Healthy Living Pharmacy

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Living with COPD: 7 Strategies for Better Management

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You may be familiar with COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic lung disease that gets worse over time. This disease damages the airways in the lungs and leads to shortness of breath, impacting work, exercise, sleep, and other everyday activities.

Even if you are living with COPD, you can still maintain a high quality of life. Try making some changes or careful choices based on these recommendations so you can stay active and continue enjoying your life while managing COPD.

7 Strategies for Better COPD Management

Use each link to delve into details about the subjects below. Information and links come from the American Lung Association.

1.      Protect Your Lungs: Since your lungs are weaker when you have COPD, learn how to reduce exposure to anything that could make your COPD worse (like smoking) or could cause an exacerbation or flare-up.

2.      Be Thoughtful about Nutrition: Many people are surprised to learn that the food they eat can affect their breathing. The right mix of nutrients in your diet can help you breathe easier.

3.      Be Intentional with Physical Activity: When you have COPD, the right amount and type of exercise can have many benefits and is important for staying healthy.

4.      Learn to Cope with Emotions: Find ways to get emotional support and learn to recognize and handle feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, or stress.

5.      Make a Plan: Use the American Lung Association’s COPD management tools and resources.

6.      Manage Lifestyle Changes: Follow the steps at this link to manage the lifestyle changes that COPD brings.

7.      Plan for Your Future with COPD: Discuss some important points about your future care with your doctors and caregivers.

How Is COPD Treated?

Physicians work closely with their patients to select the best treatment options for managing COPD. Treatments may include medications, rehabilitation, or surgery. Since each person’s COPD is different, a variety of medications can be used to create the best plan to address an individual’s symptoms and needs. Benefits of taking the right medication at the right time include:

  • Breathing better
  • Being able to do more of the things you enjoy
  • Having fewer flare-ups or exacerbations

Learn more about COPD treatment.

Inhalation Medications from Healthy Living Pharmacy

If you are taking medications to manage your COPD, try working with Healthy Living Pharmacy to obtain your prescriptions with concierge-level customer service and free shipping to your home. Call 866.779.8512 (Option 4) to speak with a pharmacist! 

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A Switch to Healthy Living Pharmacy Will Help You Live Better: Learn Why

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Have you found the best pharmacy for you?

Does your current pharmacy provide these services? Consider these questions and learn how Healthy Living Pharmacy can help in every situation:

  • Can you easily consult with your pharmacist and ask questions about medications?

How we help: Healthy Living pharmacists have knowledge, expertise, and time to listen to understand your situation and answer your questions thoroughly.

  • Do you have to wait in line for your prescriptions?

How we help: Healthy Living Pharmacy provides home delivery at no cost so you can avoid lines and stop making multiple trips to the store, which is especially advantageous for people who are extra busy (most people these days) or for those who have limited ability to leave home safely.

  • Are you looking for pharmacists and pharmacy techs who know your name and understand your individual needs?

How we help: The Healthy Living Pharmacy team is made up of three women – Mira, Grace, and Rickelle – who create connections with patients and become familiar and friendly voices to give you personal attention. 

  • Is it difficult for you to contact your physician for prescription refills and other concerns?

How we help: Healthy Living pharmacists will contact your physician’s office or insurance company for you when there are questions about your prescription, your coverage, or you need a refill.

  • Do you have a chronic condition that requires monthly medication refills?

How we help: Healthy Living Pharmacy offers automatic refills at the customer’s request and is always ready and flexible to make changes to the order when needed.

How Independent Pharmacies Stack Up

In a Consumer Reports survey of more than 33,000 consumers, independent pharmacies outranked all national retail pharmacy chains and mass merchandisers in terms of:

  • Overall satisfaction
  • Speed and accuracy
  • Courtesy and helpfulness
  • Pharmacist’s knowledge

We think you will feel the same way when you try Healthy Living. Learn more at our pharmacy webpage or call us today at (866)779-8512 (Option 4) to meet our pharmacists and learn about what makes Healthy Living Pharmacy different.

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A Pharmacy 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name'

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In the 80’s and early 90’s, the TV show Cheers became known for their tagline and theme song ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name.’ People were at home and comfortable when they made it to the Cheers bar. Healthy Living Pharmacy is far from a bar, but we think the Cheers tagline fits us awfully well.

