Five New Year’s Resolutions for Independent Pharmacy Owners

The upcoming year will be filled with many exciting opportunities for pharmacy owners.

Independent pharmacies have played an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as community advocates for vaccine education and administration. In the National Community Pharmacy Association’s 2021 NCPA Digest, the organization highlighted a variety of services offered by independent community pharmacies, ranging from medication therapy management and medication synchronization services to vaccines and blood pressure monitoring.¹ Drug Topics® interviewed 3 pharmacy owners who are making a difference throughout their communities by going above and beyond for their patients to find out what their New Year’s resolutions are for 2022. 

Mayank Amin, PharmD, MBA, owner of Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, can often be seen dressed as Superman as he administers vaccines in his community, where he is considered a true hero.

Skippack Pharmacy offers a variety of services, such as medication therapy management, free prescription delivery, drug disposal, and medication synchronization. “COVID-19 has brought a variety of challenges to many different professions, especially health care,” Amin said.

“These challenges have led to opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as we have been given our biggest task of providing direct patient care to millions in our country.” Amin’s New Year’s resolution is to be a trusted and accessible health care provider in his community through providing immunizations and preventive-health programs. 

Damien Simmons, PharmD, is the owner of Atlantis Pharmacy in Atlantis, Florida, where Amanda Bensin, PharmD, is a star pharmacist who has played an active role in educating patients about and administering COVID-19 vaccines across south Florida.

In 2022, Simmons and Bensin are hoping to bridge the gap between the medical community and the patients they serve, so that they can be the pharmacy that meets patient needs. Simmons and Benson’s New Year’s resolution is to provide even more point-of-care services now that they have increased pharmacy staff. 

Beverly Schaefer, RPh, is the co-owner of Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy in Seattle, Washington, a community pharmacy that offers a variety of unique services including travel immunizations, travel health consults, and compounded pet prescriptions.

“COVID-19 has taught people that pharmacies are accessible in every community and have the ability to provide high-demand services in a timely and easily accessible manner. My goal for 2022 is to move my pharmacy business to a more health-oriented focus, staying healthy at every stage and age of life,” Schaefer said.

This health-focused resolution would include a new patient consultation service focused on health for the first half of 2022 and would assist individuals in changing or improving their diet and nutrient intake, as well as their use of supplements and prescription drugs.

“No other health professional is doing what pharmacists [are] doing to improve patient health,” Schaefer added. Schaefer’s other New Year’s resolution is to return to traveling, one of her passions that also helps to bring new insights to her travel immunization and travel consult programs. 

Reference

1. NCPA releases 2021 digest report. News release. NCPA. October 11, 2021. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2021/10/11/ncpa-releases-2021-digest-report