Prescription Refills
The West Ventura Medical Clinic Pharmacy Department is responsible for distributing and responding to all medication requests for the clinic. If you have a current prescription and no changes have been made to your medication dosage, please contact your regular pharmacy directly to place a refill request. The telephone number is listed on your medication label.
For all other questions, please use the link below to contact our office through the patient portal:
For all other questions, please use the link below to contact our office through the patient portal:
Medication Refill Guidelines
Contact Your Pharmacy
Please contact your pharmacy directly for your prescription refills in order to secure them in the least amount of time. Approval of your refill may take up to three business days, so please contact your pharmacy at least fourteen days before your medication is due to run out.
Office Hours
Medication refills will only be addressed during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM). Our urgent care staff will not return any phone calls regarding refills. Please notify your provider on the next business day (Monday-Friday) if you find yourself out of medication after hours. No prescriptions will be refilled on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays.
Refills and Changes to Your Prescription
Refills can only be authorized on medication prescribed by providers from our office. We will not refill medications prescribed by other providers. Some medications require prior authorization. Depending on your insurance, this process may involve several steps by both your pharmacy and your provider. Providers and pharmacies are familiar with this process and will handle the prior authorization as quickly as possible. Only your pharmacy will be notified of the approval status.
Follow-Up Office Visits
It is important to keep your scheduled appointment to ensure that you receive timely refills. Repeated no shows or cancellations will result in a denial of refills. All prescriptions require a follow up appointment every 6 to 12 months. New symptoms or events require a clinic appointment. Your provider will not diagnose or treat over the phone. If for any reason you feel your medication needs to be adjusted or changed please contact us immediately.
If you have any questions regarding medications, please discuss these during your appointment. Pharmacists are also a great source of information regarding medications. Most pharmacies will have a Pharmacist available for any questions that you may have.
If you have any questions regarding medications, please discuss these during your appointment. Pharmacists are also a great source of information regarding medications. Most pharmacies will have a Pharmacist available for any questions that you may have.
Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) offers the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) for patients who are unable to pay for their prescriptions. The VCMC Pharmacy works with the pharmaceutical companies to find a program to help the patient get their prescription at no cost. If a doctor feels their patient is in need of this program, the patient will need to complete an application and we will send it to VCMC for review. Once the application is approved, a notification will be sent to the provider requiring a signature and a written prescription for medications being requested. The medications will arrive at West Ventura Medical Clinic and a member of our nursing staff will call to notify you when your prescription is ready for pick-up. The PAP program covers routine medications for common conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and will typically provide a 90 day supply.
Pain Medications
Our practice is conservative when prescribing pain medications and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html
These guidelines are not intended for patients who are in active cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care.
West Ventura Medical Clinic cares about your safety! For these reasons:
We also want to help you effectively manage your pain. Our providers will talk to you about:
These guidelines are not intended for patients who are in active cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care.
West Ventura Medical Clinic cares about your safety! For these reasons:
- We do not routinely prescribe opioids for chronic pain;
- We check the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES);
- We report all individuals suspected of obtaining drugs of abuse by any fraudulent act to the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit.
We also want to help you effectively manage your pain. Our providers will talk to you about:
- Non-opioid pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve);
- Physical Therapy and exercise;
- Cognitive behavioral therapy;
- Certain antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
Paper Prescriptions VS. E-Prescriptions
Schedule II
Schedule II controlled substances require a written prescription which must be signed by a provider. Schedule II medications may not be refilled and a new prescription must be written every time. Although we prefer that the patient is present to pick up their written prescription, a family member may pick up the prescription if they provide a photo ID and written consent from the patient.
Schedule III-V
Prescriptions for controlled substances on schedules III to V controlled substances are usually submitted electronically to the dispensing pharmacy. If there is a submission error, we may call in the medication error to your pharmacy. Rare circumstances may require a faxed order. Not all prescriptions for controlled substances can be refilled.
