Baptist Health Shifted Meds to Beds Program

The health system updated its pharmacy program to an opt-out model across all eight of its hospitals.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Healthcare

Isometric editorial illustration of clean, unlabeled amber medication vials arranged in a grid, representing a structured pharmacy system change. — Baptist Health transitioned its pharmacy program to an opt-out model across its eight hospitals in 2026 to streamline clinical workflows and improve patient medication adherence. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In 2026, Louisville-based Baptist Health transitioned its Meds to Beds pharmacy service from an opt-in to an opt-out model within the Epic system. The strategic shift was designed to streamline workflows and boost patient medication adherence.

Why it matters

By moving to an opt-out enrollment model, the system removed manual administrative burdens from nursing and clinical pharmacy teams. This change aims to improve medication adherence and reduce patient readmission rates across the network.

Baptist Health operates eight hospitals and now aims for a 90% patient capture rate for the pharmacy program. Approximately 50 other health systems have adopted similar opt-out structures for their own bedside pharmacy initiatives.

The players

Baptist Health

This is a full-service health system based in Louisville that operates eight hospitals across the region.

Shweta Desai

She is a professional who joined the leadership team at Baptist Health in March 2020.

The details

Pharmacy teams now conduct benefits investigations, apply discount cards, and provide counseling before filling prescriptions to support patients. The system standardized these workflows across all facilities through targeted site visits and meetings with pharmacy managers.

Shweta Desai joined Baptist Health in March 2020.
The system hit a 70% capture rate milestone in the spring of 2026.
Baptist Health completed the switch to an opt-out program in 2026.

Market Landscape

This transition aligns Baptist Health with an industry-wide move toward automated, opt-out pharmacy workflows to maximize patient engagement. The system is positioning itself to compete on operational efficiency and improved patient outcomes against other regional healthcare providers.

Patients at Baptist Health hospitals are now automatically enrolled in the pharmacy program unless they opt out, ensuring they receive medication counseling and insurance checks before discharge. This service reduces the need for patients to stop at external pharmacies on their way home.

The takeaway

Healthcare systems are increasingly leveraging automated opt-out models to improve patient medication adherence and simplify discharge procedures. For patients, these programs provide a convenient way to manage prescriptions before leaving the hospital.