru pharmacy—opening July 27—will be located next to the new Outpatient Health Center.

The drive-thru will make it easy to pick up prescriptions without leaving your car—even in the middle of the night.

How the 24/7 Pharmacy Helps People

Once open, the pharmacy can fill many common prescriptions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

People can expect shorter wait times. In the future, pharmacists may get a notification when patients leave the emergency department. This will help make sure prescriptions are ready when they arrive at the drive thru.

Some of the medications that will be available include:

• Antibiotics
• Inhalers
• Pain medicine
• Children’s medicine
• Steroids

Additionally, children’s liquid medicines are available with flavor options at no extra cost.

“We want people to be able to start their medication as soon as possible,” Mezinger says. “Having medicine ready when you need it can make a stressful situation easier.”

MetroHealth pharmacists work closely with doctors and care teams to:

• answer questions
• help with insurance issues
• make sure people get the right medicine

They also help people find ways to save money when possible.

Who Can Use the 24/7 Pharmacy?

The pharmacy will be open to everyone in Ohio, not just MetroHealth patients.

This service will be especially helpful for people leaving the emergency department who need medicine right away.

People can get help with refills, prescription pickup and home delivery when available.

The 24/7 drive-thru pharmacy will be located at the new Outpatient Health Center at Main Campus. People can also visit the pharmacy inside the building via walk up service windows. In the meantime, the pharmacy at the Outpatient Pavilion is available during the day for walk in service.

“As long as the building is open, the pharmacy is open,” Mezinger says. “We’re working to make sure patients can get the care and medicine they need, when they need it.”

Your Questions Answered

Q. Can I use the pharmacy if I’m not a MetroHealth patient?

A. Yes. All MetroHealth pharmacies are available to everyone – not just MetroHealth patients.

Q. Will the pharmacy fill prescriptions for children?

A. Yes. Children’s prescriptions will be available, including flavored liquid medicines.

Q. Will I be able to fill a prescription overnight?

A. Yes. After opening, licensed pharmacists will be available 24/7.

Q. Can the pharmacy help me save money on my medicine?

A. In many cases, yes. Pharmacists will help find savings programs and lower-cost options when available.