Our Small Pharmacy Team Knows Our Patients

When patients call Healthy Living Pharmacy, they won’t get one of a running list of pharmacists that regularly turn over like large chain drug stores. Only Mira, Grace, and Rickelle are there, always ready to help. They know many patients very well, and some patients specifically request each of them by name.

Getting to Know Healthy Living Pharmacy

Learn about what drives our team members.

Mira, Pharmacist - Check out this blog about Mira!

Grace, Pharmacy Tech – On why she loves to create connections with customers:

"What drives me is that I really enjoy helping people.  I truly get a warm and happy feeling after I help someone.  After I help them on the phone, I try to tell the person I am talking to “have a great day.”  I have noticed that after I say that the person on the other end usually gives me a nice response.  It seems like they know I care about them and it makes a connection that tells them they aren't just another phone call.  Sometimes I say enjoy the rest of your day and I hear them sigh like a weight has been lifted.  People just need to know that someone is listening to them and that they matter.  I have had customers like [Emily] who told me that she likes to talk to me and I know her by name and I take extra care with her.  I had a customer last week named [Matt] who called me several times with multiple questions.  He asked me if we are being recorded and then he said I deserved a raise and an extra week’s vacation!  He was great.  It helps to make a connection and recognize their names.  It does improve my customer service because I know they trust that I will follow through and help them out."

Rickelle, Pharmacy Tech – On why it matters to provide excellent customer service:

"Doing my job to ensure that every patient’s medical needs are met to the best of my ability, along with teamwork from co-workers in the pharmacy and different departments – if everyone puts the same amount of effort into it then we will succeed as a company/business and the most important: our customers will be supplied and happy."

Like Your Favorite Corner Pharmacy

Healthy Living offers a neighborhood pharmacy feel, with prescriptions delivered right to your door. Learn more about us at myhlms.com/pharmacy or by calling (866)779-8512 (Option 4).

WE LOVE TO HELP.

  • Call us @ (866)779-8512 or text us @ (248)577-9903.
  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.
  • Sign up for the Healthy Living Blog at myhlms.com/subscribe.
  • Check out our online store at store.myhlms.com for accessories and over-the-counter medications.
  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.

 

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The Top 12 Reasons to Choose Home Delivery

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Whether you are ordering diabetes testing supplies, an insulin pump, insulin pump supplies, CGM, insulin, or other prescriptions, Healthy Living Medical Supply offers reliable, no-cost delivery, direct to your door.

Healthy Living’s Top 12 Reasons to
Prefer Home Delivery

  1. Convenience – You can save time by bypassing busy stores and lengthy lines, stay at home if you aren’t very mobile, and avoid long drives if you live far from town.
  2. Reorder reminders – Supplies are shipped on a regular schedule, with auto-refills on prescriptions and the opportunity to approve diabetes supply refills via text or phone.
  3. Concierge service – Healthy Living has a small team that provides consistent, trustworthy results, and we take care of the paperwork for you, working with your doctor and insurance provider.
  4. Quick ship time – Receive your order in 1-3 business days, with most orders arriving within 1-2 business days if they are placed Monday thru Thursday.
  5. Careful packaging – Supplies and prescriptions are packaged for accuracy, quality, and privacy, and insulin is cold-packed for shipping.
  6. Dependable service – We know our customers count on having their supplies to manage their diabetes – Healthy Living’s dependable home delivery service ensures you always have what you need.
  7. Diabetes specialty – Healthy Living has focused on providing diabetes supplies for over a decade, and our customer care team has the knowledge to give excellent service.
  8. Private consultations – Discuss and receive your supplies and prescriptions in private, instead of in a store, surrounded by other customers.
  9. Personalized review – Our team can help you determine insurance options and copays and offers ongoing individual support.
  10. Multiple product lines – Since Healthy Living offers a wide selection of products, you can find the best supply combination for managing your condition.
  11. Insurance verification – Our insurance verification team helps you maximize benefits and minimize expenses.
  12. Flexibility – If you are traveling for an extended time or wintering in a warmer climate, we can temporarily ship your order to a different address.

Remember you can also combine shipments for diabetes supplies, prescriptions, and orders from Healthy Living’s online store. Try Healthy Living Medical Supply & Pharmacy for the ease of home delivery. We help you spend more time where you want to be – healthy at home.

WE LOVE TO HELP.

