Nobody does it better: This annual feature salutes independent pharmacies and the many special services they provide

Going the extra mile. Bending over backwards to serve. That's what sets some independent pharmacies apart. To learn who these standouts are, Drug Topics once again invited wholesalers across the United States to nominate their independent pharmacy customers that excel in four categories:

Our questionnaire drew over 60 nominees this year. This tribute to them coincides with American Pharmacists Month now under way.

Here is a look at some of the pharmacies that are simply the best:

Streu's Pharmacy Bay Natural is the new name of the pharmacy. The change reflects the addition of a successful natural products business the partners bought.

When the three pharmacists learned that the owner of a leading health nutrition store was retiring, the trio decided to buy the business. "We brought in most of their employees, and we now have a nutritionist/ nurse. It has been well worth it, because their clientele followed us over," said Kirchner.

In addition to carrying vitamins, skin care products, organics, grocery, and bulk foods, the pharmacy offers wellness classes for a small fee in the large classroom it added. It also offers free CE programs for nursing home employees.

In the retail pharmacy, the partners added a gift section, a coffee bar, and a smoothie bar. Kirchner said he wanted the pharmacy to be unique and to be able to "challenge what's out there."

When it came to the physical design of the pharmacy, the entire staff was divided into teams. "They designed the long-term care pharmacy, the retail pharmacy, the storeroom, the offices, and the kitchen. They decided where the walls would be, where the work stations would be. The best of every idea was on the table before we started. It was like each of us having a piece of the building," said Kirchner.