About Drug Stores
Drug stores continue to change based on their expanding roles and requirements. The days of the local druggist have evolved into the 24/7 pharmacy as the drug store changes to meet marketplace conditions. Some things remain unchanged, but other things have changed the drug store into something that it never was before, as the days of the small independently owned drug store give way to the giant chains.
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What are they?
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Drug stores are stores that sell medicine and other consumer items. They are often like convenience stores combined with a pharmacy. Many drug stores also specialize in developing photos and selling seasonal items like holiday candy. Other items like food, toys, garden supplies and more are available as a convenience to the customer.
History
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Originally, drug stores were locations where you could get anything that the traditional pharmacist might make for you. Soda water, flavored syrups and other items were on the menu at counters in drugstores across the nation. According to a copy of the "ERA Formulary" (a kind of druggist's cookbook) from 1914, the drug store filled the role of the place to go for the local chemist. Druggists mixed varnishes, sodas, toiletries, pesticides and anything else that you might need. Drug stores were not in the business of exclusively selling medicine. In fact, today you still see drug stores that sell non-medical items, though pharmacists play a much more specialized role these days.
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Types of Drug Stores
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Some drug stores are open during the traditional hours, while others are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are even drug stores with a drive-through window. Some drug stores offer scheduled and in-depth patient consultations as well as simple medical tests for things like cholesterol and osteoporosis at reasonable prices. Some independent drugstores remain more traditionally run as small businesses, though many of these have closed in recent years. Changes in insurance reimbursement methods and competition with larger chain drug stores seem to be the primary factors.
Tricks of the Trade
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Usually, the first thing that greets you when you enter the drug store is not the pharmacy, as the name might seem to imply. Typically the pharmacy is placed far in the back. This was done so that people could see the other items for sale on their way to get their prescriptions. Having a pharmacy in a store also gives the patients something to do while they wait for their prescriptions.
Drug Store Business Forcast
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The market for medicine/drug store revenue and the overall GDP are not always correlated. In recent decades, the baby-boom generation has been a source of revenue for drug stores in both their medicine sales and for their other merchandise. Even after baby boomers have reached senior citizen status their value to the survival of the drug store is expected to continue for many years thanks to longer lifespans and higher utilization of prescription services than previous generations.
How Has the Role of the Druggist Changed?
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The druggist is now known as the pharmacist. The expertise of the pharmacist has developed from historically being a "jack of all trades" to being a master of one trade, namely medicine. Currently, pharmacists graduate with a doctorate, though as few as 20 years ago they could practice with a bachelor's degree. A few pharmacists can still be found who have a bachelor's degree, though they still have to pass state certification exams.
The Expanding Role of the Drug Store
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In some states, druggists have sought limited prescription power relating to certain medications, allowing them to dispense medications upon diagnosis from a doctor. The new trend also sees some locations expanding their services with diabetic specialists who consult on-site with patients (though these are still experimental). Drug stores are required to give patient consultation to any patient that requests it in specific circumstances or they jeopardize their relationship with certain revenue streams.
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