Don’t Wait Until You Run Out: Why Requesting Prescription Medication Refills Early Matters

Pillar Health & Kenosha Community Health Center | Serving Southeast Wisconsin

Staying on top of your medications is an important part of staying healthy — especially for patients managing chronic conditions, ongoing treatments, or multiple prescriptions. At Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center (KCHC), we want to make the refill process as smooth and stress-free as possible for every patient who visits our clinics in Kenosha, Racine, and Silver Lake.

One of the easiest ways to avoid delays is simple: request your prescription refills during your appointment. Doing this gives your care team the time they need to review your medications and make sure your treatment plan is safe and up to date.

Staying on top of your medications is an important part of protecting your health. At Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center, we want to make it as easy as possible for our patients to get the medications they need—without delays or added stress.

One of the best ways to do this is simple: request your prescription refills during your appointment.

Asking for refills during your appointment helps prevent last-minute requests that can take several days to process. Your care team needs time to:

  • Review your chart
  • Confirm your medication plan
  • Check for any required lab work
  • Complete pharmacy and insurance approvals

These steps are important for your safety, but they take time. Requesting refills during your appointment keeps your medications on schedule and helps avoid gaps in treatment.

Medication refills aren’t always automatic. Your provider may need to:

  • Make sure the dose and medication are still correct
  • Order labs or schedule a follow-up visit before renewing
  • Communicate with your pharmacy and/or insurance company

Asking for refills at your appointment allows us to complete these steps in advance, lowering the risk of delays later.

One of the easiest ways to help your care team is to bring your medication bottles or a written list to every appointment. This allows us to:

  • Confirm medication names and dosages
  • Check for drug interactions
  • Update your health record
  • Ensure your refills stay on track

It also reduces confusion between brand names, generic names, or older prescriptions you may no longer be taking or no longer need.

We understand that sometimes you may need a refill before your next appointment. If that happens, please allow 5–7 days for processing.

To help keep things moving smoothly:

  • Call your clinic as soon as you know you’re running low
  • Complete any required labs promptly
  • Keep your appointments up to date
  • Let us know if you change pharmacies

Planning ahead can help prevent gaps in your medication routine.

You can request refills during a visit at any of our 5 locations across Kenosha, Racine, and Silver Lake:

Pillar Health Racine Clinic
 930 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Door #3, Racine, WI | 262-771-0035

Pillar Health Kenosha Clinic
 4006 Washington Road, Kenosha, WI | 262-771-1700

KCHC 2nd Street Silver Lake Clinic
 903 S. 2nd Street, Silver Lake, WI | 262-771-1963

KCHC 14th Avenue Kenosha Clinic
 6226 14th Avenue, Kenosha, WI | 262-771-1688

KCHC 22nd Avenue Kenosha Clinic
 4536 22nd Avenue, Kenosha, WI | 262-771-0070

Your Health, Your Time — We’re Here to Help

Managing your medications shouldn’t feel overwhelming. By requesting refills during your appointments and keeping your medication list up to date, you help us provide safe, efficient care for you and your family.

If you ever have questions about medications, lab work, or refill timing, our teams are here to support you—every step of the way.

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