About the Philadelphia Association Of Retail Druggists

In step with the rest of society, the business of the independent pharmacists has been altered by the advent of computers. Most markedly, the transfer of vital patient information, which was once a lengthy procedure, can be completed almost instantaneously through a comprehensive computer database. The benefits of this system extend from the pharmacist to the patient as medical and financial information can be quickly utilized to prevent abuse of medication and to verify insurance coverage. As they live and work in this computer age, some pharmacists are touched by nostalgia when they think back to times when Coca Cola signs that read "Have a Coke while you wait for your prescription" covered the walls of pharmacies and the bulk of their time was spent compounding medications. "Compounding medications was a lot of fun for me ... I miss it," recalls Sid Soltoff, who was the owner of Edge Pharmacy since 1950. Although the Coca Cola signs are gone and medications are now distributed by large pharmaceutical companies, independent pharmacists still play an integral role in maintaining the health and well-being of patients throughout their communities. In fact, many community pharmacists have the pleasure of seeing multiple generations of a single family patronize their pharmacy.

The personalized relationship that has developed between the independent pharmacist and his and her patient has been threatened with the arrival of HMOs and drugstore chains. Since 1950, the number of independent pharmacists in the Philadelphia region has had a significant decrease. These numbers could continue to drop as restrictive managed care programs have the potential to hinder the continuation of independent pharmacy.

As we approach the 21st century, PARD is working to meet the challenges posed by pharmacy chains and third parties on the financial, political, and medical fronts. There is strength in numbers and PARD is serving as the collective voice of independent pharmacists throughout the Philadelphia region. PARD will fight to ensure that independent pharmacy continues to support communities with the personal care and knowledge that it has provided throughout the centuries.

Proud to be American 09-11-2001