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JBSA News
NEWS | Oct. 17, 2018

Gateway Bulverde Clinic pharmacy: Medicine for North Central San Antonio patients

By Daniel J. Calderón 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

The Gateway Bulverde Clinic pharmacy celebrated six months of operation at its new location in the far North Central area of San Antonio on the second floor of Baptist Emergency Hospital Oct. 17.

The new pharmacy is a boon for patients in the area.

 

“I’m glad it’s here,” said Claire Gill, the spouse of a retired Air Force service member. “I’ve had no problems at all in the last six months since I’ve been coming to this clinic and this pharmacy.”

 

The pharmacy, which shares its location with the Gateway Bulverde Clinic, opened its doors in April. Since then, technicians and pharmacists serve an average of 100 patients a day.

 

“Opening the pharmacy was vital to the 59th Medical Wing for a myriad of reasons,” said Capt. Alex Dudash, officer in charge of the pharmacy. “The Gateway Bulverde Pharmacy widened our medical capabilities beyond the North Central Federal Clinic pharmacy, which it replaced.”

 

The new pharmacy expands the footprint for the 59th MDW in the San Antonio area and provides a more convenient option for families who live in the North Central area outside of Loop 1604.

 

Since opening, the staff provides exceptional medical care to the all the Department of Defense beneficiaries in San Antonio.

 

“It’s been going great,” said Tech. Sgt. Skyler N. Kieran, GBC pharmacy NCOIC. “The patients who are finding us love it. The wait times are very minimal.”

 

Wait times at the GBC pharmacy average less than eight minutes from check in to receiving medication.

 

In addition to a shorter wait time, Kieran said the pharmacy’s location and policies provide a marked improvement for patients, allowing them to bring in handwritten prescriptions instead of needing a provider to send them electronically.

 

“We dispense refills as well,” Kieran said. “We can also get specialty medications from JBSA-Lackland delivered to us whenever they’re ready to be dispensed.”

 

Tricare-eligible patients from any military treatment facility or civilian provider within the JBSA area can get their prescriptions filled.

 

Refills are filled and delivered from another JBSA pharmacy within 48 hours of a patient’s request and an automated calling system informs patients when the prescription is available.

 

“I love it,” Gill said. “I think I was here on day two, and I’ve been here every time since. It’s so much easier. At every other clinic, if I have a written prescription, I’d have to go to Randolph which is kind of inconvenient. They take handwritten prescriptions at the GBC pharmacy with no problem. It’s pretty quick and efficient.”

 

The clinic, located at 25615 Highway 281 North, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but closed on all federal holidays. Patients can call 210-292-9995 for refills; however, anyone who needs to speak with a member of the pharmacy staff can call 210-292-0121.