Pharmacy

Patient's Own Medications

Hospital for Special Surgery is pleased to allow our patients to use their own medication, provided the physician has specified authorization in the medical record.

Patients may use their own medication if the drug is not on the HSS Formulary and the physician has written in the physicians' orders that approval is granted. These medications must be identified by the hospital pharmacy prior to administration.

All medication brought to the pharmacy should be in the original bottle (from the pharmacy where you filled your prescription) with your name on the bottle. Unfortunately, the Pharmacy will NOT accept medications in pillboxes or medication samples.

The following will occur if you choose to bring your medications to HSS on the day of your surgery.

1. The physician will write a complete physician's order and indicate in the physician's order that you may use own medication.
2. The nurse will send the medication in a bag to the Pharmacy with a copy of the physician's order.
3. The pharmacist will identify and label the medication and return it to the nursing unit.
4. The nurse will store the medication in the patient's medication cassette and will administer medication as per physician's orders.
5. The nurse will return the patient's own medication to them upon their discharge.