The Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy
Prescriptions and related pharmacy services for Ohio State patients and employees.
Get your prescriptions filled from the same place where you receive medical care.
It’s not only convenient to get your medication from an Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy, it’s a way to have all your care coordinated across the same medical team.
Because we share electronic medical records with each of your Ohio State providers, our hospital pharmacy team is always aware of changes to your health or treatment plans, which is an advantage that pharmacists working in a grocery store or chain pharmacy simply don’t have.
Personalized pharmacy support
Knowing more about you and specific details about your health improves the level of care we can provide and serves as important background information as we help you:
- Understand your medication, or even multiple medications, for different conditions
- Avoid negative drug interactions
- Save money
- Simplify refills
- Fulfill specialty prescriptions for limited, hard-to-find medications
Why use an Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy?
At an Ohio State Outpatient Pharmacy, you can get much more than a prescription filled — you’ll gain a partner who is invested in your care and continually engaged with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, at one of the nation’s largest academic health care centers.
Because they are part of such a comprehensive care team, our pharmacists are informed and involved with the latest available science-backed therapies and medications. In addition, they can easily reach your health care providers with any questions or concerns about your medication.
What kind of pharmacies does Ohio State have?
There are two types of pharmacies that operate under The Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy banner. Each pharmacy type caters to the specific kind of care you need.
- Retail pharmacy – For new or refill prescription drug requests from an Ohio State Wexner Medical Center or OSUCCC – James provider
- Specialty pharmacy – For limited, hard-to-find medications prescribed by an Ohio State or OSUCCC – James provider
What is a Specialty Pharmacy?
As its name implies, this pharmacy prepares medication for people with rare or complex medical conditions, including but not limited to:
- Asthma
- Crohn's disease
- Hemophilia blood products
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Oncology
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Solid organ abdominal and thoracic transplant
Treatment for these conditions often requires high-cost medications that need special handling, storage or administration. Some specialty medications are made by pharmacists from a mix of multiple drugs.
Services available at the Ohio State Specialty Pharmacy
- Free home delivery of specialty medications
- Refill reminders approximately one week before your medication runs out
- 24/7 phone access to pharmacists for urgent questions – After hours, you can call 614-293-8000 and request to page our on-call specialty pharmacist.
- Drive through window at 600 E. Ackerman Road
- Walk-up pickup – For more convenient pick-up before or after one of your doctor’s appointments, you can have your specialty medication filled by Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman but sent to one of the pharmacies at The James, East Hospital or University Hospital – Doan Hall.
Our accreditations
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is accredited by the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), including certificates of distinction in HIV and Oncology. By choosing a health care provider that has achieved ACHC accreditation, you can take comfort in knowing that you will receive the highest quality of care.
If you have any concerns about the product or service that you receive from the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, you may contact ACHC directly at 855-937-2242.
Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy services
In addition to new and refilled prescriptions, our pharmacies offer a range of value-added services. Below are options by location:
- Insurance assistance – All locations have contracts with major insurance carriers and government programs, including Medicare, Ohio Medicaid, Express Scripts and more.
- MyChart online refills – All locations, except Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman
- Help finding drug manufacturer rebates or reduced cost programs – All locations
- Flu shots and CDC/ACIP recommended vaccines for patients 18 years and older – All locations, except Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman
- Bedside delivery of medication prior to hospital discharge – Available at East Hospital and OSUCCC – James only
- Free naloxone kits (Narcan®) through Project DAWN Program – All locations, except Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman
- Drug take-back receptacle – Located in East Hospital and OSUCCC – James pharmacies (Each pharmacy can provide in-building directions.)
- Open 365 days a year – Ohio State Outpatient Pharmacy – The James
- Free home delivery of specialty medications and refill reminders approximately one week before your medication runs out – Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman
- If you take specialty medications:
- 24/7 phone access to pharmacists for urgent questions – After hours, you can call 614-293-8000 and request a page be placed for our on-call specialty pharmacist.
- Drive through – Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman, at 600 E. Ackerman Road, Columbus OH 43202
- Free home delivery – For prescriptions filled by Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman
- Walk-up pickup – For more convenient pick-up before or after one of your doctor’s appointments, have your specialty medication filled by Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman but sent to one of the pharmacies at OSUCCC– James, East Hospital, or Doan Hall in University Hospital.
Frequently asked pharmacy questions
- Log-in to mychart.osu.edu.
Not a MyChart user? Activate your account at your next appointment or create an account at mychart.osu.edu. - Select “Refill Medications.”
- Select each medication you would like refilled.
If a prescription is not eligible for refill, send your Ohio State provider a message in MyChart requesting that a new prescription be sent to your preferred Ohio State pharmacy. - Select “Continue.”
- Select your “Delivery Method” as “Pickup.”
- Select the Ohio State pharmacy you prefer.
- Enter the preferred pickup date and time. Please allow 24 hours.
If you need your medication sooner, please call the OSU Outpatient Pharmacy at 614-293-5920. - Select “Submit Request.”
In the upper right corner of every medication label, we’ve added a QR code. Simply scan the code with your smartphone to get prescription details on-the-go. This will make it easy for you to find the information you need about your medication from anywhere, and it helps reduce paper waste. If you still want a paper printout, let the pharmacy staff know and they can provide one for you.
Before you are discharged from any Ohio State Wexner Medical Center hospital, your provider will add prescriptions to your medical records. These prescriptions can be filled at any of our retail pharmacies or, for specialty medications, at Specialty Pharmacy Ackerman.
However, if you are hospitalized at East Hospital or the OSUCCC – James, you can enroll in our bedside delivery service to get your medication before discharge. You can make this request by using your MyChart Beside tablet or by letting your bedside nurse know.
Bedside delivery is optional, but it’s one less worry, one less errand after you head home. Most insurance plans are accepted, and any co-pays can be paid by credit card.
When you stay in the hospital, the inpatient pharmacy team takes care of your medication needs.
After discharge from any Ohio State hospital, you can have your prescriptions filled at any of our retail pharmacy locations or, for specialty medications, the Specialty Pharmacy. However, every pharmacist has access to your medical records at all times, so you can ask any pharmacy team member questions about your prescriptions.
Note: If you are hospitalized at East Hospital or the OSUCCC – James, you can get your initial prescription filled before discharge if you request bedside delivery.
Drug take-back receptacles offer a convenient way for anyone to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications. These drug take-back receptacles are in the OSUCCC – James and East Hospital.
Through this program, Ohio State is taking an important step by helping to keep these drugs from causing harm or having a negative environmental impact and supporting the strategic efforts to further our sustainable practices.
To learn more, visit go.osu.edu/drugtakeback.