West Linn police start prescription pick up and delivery

The prescription delivery program serves elderly residents and those with underlying medical conditions

As COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continues its devastating spread, some older adults and those with underlying medical conditions in West Linn now have one less thing to worry about: risking infection to pick up prescription medicines.

On Monday April 6, the West Linn Police Department began a prescription pickup and delivery program for residents most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

The Forest Grove Police Department was among the first to start such a program back on March 25 and, since then other police departments like Lake Oswego and Milwuakie have followed suit to assist the communities they serve.

"Anyone who is 65-years old or older, or who has any serious underlying medical condition that would put them at a higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, can call the West Linn Police Department at (503) 655-6214 – option 3, to arrange for prescription delivery from a local West Linn pharmacy," according to a WLPD press release.

The press release notes that WLPD will deliver prescriptions twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Police ask participants to inform the department which delivery time they prefer.

Pharmacies at West Linn Market of Choice, Safeway and Walmart are participating in the program.

"Participants will also need to contact their pharmacy themselves to order and pay for the prescription(s), and to let them know that a West Linn Police employee will be picking them up," the WLPD press release reads. "The participant will need to present valid identification to the police employee when the prescription is delivered."

According to police, WLPD employees delivering prescriptions will wear personal protective equipment and adhere to social distancing guidelines. The employees will also wear official WLPD attire and carry identification.

Currently, the program is supposed to run for the duration of Governor Kate Brown's stay-at-home order, but the WLPD press release notes that this is a pilot program that may be terminated if it is no longer workable or helpful to West Linn residents.