Initiation of a discharge pharmacy within a busy urban emergency department: The first year.

Purpose: Discharge prescriptions represent an important aspect of care for patients seen in the emergency department (ED) setting and are used by providers to continue therapy for acute illness once patients leave the ED or to prevent future exacerbations of chronic conditions. The success of an ED discharge and the medications prescribed rely on patient compliance. Compliance depends on patients' ability to obtain prescriptions, which can be hindered by limited access to pharmacies and cost.