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This year, several retail pharmacy chains have closed several stores. You can create something called “Drug desert.” This could mean that drug stores and the additional services they offer will not be available for miles.
Additionally, in areas where other pharmacies are picking up sagging, it could affect current customers.
“The closure of major chain pharmacies often creates ripple effects across the community,” E. Michael Murphy, an assistant professor at Ohio State University’s clinical pharmacy, told Nexstar via email.
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The nearby pharmacies are either independent or part of the chain, and can see “sudden increases in patients,” which “may lead to longer strains and increase the burden on healthcare teams.”
It can also disrupt medical care.
Closing pharmacies in big cities, such as New York City or Philadelphia, could have limited impact. For example, consider the ritual assistance in Philadelphia designated for closure. A 3-minute walk down the road will take you to Walgreens and your local pharmacy.
Within small communities, this may not be the case. Lucas A. Belenblock, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Pharmacy, may need to drive to nearby towns to pick up prescriptions.
“For people who don’t have reliable transport, especially those with seniors and disabled people, traveling a few extra miles can be a serious barrier,” Murphy said. It could be that access to the prescription was delayed and the dose was missed.
Closing pharmacies will also reduce access points to people’s health. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacies can provide vaccines, chronic disease management, emergency consultations, over-the-counter treatments, and specific health tests.
“There’s more going on in pharmacies than ever,” explained Belemblock, outlining how pharmacists will help administer covid vaccines during the pandemic, and for example, additional services they can offer in several states.
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He went on to explain that online pharmacies can help fill the void in shutter drug stores, but they cannot accommodate the additional services offered by pharmacies.
“They also envision reliable internet access, digital literacy and stable housing, which is a barrier for many vulnerable patients,” Murphy said. “For communities that have lost their local pharmacies, online options may fill some of the gaps, but they cannot replace the full range of services offered by community pharmacists.”
Belemblock agreed that mail order pharmacies have a “time and place” because it is convenient, but you need to plan ahead to what certain medications, such as antibiotics, may not be useful.
If your pharmacy is closing soon, Murphy was proactive and recommended that you ask your pharmacist where your prescription is being sent and if the pharmacy has your insurance and a history of medication. He also encouraged people to seek 90-day supply or mail order options for prescriptions if transport is of concern.
Ready to take on former Rite Aid clients such as CVS and Walgreens, Chains says they are ready to welcome new customers.
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Even if your prescription has not moved to a new pharmacy, it is best to make sure your prescription is fulfilled one or two days before the required date, not on the same day as the current supply went out. After that, if you are facing a shorter and longer line, you will not miss the dose.
Murphy also suggested contacting elected officials and urging them to take action.
“While pharmacists are committed to stepping up to meet their needs without appropriate state and federal policy changes to address the broken business models that have led to closures of pharmacies in the first place, we will continue to see pharmacies coming up and patients have to navigate the losses of trustworthy health professionals.”
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