Glasgow pharmacy reflects on frontline work through the pandemic
By Kelly Dean
GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – Governor Andy Beshear declared this week in Kentucky as Health Care Hero Appreciation Week.
The purpose is to celebrate nurses, doctors, nurses and hospital/clinic staff who have worked round-the-clock to treat patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Kentucky’s pharmacies have also played a special role in the pandemic by offer COVID testing and vaccines.
“Working through the pandemic has definitely had its ups and downs,” said Will Andersen, Pharmacy Director at PharMerica. “It’s great that we’re able to help the nursing facilities that we serve. We do provide the COVID vaccine now as well as treatments. And then there’s also been struggles with, you know, staffing recently with the most recent COVID surge.”
Throughout the past eighteen months, Glasgow pharmacy, PharMerica, has provided care to long-term care residents with medicine deliveries and has administered Covid vaccines. The Pharmacy Director recalls the moment when he and his staff had the opportunity to administer the Covid-19 vaccine for the first time.
“It was, you know, sort of monumental to be able to be a part of that vaccine rollout, and to help the elders get that vaccine which dramatically reduced the COVID in the nursing facilities that were hit so hard last year,” said Andersen.
Andersen adds the vaccines became available, they noticed a drastic difference within the nursing homes once vaccines were administered and visitation opened back up.
“A huge difference I’ve noticed recently when I’ve been in facilities is just, you know, seeing the elders, you know, out and about, and to be able to spend time with each other and, and seeing those families able to visit,” said Andersen.
The pharmacy serves 16 different nursing homes sort of across southern Kentucky.
“My staff has shown up every day throughout this pandemic. They’re the reasons that we’re able to serve the elders that we serve and to the staff at the nursing facilities as well because I know that that has been a struggle and they have been there day in and day out,” said Andersen.
This article first appeared on WBKO. You can read the original here.
Recent Posts
-
60 percent of LTC pharmacies warn of closure amid major drug pricing changes
Facing deep losses on high-demand medications, 85% of long-term care pharmacies say they will limit essential services and 60% will close locations without changes to Medicare drug pricing efforts. Those are among the “unintended consequences” revealed in a Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition survey released Wednesday. The trade association has been increasingly vocal about pricing changes set to go into effect in January.
-
More than half of LTC pharmacies may close unless Congress takes action, group says
Up to 60% of long-term care pharmacies may have to close if Congress doesn’t intercede by January, according to a report released Wednesday by the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition.
-
New SCPC Member Survey Shows More than Half of America’s LTC Pharmacies May Close Locations Without Congressional Action
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition, the leading national voice for the long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community which provides essential and legally required services for millions of seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country, today released the results of a new member impact survey on the unintended consequences of Medicare Part D price negotiation policies included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.