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The Role Of Independent Community Pharmacy In The Healthcare Industry

Tuesday, August 24th, 2021, 9:48 pm , Posted by MED +

Independent community pharmacies play a vital role in the healthcare industry and in our greater society. However, many fail to fully communicate their presence, impact, and abilities to service you.

When you hear the word pharmacy, most people will immediately think of the large corporate chains such as Shoppers, Rexall, or locations within grocery or big box stores. But its important for people to understand there are local community pharmacies in your neighborhood that can be a health resource for you and your family. Here we will talk about the role of independent community pharmacies.

What Is An Independent Community Pharmacy?

An independent community pharmacy is a location that is owned by a local business owner. It is often a single store that is owned and operated by the head pharmacist or multiple individuals. It could also be a company that has a couple local locations. It is a private business, not a publicly traded enterprise.

This offers customers some potential advantages. Community pharmacies are not limited to corporate rules and can freely operate in the best way they see fit. There is room to offer more personalized services to its customer base.

“As medication experts, independent community pharmacists provide counsel on a variety of health-related concerns and reduce overall costs by helping to ensure that patients consistently take their medications and by referring them for further treatment options when appropriate,” according to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

The Role Of Independent Community Pharmacies

Community pharmacies are an alternative to large pharmacies. They operate not based on corporate rules or structures. They operate based on the needs of the community. They have more flexibility in how they do business.

The pandemic provided a great example of what a pharmacy could do to support the community in many different ways. They do so much more than just fill prescriptions and sell medication.

Here are some of the ways they are a great alternative for care within the healthcare industry:

• They are a care destination: People generally go to the pharmacy more than the doctor. Its one of the first places people will go when they need medication or health care advice. Local pharmacies can provide people with the personalized attention they are seeking.
• Prescription management: Get individualized attention to help you manage your medications and prescriptions. You can get important advice, get access to home delivery or curbside pickup, and make special arrangements based on your unique needs.
• Wellness support: Pharmacists can provide its customers with wellness and nutrition consultations to help them improve their health. They can offer solutions that support and work in conjunction with their medication.
• Community outreach: Community pharmacies understand the current state of the region. They can become a health advocate for local issues and concerns. They work with other community leaders in the healthcare industry to ensure you receive the care and attention you need.
• Health consultation: Pharmacists are an excellent source of reliable health information. They can make recommendations based on local factors, adjust medication offerings and ensure you are making informed decisions.
• Customer centric: Perhaps the most important advantage of using a local pharmacy is the level of personalized care you can expect to receive. Pharmacists in these establishments get to know the customers. They build trusting relationships with their patrons. They tend to be more accessible and can offer more flexible services based on the customer. They cater their offerings to meet customer demands. This ensures people get the best care possible.

Services Offered By Independent Community Pharmacy

You can expect to receive the same type of services and products from large chains. Services offered by smaller pharmacies include:

• Community outreach
• Same day medication delivery
• Health consultations
• Medication therapy and disease management
• Coordination with local doctors and other care facilities
• COVID testing
• Administering vaccines (COVID, flu, and others)
• Other services that are in demand within the local community.

The independent community pharmacy plays an important role in the healthcare industry. As personalized health care becomes more important, it is community pharmacies that have the agility and personalized focus to step up and best service the local community.

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