PORT JEFFERSON, NY ― Local residents can now dispose of expired or unused prescription medications safely through Mather’s MedSafe program. MedSafe offers a secure receptacle located in the Hospital lobby. MedSafe is available from 6am-8pm.
“In light of the opioid crisis, MedSafe provides a safe and effective way to dispose of unwanted and expired controlled substance prescriptions,” said Olga Larios, Director of Pharmacy at Mather, who oversees the program.
Medications should be left in their original packaging when possible. The MedSafe receptacle does NOT accept:
- Illegal drugs
- Sharps containers, needles or syringes
- Batteries
- Aerosol cans
- Medical devices
- Chemicals or other hazardous substances
Residents also can dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs on Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 26 from 10am-2pm by bringing unused or expired medications to Mather’s Cody Ambulatory & Inpatient Surgical Pavilion located on the north side of the hospital.
MedSafe and Drug Take Back Day are regulated by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
###
About Mather Hospital
Mather Hospital is an accredited 248-bed, non-profit community teaching hospital dedicated to providing a wide spectrum of high-quality healthcare services to Suffolk County residents, showing compassion and respect and treating each patient in the manner we would wish for our loved ones. Mather has earned the prestigious Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Mather has received 13 “A” ratings for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. No other hospital in New York State has received more top ratings. For further information about Mather Hospital, visit www.matherhospital.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/matherhospital.
About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, about 750 outpatient facilities and more than 13,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 70,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.