In October, Rite Aid announced it would close all remaining stores, following a multi-year trend of major pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS eliminating thousands of locations.
When the only nearby pharmacy shutters, where can patients go instead? For a growing number of communities, the answer is: nowhere close.
Nearly 16 million people in the United States live in a pharmacy desert, traveling a significant distance to reach the nearest pharmacy. This limited access to medication, vaccinations, and health consultations—which already affects 46% of counties nationwide—will only increase as closures continue.
After two decades leading a community pharmacy, I’ve seen firsthand how patients turn to us as a primary healthcare touchpoint. Now, as more national chains close their doors, a person’s local pharmacy may be the only touchpoint—and a critical lifeline.
Independent pharmacies don’t need to reinvent their model to address the impact of pharmacy deserts. Their relationship-driven approach, supported by innovative technology, offers a scalable solution for care delivery and a key access point for healthcare partners navigating the loss of big-box pharmacies.
The True Cost of Pharmacy Closures
It’s easy to view pharmacy closures as a minor disruption, but the effects ripple far beyond delayed prescription refills. In many cases, the loss of a pharmacy means the loss of a trusted healthcare provider.
In fact, 58% of Americans say they’re likely to visit a local pharmacy to handle a non-emergency issue, with 81% saying they trust a pharmacist to diagnose minor illnesses and prescribe medication.
Pharmacists also remain key drivers of patient medication adherence, with pharmacist-led interventions shown to significantly improve medication adherence in chronic disease. Lacking this support, patients can face a greater risk of disease progression and higher healthcare costs stemming from medication nonadherence.
When pharmacies disappear, so does a vital source of non-emergency and preventive care. However, large chain pharmacies aren’t the only providers equipped to offer these services.
Independent pharmacies already serve more than 15 million patients across the U.S., and two-thirds serve areas with populations under 50,000. Their role will only intensify as national chains recede, particularly in communities at higher risk of experiencing healthcare gaps. In fact, patients aged 65 or older, those from low-income households, and those living in rural communities are more likely to rely on independent pharmacies for accessing pharmacy services.
Because independent pharmacies deliver care tailored to their population’s needs, they are uniquely positioned to fill the void left by their big-box counterparts. However, scaling services sustainably to meet this demand will require further investment in the advanced technology that many independent pharmacies have already adopted.
Why Independent Pharmacies Are Poised to Expand Their Role in Community Care
As pharmacy deserts widen, independent pharmacies are becoming an essential care access point. By combining their community-centered approach with strategic digital tools, they address access gaps in the following ways:
- Meeting patients where they are
Independent pharmacies adapt to the unique challenges of their communities. Unlike large chains that adhere to standard offerings, independent pharmacies often tailor their services to match local demand.
One example is medication adherence packaging. Rather than deliver medication in an unsorted vial, many independent pharmacies organize individual pre-packaged medications that are clearly labeled with the date and time of the dose.
This offering is valuable for people managing chronic conditions, who may struggle to keep track of multiple prescriptions. Likewise, many independent pharmacies offer this service to long-term care facilities, where staff manage complex medication regimens across multiple patients.
Additionally, they might provide delivery services, helping improve access for populations with mobility challenges or people in assisted living facilities. For some independent pharmacies, that delivery zone may extend over 100 miles, enabling them to also extend personalized care to patients well beyond their local footprint.
- Leveraging trusted relationships and delivering targeted support
Pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers in a community. Unlike other care settings that require advance appointments, at a pharmacy, patients can walk in and receive guidance on the spot.
Independent pharmacies often surpass chain and mail-order pharmacies in their ability to connect with patients and address questions about medication side effects, adherence challenges, or cost-related barriers to care. But to engage in these conversations, pharmacists need support juggling competing demands behind the counter.
Here, technology can streamline patient identification, offering targeted clinical alerts that highlight care needs. For example, if a patient is flagged as overdue for a vaccine, a pharmacist can initiate a timely conversation about eligibility and schedule an appointment.
Supported by these real-time alert systems, independent pharmacists are empowered to intervene earlier and engage patients to access key services.
- Reinforcing care through multi-touch communication
Independent pharmacies can extend their reach beyond pharmacy walls through consistent, multi-channel communication with patients.
For example, a pharmacist might send a text or email update with medication management advice or information on available health screenings, such as COVID, flu, and blood pressure testing. For patients living far from their pharmacy, these updates can help them plan visits intentionally and arrive prepared with questions about medication timing or available preventive services.
While independent pharmacies excel at providing personalized care, multi-channel communication extends that care between visits. Timely and relevant outreach helps patients stay informed and reinforces the pharmacy as a proactive partner in their health journey.
Reinforcing the Future of Local Care
The decline of large chain pharmacies leaves many communities at risk of losing essential healthcare services. Yet, it’s important to remember that independent pharmacies offer more than a stopgap solution to this issue.
During my years working as a community pharmacist, I have seen how a well-timed conversation at the counter or targeted adherence interventions can alter a person’s care journey. Ultimately, the strength of today’s independent pharmacies lies in a blend of human touch and tech‑enabled insight.
By combining personalized service with tools that spotlight real‑time care needs, independent pharmacies are supporting patients to not only stay on track with treatment but take an active role in managing their health.
About Kristen Hartsell
Kristen Hartzell, PharmD, is Vice President of Clinical Services at RedSail Technologies, where she leads initiatives that connect pharmacy care, technology, and patient outcomes across a nationwide network of independent pharmacies. A practicing community pharmacist and co-owner of Hartzell’s Pharmacy in Catasauqua, PA, she bridges real-world experience with strategic innovation to help pharmacies thrive amidst change.
