When visiting the pharmacy at Redfern Health Center, students are often greeted with a warm, friendly smile from Ronda McWhorter, Student Health Services’ pharmacy supervisor. With over 30 years of experience, nine of those at Redfern, McWhorter and her team are dedicated to providing high-quality pharmacy services to help students be healthy and well during their time at Clemson.
We sat down with McWhorter to learn more about her role and everything the pharmacy has to offer students.
What is your role as pharmacy supervisor at Redfern Health Center?
As the pharmacy supervisor, I lead of team of 13 employees, including three full-time pharmacists, four board certified pharmacy technicians and Clemson student employees. I am also a preceptor to students from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Pharmacy and University of South Carolina (USC) College of Pharmacy who complete an on-site internship in Redfern’s pharmacy.
Before coming to Clemson, I was a pharmacist for CVS and held several positions, including staff pharmacist, pharmacy supervisor and district supervisor. As district supervisor, I oversaw 22 CVS locations.
What services are offered through the pharmacy to Clemson students?
Our licensed pharmacists fill prescriptions from Student Health Services providers and outside providers. The pharmacy is equipped with a high-speed, vial filling robot that counts, labels and caps the top 200 prescription medications, allowing pharmacists and staff more time to better serve students.
We also: transfer prescriptions to and from Redfern; offer a variety of over-the-counter products for purchase in the pharmacy and online; administer immunizations, such as the flu and COVID vaccines, along with any vaccines required for medical clearance and overall well-being; serve as a community dispenser for naloxone (can file with insurance); provide a drug take-back box for the safe disposal of expired or unused medications; and assist students who take specialty medications administered by providers at Redfern.
Our pharmacists and staff are student-focused and are always readily available to help students with any health care needs or questions.
What are some of the ways students access pharmacy services?
The pharmacy is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (on Wednesdays we open at 9 a.m.). Students can walk in or call the pharmacy at 864-656-3562 to request pharmacy services.
Prescriptions refill requests can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week using the mobileRX app or by calling the pharmacy and following the interactive voice response prompts.
Students can go to the pharmacy webpage to request prescription transfers, upload their insurance card and sign up for text message notifications to be notified when prescriptions are ready for pick-up. The pharmacy webpage can also easily be accessed through the my.Clemson app under the ‘Medical’ tab.
What are the benefits to having a comprehensive health center on campus?
Student Health Services’ pharmacy is uniquely located in the same building as Medical Services – primary care, lab and radiology – and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
Students consistently tell us the comprehensiveness of our organization is a huge asset. Since we’re under the same roof, we’re able to work closely with students’ providers at Redfern. Our pharmacists can easily and quickly talk with other Student Health Services providers if needed so students are helped before they leave the building. Such a great collaboration allows us to work together efficiently and seamlessly, providing quality health care to our students in a timely manner.
How does the Redfern Health Center pharmacy enhance the well-being of students?
We are a dynamic department, ever-changing with initiatives in health care and pharmacy to serve our students in the best manner possible. This year, we added immunization services in an effort to increase accessibility and make vaccines more cost effective for students since our pharmacy is in-network with 90% of insurance companies.
My staff and I share a true passion for taking care of students and providing the highest quality of care possible. We also enjoy sharing our experiences with students and providing opportunities for them to learn and grow in the field of medicine.
We provide out-of-the-classroom learning experiences through student worker employment and serving as an internship site for MUSC and USC School of Pharmacy students. We also attend the Tigers on Call annual event where we’re able to engage with Clemson students interested in pursuing a career in health care.
Learn more on the pharmacy at Redfern Health Center.