In a unique initiative, Rx Response has developed the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  to report which pharmacies are open in declared disaster areas. This free online asset offers a user-friendly format for citizens to quickly identify the location of the nearest open pharmacy, thus minimizing disruption to medicine supplies.

The Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool : Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who might find the Rx Response Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  useful?
   
   • Anyone who needs medicine in a disaster area
   • Emergency rooms, acute care clinics, and physicians offices for patient referrals
   • Biopharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers
   • Emergency management and public health officials



2. Will my pharmacy be open normal business hours and will they have the medicine I need?
   The Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  includes not only operating status information, but also contact information, including address and phone number. With this information, you can call a pharmacy to inquire about hours of operation or the supply of a specific medicine.



3. Can I narrow my search to find a pharmacy in my neighborhood?
   Users can narrow their search by providing information such as zip code or street address within their city, county or state. The reporting tool will automatically compile a list of the nearest open pharmacies based on the address where a person is located. The open pharmacy locations will be provided as an excel spreadsheet to emergency and public health officials and in map format for emergency responders and biopharmaceutical consumers on the RxResponse.org website (see sample below.)
   
   Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool as used during the April 2009 Florida and Georgia Flooding



4. What does it cost to access the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool?
   The Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  is a free public service.



5. Where can I access the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool?
   When activated for a disaster, the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  is available on the Emergency Management (EM) Community main page of the Rx Response website at www.rxresponse.org.



6. How does the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  work?
   Rx Response made the assumption that if pharmacies are billing prescriptions to insurance companies, they are open for business. Based on that assumption, Rx Response partnered with the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) to develop a process to identify which pharmacies in the disaster area are submitting prescription claims. Rx Response then makes this information available through the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool.



7. Has the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool  ever been tested?
   Yes. During the Kentucky ice storms in January 2009, this tool was activated for the first time. Kentucky emergency management and public health officials were very pleased to have the information provided to them regarding open pharmacies.



8. What else should I know about my medicines in a disaster?
   Many people stock up on water, bread, and canned goods in preparation for a disaster, but forget about their medication. Rx Response has developed a tool to help you prepare for your medication needs during a severe public health emergency. Visit www.RxResponse.org for helpful preparation tips and to download your personalized wallet Medication Card.

To download a PDF version of these FAQs, click here.