Guest Blogger, Robin Rhea, Marketing Manager for Pharmacy Marketplace shares lessons from the road, visiting Community Pharmacies to spotlight their efforts.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to community pharmacies and film our Pharmacy Spotlight series for Pharmacy Marketplace. What started as a chance to capture great stories quickly turned into something more meaningful. Sitting down with pharmacists, technicians, and owners gave me a clearer picture of what daily life really looks like behind the counter—and what truly matters to today’s independent pharmacy teams.
Recent Pharmacy Spotlights
Cumberland Vital Care
Crossville, Tennessee
Cumberland Vital Care is a trusted community pharmacy in Crossville, Tennessee, known for its personalized approach to patient care and commitment to improving health outcomes. By focusing on strong relationships, specialized services, and attention to each patient’s unique needs, their team goes beyond traditional pharmacy services to support the overall well-being of their community.
Gibbs Pharmacy
Lebanon, TN
Gibbs Pharmacy and Compounding Center is Tennessee’s locally owned independent pharmacy located in Lebanon, Tennessee, providing personal healthcare to patients since 1989. Known for its commitment to individualized care, the pharmacy combines trusted service with specialized compounding and a strong focus on building lasting patient relationships to support the health of its community.
Medi-Thrift Pharmacy
Jamestown, Tennessee
Medi-Thrift Pharmacy in Jamestown, Tennessee is a trusted community pharmacy dedicated to providing personalized care and dependable service. With a strong focus on patient relationships and accessible healthcare, their team goes beyond dispensing to support the overall health and well-being of the Jamestown community.
Anderson Drugs
Etowah, Tennessee
Anderson Drugs in Etowah, Tennessee is a locally trusted community pharmacy committed to personalized care and reliable service. With a focus on building strong patient relationships and meeting individual healthcare needs, their team provides support that goes beyond prescriptions to help improve the overall well-being of their community.
The Reality of Community Pharmacy Workflow Challenges
One thing became immediately clear: community pharmacists are incredibly busy. Their days are packed with patient questions, prescription fills, phone calls, clinical services, and constant problem-solving. There is very little downtime. Even carving out 10 minutes to sit down with me required a bit of coordination.
Because of that, pharmacy workflow efficiency is not just a “nice to have," it's critical. Any tool or system that improves pharmacy workflow, reduces manual tasks, or simplifies purchasing decisions can make a meaningful difference. Pharmacists need solutions that are intuitive, fast, and designed to support how they actually work.
PBM Challenges and Underwater Claims Are a Daily Struggle
Another consistent theme in every conversation was the ongoing challenge of working with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Pharmacists are spending significant time addressing underwater claims, navigating reimbursements, and advocating for fair payment.
This is not an occasional issue. It is a daily operational and financial pressure. PBM reimbursement challenges continue to impact independent pharmacies across the country, forcing them to balance patient care with business sustainability.
A Deep Commitment to Patient Care and Community Health
What stood out most, though, was the level of dedication to patient care. Community pharmacists go far beyond dispensing medications, they are deeply invested in the health and wellness of their patients.
They want to know their patients by name, understand their specific conditions, and help them navigate both the clinical and financial aspects of their care. This personalized approach to healthcare is what makes community pharmacy so essential, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The Value of Knowing Your Patients
Many pharmacists shared a common goal: building stronger patient relationships. Patient profiling and engagement are not just marketing strategies, they are core to delivering better outcomes.
When pharmacists truly understand their patients, they can improve medication adherence, identify potential issues earlier, and provide more meaningful care. This is where community pharmacies continue to differentiate themselves from larger chains.
Community Pharmacy Is Getting Stronger Together
Despite the challenges, there is a strong sense of momentum across the industry. Independent pharmacies are finding ways to collaborate, share best practices, and adopt new tools that help them stay competitive.
There is a clear shift toward smarter purchasing, better workflow management, and more strategic pharmacy marketing. Community pharmacy is not standing still, it is evolving.
Why Pharmacy Marketplace Matters
These visits reinforced why solutions like Pharmacy Marketplace are important. When pharmacists have access to tools that streamline pharmacy operations, improve purchasing decisions, and help address PBM-related challenges, they gain valuable time back.
That time can then be reinvested where it matters most: patient care.
Final Thoughts from the Pharmacy Spotlight Series
The Pharmacy Spotlight series highlights individual pharmacies, but together they tell a bigger story, one of resilience, innovation, and commitment to community health.
From workflow challenges to PBM pressures to the desire for stronger patient relationships, one thing is clear: community pharmacists are doing everything they can to serve their patients and strengthen their businesses.
And after seeing it firsthand, it’s clear that community pharmacy is not just surviving, it’s getting stronger together.
Is your pharmacy special too? We'd love to feature you in a Pharmacy Spotlight. We would love to visit your pharmacy and hear your story first hard. Share your story here.