  • Call us @ (866)779-8512 or text us @ (248)577-9903.
  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.
  • Sign up for the Healthy Living Blog at myhlms.com/subscribe.
  • Check out our online store at store.myhlms.com for accessories and over-the-counter medications.
  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.
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Healthy Living Pharmacy Grows to Provide Inhalation Medications

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Taking Care of Your Inhalation Prescriptions

Great news! Did you know that Healthy Living Pharmacy has broadened its services to include inhalation medications? The main reason that inhalation medications are prescribed is to address symptoms of COPD, a disease characterized by increasing breathlessness. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis.

Our Goals

Healthy Living Pharmacy does things differently to give customers the best possible experience. Unlike most retail pharmacies, Healthy Living has an insurance verification team who can help maximize your insurance benefits. We work with your insurance plans on your behalf to help you get the best possible cost savings for your inhalation prescriptions.

The Healthy Living Pharmacy team is focused on helping you stay compliant with the plan of care that you and your doctor have created and specialized for you. To help ensure you never run out of your medications, Healthy Living will call or text you with refill reminders, and we accurately deliver your prescriptions to your door in a timely manner.

Signs & Symptoms of COPD

COPD affects an estimated 30 million individuals in the U.S., and over half of them have symptoms of COPD and do not know it. Major signs include:

·        Increased breathlessness

·        Frequent coughing (with and without sputum)

·        Wheezing

·        Tightness in the chest

Risks & Causes of COPD

COPD most often occurs in people 40 years of age and older who have a history of smoking. These individuals may be current or former smokers. While not everybody who smokes gets COPD, most of the individuals who have COPD (about 90% of them) have smoked. Primary risk factors and causes include:

·       Inhaling pollutants, including smoking (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc.) and second-hand smoke.

·       Being exposed to fumes, chemicals, and dust found in many work environments.

·       Having certain genetics, even if the person has never smoked or has never been exposed to strong lung irritants in the workplace.

Early screening can identify COPD before major loss of lung function occurs. Go to drive4copd.org to take a five-question screening test to see if you may be at risk for COPD. More importantly, talk to your doctor to be screened and understand your risks more fully.

We’re Here to Help

Contact Healthy Living Pharmacy at (866)779-8512 (Option 4) for help with managing your inhalation medications and making the most of your insurance benefits.

Resources:

http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/What-is-COPD.aspx

http://www.drive4copd.org/

WE LOVE TO HELP.

  • Call us @ (866)779-8512 or text us @ (248)577-9903.
  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.
  • Sign up for the Healthy Living Blog at myhlms.com/subscribe.
  • Check out our online store at store.myhlms.com for accessories and over-the-counter medications.
  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.
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From the Archives – How to Safely Dispose of Expired Medications

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Thank you to Mira Patel, Healthy Living Pharmacist, for contributing to this post.

When medications have expired or are no longer needed, the question becomes, “How do I safely get rid of these drugs?” There are a few ways to dispose of medications that are safe for people, animals, and the environment.

Medication Disposal Options

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sets up collection sites nationwide for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The goals of this day is to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Local law enforcement and waste management authorities can also take expired/unused medications back. There are collectors registered with the DEA that can help with unneeded drugs. Visit the Diversion Control Division website of the Drug Enforcement Administration or call (800)882-9539 for more information.

Home Disposal

If none of the above options are available, consumers can also dispose of medications in their household trash when these guidelines are followed:

  1. Mix pills with dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds and put it in a sealed plastic bag. (Do not crush tablets and capsules.)
  2. Throw the plastic bag in household trash.
  3. Before throwing away empty pill bottles, make sure to remove all personal and doctor’s information from the bottle.

There are some medications that are very harmful and can be fatal with even one dose if ingested by someone other than the patient who was prescribed that specific medication. For these meds, it is crucial to find a take-back program or DEA collector. If that is not possible, one may safely flush the medication down the toilet or in a sink (as a last resort). Find a list of these drugs here.

WE LOVE TO HELP.

  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.
  • Call us @ (866)779-8512 or text us @ (248)577-9903.
  • Sign up for the Healthy Living blog at myhlms.com/subscribe.
  • Check out our new online store at myhlms.com/shop for accessories and over-the-counter medications.
  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.
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Living with Allergies: Finding the Smoothest Back-to-School Path

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Meet amazing Margie! She’s a very busy mom of three, dear sister, friend, daughter, wife. Her life is very full, and it’s time for two of her little ones to go back to school. In fact, it’s a big year. Margie’s oldest started kindergarten today!

Preparations, hopes, plans, wonderings …allergies and prescriptions? Yes, Margie’s son has to be extra careful at school since he lives with nut allergies and asthma. Margie needed to work with the elementary school staff to make sure everyone would be aware of her son’s allergies to avoid any issues and be ready if a reaction should occur. So much to coordinate!

