Special month focuses on pharmacists’ role in healthcare

American Pharmacists Month is observed annually during October. It is a celebration of the invaluable work done by pharmacists and the vital role that they play in society. Healthcare providers deserve all the recognition that they can get, especially considering their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pharmacists are no exception.

Pharmacy has an interesting history.  Pharmacists — also known as chemists, apothecaries or druggists — have been around for centuries. The earliest trace of a pharmacy in America dates back to the colonial period when explorations were made to find medicinal plants among American flora. Soon after this, drugstores opened up in parts of North America.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the pharmacy as we know it today came into being. The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy was formed and is said to have set the foundation for a pharmaceutical system in the United States.  Elias Durand played an important role in discovering new medicinal plants and creating new medical chemicals.  Mr. Durand was also a role model for William Procter Jr., the father of the American pharmacy.

Mr. Procter studied and taught at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He not only wrote the first pharmacy textbook but also paved the way for many others to follow. He led the American Journal of Pharmacy for 22 years and served first as the corresponding secretary and later as the president of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 

That group, now known as the American Pharmacists Association, was formed in 1852 as a professional organization for American pharmacists. With over 62,000 current members, APhA is still an active organization raising awareness about and advocating for pharmacists all over the nation. In fact, it was APhA that launched American Pharmacists Month in 2004.  The observance has been celebrated every October since then.

UHS in Greater Binghamton offers wide-ranging pharmacy services for people throughout the Southern Tier, at locations that are convenient to your home, work or even your physician’s office. The sites are close to or on campus with both UHS hospitals.  What’s more, today’s modern pharmacy is part of the complete lineup of services designed around your lifestyle, medical needs and goals for health and wellness.

Patients can be alerted that their prescriptions are ready by automated phone call and if enrolled, texting or via notification from UHS’ MyChart (visit nyuhs.org for more information).

UHS currently has six outpatient pharmacy locations servicing patients across the Southern Tier:  UHS Pharmacy Endicott, at 1302 E. Main St.; UHS Pharmacy Wilson Place, at 52 Harrison St. in Johnson City with around the clock 24/7/365 service; UHS Pharmacy Summit Building, 33 Mitchell Ave. in Binghamton, Suite 108; UHS Pharmacy Vestal, at 4417 Vestal Parkway East; UHS Specialty Pharmacy, inside UHS Binghamton General Hospital, at 10-42 Mitchell Ave. in Binghamton; and the Delaware Valley Hospital Community Pharmacy, at 121 Stockton Ave. in Walton. 

The retail pharmacies offer convenience by saving you time, which gets you home faster, with complete services on-site; quick and efficient turnaround time when processing; and personalized service with many internal cost-saving programs. UHS pharmacies accept all major insurance plans, are open to the general public, dispense all categories of prescription drugs and have access to a broad range of specialty drugs.  Specialty Pharmacy services on-site at UHS Binghamton General offer the high-cost drugs needed to treat complex disease states upon referral by a medical specialist.

The UHS Wilson Place Pharmacy offers retail pharmacy services to the public around-the-clock. The Wilson Place location is the closest 24-hour pharmacy to UHS Hospitals and Lourdes Hospital, making it helpful for patients who are leaving one of the emergency rooms or being discharged after hours and in need of a prescription.

With the recent increased need for many vaccines UHS outpatient pharmacy now offers its newest service line with a pharmacist led vaccine clinic open Tuesday through Friday each week. This service is currently offered at the BGH Specialty Pharmacy location. Pharmacists currently provide Flu, updated Covid boosters and Shingrix vaccine to patients. Scheduling for this is done in advance through an on-line web based scheduling tool at nyuhs.org or through MyChart. Appointments are offered every 15 to 30 minutes so patients can conveniently control their own schedule. Additional vaccines are soon to be added to this service as New York State allows pharmacists to provide expanding vaccine service line needs in their communities safely and conveniently.