Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) is the largest HIV/AIDS service organization in the region and has expanded its services to reach more of the North Texas community regardless of socioeconomic or insurance status. The organization provides STI testing and treatment, dental care via three practices in the Dallas area, transgender primary care, and primary care services at its four health centers. The organization regularly provides rent and housing assistance, clothing, and other necessities to its patients in need. They also offer a variety of behavioral health services in addition to healthcare services that allow North Texans to take control of their health.
A majority of PHNTX patients are low-to-no income with a little more than half having no health insurance. A majority of their patients are Black and Latino/x. The organization saw a need for a pharmacy that provided culturally-competent care and a welcoming environment.
The need for a PHNTX Pharmacies was first of concern in South Dallas as the closest pharmacy to their clinic was over three miles away, creating a barrier to obtaining medication for patients without reliable transportation. Prior to the pharmacies opening, the clinics did not have a collocated pharmacy nearby or in the same building. By adding a collocated pharmacy, patients have a ‘one top shop’ to take care of their healthcare needs as they can go to their medical appointments, have their prescriptions sent to the collocated pharmacy, and pick up the prescriptions with little to no wait. This ease of access to medications that provide necessary treatment reduces the need for additional appointments and ultimately reduces costs for the organization.
In 2019 and 2020, PHNTX launched three community-based pharmacies in Dallas to support their clients:
- South Dallas – 4907 Spring Avenue, Suite 101, Dallas Texas 75210
- Sunset Avenue – 219 Sunset Avenue, Suite 116A, Dallas Texas 75208
- Lemmon Avenue – 2801 Lemmon Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas Texas 75204.
Since opening the pharmacies, more than 4,500 patients have been served across all three locations – with 95.4% of those already being clients of PHNTX clinics. As the pharmacies continue to grow, PHNTX would like for their pharmacies to also become a resource for non-clinic patients living near their clinics and a revenue generator for altruistically-minded patients anywhere in Texas.
PHNTX Pharmacies offer all of the same advantages of going to a ‘big box retailer’ operated pharmacy but because they are a nonprofit, a portion of the profits can go back into their other community services.
Anyone can use the PHNTX Pharmacies and they accept most major insurers, cash customers and delivery is free with some restrictions. They can deliver anywhere in the state of Texas. There are some insurance plans that will not allow delivery or require specific delivery methods, but anyone can call the pharmacy to discuss the available delivery options and choose the best one for them.
Patients can easily transfer their prescriptions to a PHTNX pharmacy at phntxpharmacy.org/prescriptions.
