Every day, patients across Northeast Florida are forced to make an impossible choice between paying for medication or sacrificing their health. Access to essential medications is crucial for improving the quality of life and health of communities.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside and Southside, in collaboration with Dispensary of Hope, recently launched a program to provide our community’s most vulnerable with access to free medications.
Dispensary of Hope, operated by Ascension, coordinates with pharmaceutical manufacturers to distribute donated medications to those in need. In the past year, Dispensary of Hope provided medications for nonprofit pharmacies and clinics across the nation. This network of nonprofits filled 1.2 million prescriptions nationwide for 164,000 patients, delivering more than 3,000 free prescriptions every day.
With Florida's uninsured rate higher than the national average, this initiative is crucial in bridging the healthcare gap.
This program is helping people in our community like Carolyn Parker, a grandmother and Certified Nursing Assistant of more than 25 years. She recently became uninsured, but still needs essential daily medications.
After an unexpected stay in the hospital this spring, she connected with Ascension St. Vincent’s through a patient advocate. She’s now starting to get the medications she needs.
“God had something good in store for me,” Carolyn said. “After all the love and passion that I gave caring for others for so many years, the lord gave that back to me through Ascension St. Vincent’s.”
Ascension Rx pharmacies are key partners in the Dispensary of Hope program, helping patients by dispensing donated medications. Ascension Rx operates locations at Riverside and Southside hospitals.
“Founded over a century ago, St. Vincent’s has always been dedicated to serving our community, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Elizabeth Santiago, Director of Pharmacy Operations for Ascension Florida. “Our partnership with Dispensary of Hope continues this Mission, ensuring that everyone in our community receives the healthcare they need.”
To qualify for Dispensary of Hope, patients must complete an application process, be uninsured and not earn more than 300% of the federal poverty lines. In 2023, more than 2 million Floridians were uninsured, representing 10.7% of the state's population. In Duval County, 11.5% are uninsured. These figures are both higher than the national uninsured rate of 8%.
Medications help prevent unnecessary hospital visits by managing health conditions, reducing flare-ups and easing symptoms. Dispensary of Hope has reported a 50% reduction in hospital stays and a 35% decrease in ER visits.
Because of this program, Carolyn was recently able to attend her grandson’s high school graduation. She’s sure she wouldn’t have been able to celebrate with her family if she didn't have her medication.
“It’s a blessing to know that someone is looking out for you,” said Carolyn. “I can’t tell you what it means to be able to get the medications I needed.”
Dispensary of Hope was recognized with the American Pharmacists Association’s Foundation Pinnacle Award last fall for its efforts to eliminate barriers to healthcare. Their collaborative work with Ascension, Ascension Rx, and other healthcare partners ensures that individuals facing financial hardships continue t
