Why Independent Pharmacies Are the Future of Healthcare

As the pharmacy market continues to undergo major changes brought on by large retail bankruptcies and closures, legislative changes, and shifting patient needs, it’s become clear who will come out on top. 

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The future of pharmacy is in the hands of independents. That’s why we at Nimble have chosen to invest in the success of independent pharmacy practices: we know they are the heart and soul of modern medicine. 

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Let’s dive into why we’re confident that independent pharmacies are the future of healthcare.

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Independents Offer Truly Personalized Care

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While you may get the occasional text message from major retail pharmacies, don’t confuse that experience with truly personalized care by a professional who knows you and knows your community. At big box stores and chains, you’re just a number and a means to make a profit. 

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It couldn’t be more different at independent pharmacies. Instead of being one of millions of patients, you’re a familiar face to the owner and staff of your local pharmacy. When the team in charge of your care knows you personally, they take your wellness journey personally as well. 

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This is why there is no real comparison to the kind of care and personal touch you receive at an independently owned pharmacy. In the end, when the staff knows you, knows your family and knows your community, they’ll be better advocates for you and your health. 

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Independents Are Connected Within Their Communities

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Modern healthcare professionals cannot operate in a vacuum. Take the rise of patient-centered care as proof that providers know the value of understanding their patients and their lives to make better, more holistic health decisions. 

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Independent pharmacies are uniquely positioned to deliver on this new vision of interconnected healthcare because they are so tied to their local communities. 

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Whereas national chains and major retailers may understand health trends on a macro level, your local pharmacy will understand what’s impacting your area and what special considerations to keep in mind. Does your community love getting outdoors, hiking, and heading into the woods? A local, independent pharmacy can stock the tools you need to stay protected from bugs, ticks, and the sun while enjoying the great outdoors. Is your community primarily comprised of seniors? Your local pharmacy knows this and plans senior-focused healthcare initiatives and makes sure to have the products your community needs to age with dignity on hand. 

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This attention to what makes your community ‘tick’ isn’t possible on a national level — making independents the clear winner.

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Independents Put Patients First

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While independent pharmacy practices do have to operate in a fiscally responsible manner in order to remain competitive, unlike national chains, turning a profit isn’t always the chief concern for owners. Independent pharmacy owners have always known that healthcare isn’t just about transactions, it’s about relationships.

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Practices that move beyond viewing patients as revenue sources and filling prescriptions as fast as possible are the ones that will win in the long term. Patients deserve more than a one-size-fits-all approach to care — and they will remain loyal to the pharmacists who position themselves as trusted advisors who actually understand their needs.

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The reality is that being good to patients is good for business. Big chains may just be catching up to this fact and trying to remedy the situation with surface-level attempts at personalization, but independent owners have always known this. They’ve perfected the art, and science, of pharmacy.

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Nimble stands behind independent pharmacies because we’re positive that local is better for patients, better for communities, and simply better. Period.