Independent pharmacies, as opposed to mainstream pharmacies, take a crucial position in the healthcare ecosystem of New Jersey and beyond.
Simply put, they bridge the big gap created between mainstream pharmacies and local patients.
These locally owned establishments offer a unique blend of personalized care, community health literacy, patient advocacy, accessible healthcare, community trust, and resilience during challenging times.
For your consideration, this article gives a breakdown of the key roles they play.
Personalized Care
Since they are small and locally owned establishments, independent pharmacies do not experience increased flow of customers, like is the case with chain pharmacies.
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This means they are able to spend more time with their customers, something that does not happen with mainstream chain pharmacies. Their staff are able to accord more time to patients’ concerns and health needs, ensuring effective awareness of their health hurdles and better adherence to medication. Faithful adherence to medication leads to effective and speedy outcomes for various health conditions.
Accessible Health Services
Given the financial and logistical constraints associated with setting up large pharmaceutical outlets and shortage of pharmacists, large corporations are not able to operate in remote, small neighborhoods. This is where independent pharmacies come in; to bridge the gap between health services and local patients in those underserved areas. This ensures that no patient has to face hurdles of missing out or covering long distances to have their prescriptions filled. Due to operational hurdles, mainstream pharmacies operate within specific periods and days, locking out many patients who may require their services during odd hours. Majority of independent pharmacies are run almost 24/7 ensuring that no patient goes without the much-needed health services, even in the wee hours of the night.
Community Trust
By interacting with the members of the community on personal levels, independent pharmacies cultivate a culture of harmony, which then goes on to strengthen the bond amongst various parties. As a result, the patients feel more obliged to turn to them since they have a better listening and understanding of their health concerns.
Supporting Local Economies
In most instances, independent pharmacies are locally owned establishments. They are ideally established with the needs of the community being the core motivation. They therefore source services, staff, and goods from within, hence supporting the economy of the locality. From creation of jobs through sourcing of services like waste management, and delivery programs, store equipment, and independent pharmacies contribute to the local economies in a big way.
Filling Gaps in Healthcare
Let us face it; most mainstream pharmacies are only focused on profit making. This explains the reason you will not find supplementary services like health screenings, immunization, and compounding in those outlets. Being aware of the gap this creates in the healthcare ecosystems, independent pharmacies provide an array of supplementary services. These include immunizations like COVID-19 and seasonal flu jabs among others, health screenings in the form of cholesterol and blood pressure, and creating custom medications for individuals with specific needs.
Patient Advocacy
Due to their proximity to local healthcare outlets, independent pharmacy staff have a well-versed relationship with various healthcare providers to who they refer their patients for advanced care. They may also offer flexible payment options or assistance in navigating insurance and prescription drug plans, helping patients avoid high out-of-pocket costs.
Leveraging Technology
Given the increased operational costs and being scattered throughout the country, mainstream pharmaceutical organizations face a serious hurdle in integrating technology in their operations. Local pharmacies, on the other hand, can easily install networking and other technological protocols to improve their service delivery to patients. For instance, some have apps where you can order medication online and have it delivered to your doorstep, while others have mobile apps that can remind patients to take their medication in the right dosage.
Fostering Health Literacy
The crucial role of community pharmacies in eradicating health illiteracy by educating patients about medications, proper usage, and potential side effects cannot go unrecognized. This personalized attention leads to improved health outcomes amongst local patients.
Resilience in Challenging Times
Their strategic location in the hearts of underserved neighborhoods allows local pharmacists to respond to emergencies, providing essential services and support. For instance, when most businesses were almost closing down during and post-COVID-19 pandemic era, community pharmacists came in handy in delivering medications and vaccines to patients who were quarantined in their homes.
Independent pharmacies are more than just stations for prescription filling; they are a pinnacle of their localities, providing personalized care, resilience in challenging times, health literacy, patient advocacy, community trust, and accessible services.
