Access Without Exceptions

At 2:00 a.m., when most pharmacy lights are off and doors are locked, illness doesn’t wait. A child spikes a fever. A patient is discharged from the Emergency Department. A chronic condition flares unexpectedly. For too many families, those moments end with unanswered questions or delayed care.

MetroHealth is changing that – led by Ryan Mezinger, RPh, CPEL, Senior Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer.

This summer, MetroHealth will open a retail pharmacy with a 24/7 drive-through at the new Outpatient Health Center (OPHC) – a state-of-the-art, always-open resource designed to ensure that no patient leaves our care without what they need. Located on the ground floor, just steps from the parking garage and available with drive-through access, the pharmacy is built around a simple promise: access without exceptions.

“This is the last piece of the puzzle,” Ryan said. “It’s opening an access point that most pharmacies are moving away from.”

For Ryan, access has always been the point. With more than 30 years in pharmacy, including two decades in retail, he’s seen firsthand how medication costs, limited hours and transportation barriers can stand between patients and their health.

When he joined MetroHealth 10 years ago, he found an organization aligned with his purpose – ensuring every patient, regardless of circumstance, receives first-class care.

“Pharmacy is a critical part of the care experience,” Ryan said. “If patients can’t get their medications – or afford them – everything else breaks down.”

The OPHC pharmacy brings that philosophy to life. Open around the clock, it will serve patients leaving appointments, procedures or the hospital – day or night. Advanced automation and robotics will allow the team to fill thousands of prescriptions daily with speed, accuracy and safety. Same-day compounding and realtime dispensing mean less waiting and fewer barriers between diagnosis and treatment.

But the impact goes far beyond convenience. As national retail pharmacies close locations, particularly in urban neighborhoods, MetroHealth is stepping forward. The new pharmacy fills a crucial gap on Cleveland’s near west side, expanding access in the Clark-Fulton community and beyond.

It also builds on a system already delivering remarkable results. Under Ryan’s leadership, MetroHealth Pharmacy provides free home delivery, averages copays under $5 for most prescriptions and delivers more than $50 million annually in copay assistance. Medications that once felt out of reach are now affordable and available.

During COVID-19, Ryan and his team acted quickly, doubling home delivery services and leading some of Ohio’s earliest vaccination efforts. That same urgency and compassion is built into the new OPHC pharmacy.

“This is about meeting patients where they are,” Ryan said. “At any hour. In any situation.”

Why Philanthropy Matters

The pharmacy in the Outpatient Health Center is part of MetroHealth’s investment in access – bringing essential services together in one coordinated, patient-centered space. Philanthropy helps elevate that care, supporting the technology, innovation and workflows that improve medication access, safety and affordability. For patients, donor generosity ensures that when care is needed — day or night — the experience is seamless, dignified and dependable.

Thanks to your generosity, MetroHealth is ensuring that when care is needed most, the lights are always on.

YOUR IMPACT

To support the Outpatient Health Center, contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 or gsanders@metrohealth.org. Or, click here to make a donation.

Download the Donor Case for Support.