Thorough Emergency Preparations Are Essential

The elementary school needed:

1.     Specific forms for prescription medications filled out and signed by the doctor

2.     A certain amount of the prescribed medications (for example: (1) 2-pack of EpiPens with the original labels and box, with the dosage indicated)

Until the forms and medications were filled out completely and in order correctly, Margie’s son couldn’t start school.

Obtaining the paperwork requires:

1.     Getting an appointment and going to the allergist

·       Checking vitals and height

·       Answering questions about any recent food allergy or asthmatic reactions and about how they are affecting daily life

·       Testing lung capacity

2.     Asking the doctor to fill out the forms required by the school district

Margie needed to give her son’s doctor plenty of notice to fill out his forms in time for school.

Choose a Pharmacy That Will Take Time to Help

Margie went to Healthy Living Pharmacy for the medications prescribed to her son:

·       EpiPens

·       Benadryl

·       Emergency albuterol inhaler

·       Spacer for inhaler

Margie worked with Mira (pharmacist) and Grace (pharmacy tech) and said, “They’re wonderful!”

Healthy Living Pharmacy made it easy:

1.     The doctor sent the scripts directly to Healthy Living.

2.     Grace communicated with Margie to confirm the order.

3.     Healthy Living was flexible about how Margie got her driver’s license and insurance card to them – photo & text, photo & email, or in person.

4.     The order contained specialty items, and some were not in stock, so Margie’s order was ready the next day. Healthy Living could ship it to her home or she could pick it up, and Margie chose pick-up.

5.     The pharmacist put the EpiPens on auto-refill.

6.     Mira and Grace answered her questions right away – they were knowledgeable and accessible.

Margie expressed, “It can be so overwhelming to deal with allergies, and Healthy Living Pharmacy made it simple.” So Margie and her family are now ready for the school year and to enjoy to the exciting days ahead. After getting all of her supplies from Healthy Living, Margie said, “We really felt prepared for back-to-school time.”

We are so happy we could help!

  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.
  • Text us @ (248)577-9903.
  • Check out our new online store at myhlms.com/shop for accessories and over-the-counter medications.
  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.
Margie gave EpiPens to the school to store for her son, in case he has an allergic reaction.

Margie gave EpiPens to the school to store for her son, in case he has an allergic reaction.

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Spotlight on Mira, Star Healthy Living Pharmacist

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Today, we are happy to introduce Mira, one of our pharmacists at Healthy Living Medical Supply. Mira has been a pharmacist since 2009, and it seems like she has worked in just about every setting a pharmacist could find: a hospital, a big chain store, an independent setting, and an ambulatory care setting. With all of this behind her, Mira has found that what really makes Healthy Living unique is that it’s an environment where she has time to focus on patients, dedicating more time to specific situations when needed, without so many distractions that she can’t work patiently with patients.

A big part of Mira’s job is keeping the lines of communication open between doctors, patients, and our pharmacy – ensuring consistent refills, understanding tapering orders, and monitoring dose changes. Communication is crucial, and Mira is constantly on the phone talking with patients or doctors’ offices. As Mira says so well, “You can’t put problems away. You have to be proactive, focus on communication, keep everyone informed – doing the job thoroughly, and doing it well.”

Mira’s pharmacy team supports each other and includes Joe (fellow pharmacist), Grace (pharmacy tech), and Bryan and Alex (inhalation medication experts). The team gets questions each day from patients about specific drugs and side effects, dosing, remaining refills, or what to expect if the drug looks different or it’s the first time they are taking it. The pharmacy team also help patients navigate their insurance questions.

We had a chance to ask Mira what she likes best about working at Healthy Living Medical Supply.  She loves the opportunity to collaborate with different departments within Healthy Living and within the medical community. Mira explained that in this environment, she can see the big picture to make smoother transitions for patients, do more thorough medication and supplies reconciliations, and also solve different challenges every day. She is also very grateful for the community of people she works with at Healthy Living, and we are surely thankful for her!

We’re here to help!

  • Contact our pharmacy at (866)779-8512, option 4.

  • Reach us through online chat at myhlms.com.

  • Text us @ (248)577-9903.

  • Check out our new online store at myhlms.com/shop for accessories and over-the-counter medications.

  • Visit myhlms.com/providers to electronically complete and sign prescriptions for patients.