When Buckeyes give through Bucks for Charity, they are supporting nonprofit agencies that help Ohio State faculty, staff and patients. Robert Weber, Wexner Medical Center pharmacy administrator, knows first-hand how his donation to the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio (CPCO) impacts patients he serves at the medical center.
CPCO is one of the over 250 nonprofits Ohio State faculty, staff and retirees can give to through Bucks for Charity. CPCO provides medication, health screenings and other health care needs at no cost for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals.
“I donate because nearly 17% of the Wexner Medical Center’s patients are cared for by this pharmacy and depend on them for medications after they are discharged,” Weber said. “As a pharmacist, I know that access to medications is a main reason why patients return to the hospital.”
CPCO’s mission is to increase access to affordable prescriptions for people in Franklin County who experience gaps in insurance or face challenges in receiving affordable, necessary medication. They are also the only pharmacy in the county that provides pharmacy services to patients at no charge and qualifies patients for up to a year at a time which benefits patients with ongoing conditions.
“I donate my dollars so that our patients who use the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio can stay healthy and out of the hospital,” Weber said. “These patients staying out of the hospital conserves the medical center’s valuable resources for expanding care.”