Facility Overview

Come to the Essentia Health-Brainerd Pharmacy for personalized service. Our local pharmacists get to know you and work with your doctor to help ensure fast, safe prescription care. We also make it easy for you to pick up drugs your doctor prescribes right after your appointment.You’ll find us in the Essentia Health St. Joseph's-Brainerd Clinic. We’re open Monday through Saturday. If you need to fill your prescription on a Sunday, visit the nearby Essentia Health-Baxter Pharmacy.

Pharmacy Services

Get your prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and more at our pharmacy, including:

• Answers to questions about medications from pharmacists during business hours (After hours, contact your prescriber. If you have a medication-related emergency, call 911.)
• Quick access to your medication list and history if you’re an Essentia patient
• Specialty pharmacy services for uncommon drugs
• Flu shots are available from October through March for ages 6 and older, and shingles shots are available throughout the year
• Someone you can talk to about financial help for medications
• Medicare Part B Billing, including diabetic testing supplies

Monthly Prescription Service

If you take many routine medications, save time by getting all your refills once a month. You can also get refills every 90 days if your insurance and care team allows. Have them delivered by mail or pick them up. Ask your pharmacy team about SyncMyMeds.

Safe Medication Disposal Drop Boxes

Have unused or expired medicines? Safely dispose of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in our blue MedSafe drug drop boxes at all Essentia pharmacies.

1. Use a marker to cross out your name on container. (Drop off is anonymous.)
2. Keep medications in the original container and place them in the blue, metal drop box.

You don’t have to be an Essentia patient to use this service. Sorry, we don’t take needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, or medications from businesses. If you're not near an Essentia pharmacy, you can also follow these safe prescription drug disposal guidelines from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist

When you start a new medication, make sure you have complete, accurate information about it so you can avoid potential problems. When you pick up a new medication, ask your Essentia pharmacist:

• What is this medication used for?
• How much of this medicine should I take and when should I take it?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Could this medication have any negative interactions with other drugs, certain foods, or alcohol?
• How should I store this medication?
• What are possible side effects of this medication?
• What results should I expect to see, and when will I notice these improvements in my health?

Get Help Managing Your Medicines

Ensure you’re getting the most from your prescription, over-the-counter, and vitamin treatments. Take advantage of medication management services at select clinic locations.During this 30- to 60-minute visit with a pharmacist, you can:

• Ask questions about your medications
• Decrease your risk of drug interactions
• Ensure medications are effective and safe for you
• Look at ways to save money on medications
• Work toward meeting your health goals

Make an appointment for medication therapy management at an Essentia clinic near you.

Generic Drugs

To save you money, we’ll substitute a less expensive, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved generic drug when possible. We make this substitution only if the drug is safely interchangeable with, and a therapeutic equal to the brand-name drug prescribed by your health care provider. Essentia Health pharmacies offer generic medications for as low as $5 a month.If you object to a substitution, tell us when you order your medication or before you leave the pharmacy.

Compliments & Complaints

If you’d like to share a compliment, concern, or suggestion, please fill out our online compliments and complaints form.