I/DD Services (Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Services)

• Consistency & Reliability: In I/DD group homes, maintaining a consistent routine is crucial for the well-being of the individuals. We ensure that medication supply and administration is one thing you can consistently count on. Our pharmacy services proudly maintain a 99%+ on-time delivery rate and client loyalty among I/DD providers . We have structured our operations to be ultrareliable: medications arrive at the same time on the same day (as per schedule) so that home supervisors or managers can plan med passes accordingly. We even serve state-operated facilities where adherence to schedule is paramount, and we’ve excelled there by being dependable. You’ll never have to “waste time shopping for a new pharmacy every few years” because we aim to keep you satisfied long-term through unwavering service – our retention among I/DD providers speaks to that stability.
• Customized Packaging for I/DD Settings: Many individuals with I/DD can participate in their medication routines if given the right tools, and staff need packaging that makes administration error-proof. We offer multiple packaging options (blister cards, multi-dose co-mingled packs, etc.) and often tailor them to each individual’s needs . For example, some individuals may go to day programs or home on weekends – for them, a calendar blister pack might work best so a family member can take a sheet of doses home easily. Others may benefit from picture labeling or colorcoding (we can include visual cues on packaging if needed). Our multi-dose pouch strips have been a game changer for some group homes, allowing staff to quickly administer meds during morning routines without sorting from multiple bottles . Importantly, we provide these specialized packaging solutions at no extra cost – we don’t believe you should have to pay premiums for safety . Additionally, we supply contingency “PRN kits” if desired – a small stock of as-needed meds (like acetaminophen, hydrocortisone cream, etc.) for immediate use, since getting a single PRN dose at 10 PM can be challenging. We work with your regulatory guidelines to implement these appropriately.
• Clinical Expertise for Complex Needs: Individuals with I/DD may have multiple chronic conditions: seizure disorders, mental health diagnoses, GI issues, etc. Polypharmacy is common. Our team’s clinical expertise shines here – our pharmacists and nurse consultants understand these complexities and conduct routine regimen assessments to optimize therapy . We check for drug interactions and overlaps, ensure dosing is appropriate (for example, checking that enzymeinducing seizure meds have levels monitored), and provide care-centered recommendations to prescribers for adjustments if needed . We pay special attention to behavior-modifying medications: psychotropics, ADHD meds, etc., working to ensure they are effective and necessary. If an individual’s behavior plan calls for reducing certain meds, we coordinate with the team to attempt gradual dose reductions safely. Our goal is always to support the best health and independence of the individual – if fewer meds can achieve stability, we help pursue that. Conversely, we ensure no needed medication is missed – comprehensive inventory and monitoring means things like necessary supplements or less common meds (maybe a unique metabolic disorder treatment) are always in stock for that person.
• Training and Tools for Direct Support Staff: We recognize that in I/DD group homes, medication administration is often done by direct support staff who might not have a medical background. We provide extensive training and easy-reference tools to empower them. For each new individual or new med start, our pharmacist can do a briefing with the staff: what the med is for, what side effects to watch, any special administration techniques (e.g., if it’s a powder that goes in food). We create individual Medication Administration Records (paper MARs or eMAR inputs) that are very clear, often including indications (“for anxiety”) so staff understand why they are giving it. We can also supply visual aids if helpful – one group home asked if we could include a small photo of each pill on the MAR (for non-ID individuals this helps staff confirm they have the right pill), and we implemented that for them. Our nurse consultant can perform periodic med pass observations and competency evaluations for your staff, fulfilling any ODP or licensing requirements and, more importantly, ensuring that proper procedures are followed for the individuals’ safety . If any errors or near-misses occur, we participate non-punitively in retraining and problem-solving to prevent recurrence. We view ourselves and the home’s staff as one team rallying around the person served.
• 24/7 Support and Adaptability: Behavioral health and medical crises can happen unexpectedly in I/ DD settings. Our 24/7 pharmacist availability and stat delivery ensures your team is never alone in managing a sudden need. If someone has a seizure and the neurologist calls in a new med at 9 PM, we’ll get it to you that night and provide counsel on how to administer the initial dose. If an individual is discharged from a hospital on a complicated new regimen, we’ll proactively schedule a call or visit with your staff to go over it. Also, I/DD individuals often have scheduled or unscheduled trips – home visits, vacations, etc. We excel at providing travel packs or coordinating transfers to pharmacies in other regions as needed. For example, if an individual goes to respite care for a week, we can package a week’s meds separately for them or liaise with the respite provider to ensure continuity. Our flexibility reduces disruptions so the individual experiences continuity of care regardless of changes in routine.

Our commitment: We take pride in being a part of the support network for individuals with I/DD. Many of our team members find this aspect of our work especially rewarding – knowing that our diligence with medications helps individuals achieve more stability, participate in their communities, and live their lives with fewer hurdles. One provider told us, “Your pharmacy’s consistency and understanding of our world has directly led to better outcomes for our clients. Our medication error rate went down significantly since switching to Custom Care, and that means our folks are healthier and happier.” Hearing that motivates us further.

In essence, we offer I/DD providers peace of mind: medication management is handled with expertise, heart, and precision, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture – empowering the individuals you serve. We understand the trust you place in us, and we honor it by treating each person’s needs with utmost care, as if they were a member of our own family. Together, we help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead safer and fulfilling lives, one dose at a time.