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 This addition to Atlanta’s business community will be a “telepharmacy”.
A telepharmacy works similarly to other pharmacies: when a customer
arrives at the store, a certified pharmacy technician will greet
them and fill their prescription, just as they would in any other
pharmacy. The only difference is that the registered pharmacist who
serves the business is located in a remote location.
When customers want to speak with the registered pharmacist, they
will use a private video screen at the pharmacy to have a live video
conversation with the pharmacist who will answer their questions and
provide counseling on their medications.
The technological support behind this process involves an online
platform that allows for the remote management of pharmacies - which
means a registered pharmacist in one location can remotely monitor
and manage other pharmacies. Telepharmacy is an innovative business
solution designed to help rural communities unable to support a
pharmacy by themselves.
Like many other small, rural communities, Atlanta lost its pharmacy
several years ago. Plans for bringing one back began this past May
when representatives from TelePharm, the Iowa-based company that
will operate the new Atlanta Pharmacy, met with the Logan County
Economic Development Partnership (LCEDP) to gauge community interest
in having a pharmacy in Atlanta.
The LCEDP is also working with TelePharm and the City of Mount
Pulaski to investigate the possibility of returning a pharmacy to
that community. Those plans continue.
The Atlanta Pharmacy will be located in downtown Atlanta, next door
to the Atlanta SuperValu grocery store, at 109 SE Vine Street. It
will have its own front door entrance, and it will be accessible
from inside the SuperValu grocery store. The Atlanta Pharmacy will
primarily offer prescription medications, with the Atlanta SuperValu
grocery store providing over-the-counter medications, greeting
cards, etc.
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Along with dispensing prescriptions, the Atlanta Pharmacy plans to
add medication therapy management, immunization clinics, and health
education sessions covering topics like heart health, bone health,
and diabetes. The Atlanta Pharmacy will focus on community health
and hold monthly events to educate residents on preventive health
practices. The standard operating hours of the pharmacy will be 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Additional evening and weekend
hours may be added if there is sufficient patronage during these
times.
TelePharm is interested in hiring locally to staff the Atlanta
Pharmacy. Certified pharmacy technicians interested in growing a
career with an innovative pharmacy company should email resumes and
cover letters to careers@telepharm.com or contact the Logan County
Economic Development Partnership.
The grand opening of the pharmacy will be coming the beginning of
2016.
Additional information regarding the TelePharm company is
available at its website:
www.telepharm.com.
[Bill Thomas, Logan County Economic
Development Partnership]
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