As of 7:00 am Monday, the state's only 24-hour pharmacy opened at Maine Medical Center.
Senior Director of Pharmacy Brian Marden says the goal is to improve patient outcomes and reduce re-admissions, in part by providing a convenient way to get important medications.
"Spending time with people too - we have three consult rooms in our pharmacy that are available for conversations between patients and families and our pharmacists so that they can do the appropriate education and spend time answering questions that people may have," Marden says.
The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations finds that about 75 percent of patients don't take medications as directed, and some never fill prescriptions. The Maine Med pharmacy is open to both patients and the general public.
