Pharmacy closures creating pharmacy deserts in susceptible communities
As pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS shut their doorways throughout the nation, the absence is popping some communities into pharmacy deserts.
- Heritage Pharmacy, owned by Katie Parrish, will open in Pinckney in 2025.
- The pharmacy will supply prescriptions, immunizations, over-the-counter healthcare merchandise and lightweight medical tools.
- The enterprise will fill a void within the village, which has been and not using a pharmacy since Ceremony Assist closed in 2024.
PINCKNEY — Within the coming months, the Village of Pinckney might be a pharmacy desert no extra.
Heritage Pharmacy, owned by native Katie Parrish, will open at 211 W. Most important St. in 2025 after Parrish finalizes wholesaler and insurance coverage contracts. She’s already acquired the required state pharmacy and managed substance licenses.
Parrish managed a Ceremony Assist in Lansing for a number of years and has important business expertise. It is becoming that her enterprise replaces the village’s Ceremony Assist, which closed in 2024.
“I’m a first-time pharmacy proprietor right here, so I don’t need to put the cart earlier than the horse,” Parrish stated. “I’m working to safe product and have the aptitude of billing insurance coverage firms and (Medicaid and Medicare) for (prescriptions). I’m within the midst of negotiating these contracts, in order that’s my focus.”
The identify “Heritage” comes from an annual market sequence run throughout the state by Parrish’s mother and father. The occasions appeal to tons of of distributors promoting dwelling décor and seasonal merchandise. As soon as her pharmacy opens, Parrish plans to promote related merchandise inside.
Do not count on the everyday meals, beverage and private merchandise carried by different pharmacies, Parrish stated, although you may discover loads over-the-counter healthcare merchandise and lightweight medical tools.
“Along with allotting prescriptions, we’ll present complete immunizations, so (prospects) can get their vaccinations,” Parrish stated.
Constructing proprietor Alan Ostlund stated he entered right into a lease settlement with Parrish on Oct. 1. She’s been overseeing buildout ever since. The constructing, for now, additionally hosts an Exalt Health — although possession started redeveloping a vacant house throughout the road in 2024. A grassy space adjoining to the pharmacy might home a 3rd improvement, Ostlund stated.
The constructing was a Ford dealership almost 100 years in the past, Ostlund stated, and has advanced into a number of retailers owned by completely different native traders. Ostlund bought the property over a decade in the past, and it is housed Ostlund Providers — a plumbing, HVAC and electrical companies firm — for a lot of that point.
“It’s been a reasonably easy course of,” Ostlund stated of the partial transformation right into a pharmacy. “It’s one thing we badly want on this space.”
Parrish has already organized for relations to help her as pharmacy employees. She anticipates bringing in two licensed pharmacy technicians and a pharmacist she’s labored with for a few years.
“We need to be a pleasant, environment friendly and accessible pharmacy that actually helps this group,” Parrish stated, noting the dearth of pharmacies in and across the village. “I would like (the pharmacy) to assist our potential to enhance well being outcomes for native residents. The inhabitants has to journey a (distance) to get to an area pharmacy nowadays.”
— M. Alan Scott is a contract author for The Livingston Each day. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.
