Primary Care Pharmacies

By Caren Chesler, NJ Spotlight.com

Over the 20 years Mark Taylor has been a pharmacist, he's seen customers come into his store and pull their pants down or yank their shoes off to see if he could identify a swelling or a rash.

That sort of behavior is likely on the rise: While the economy remains in a slump and people continue to lose health benefits, it's becoming more common for them to turn to their pharmacists rather than their doctors to address minor health problems.

"It's definitely more prevalent now than ever before," said Taylor, who owns Jersey Shore Pharmacy in Egg Harbor Township.

To meet the needs of their customers, pharmacists today provide services that were once the province of primary care physicians. Many offer a battery of vaccinations, from the more common, like those for influenza and pneumonia, to the more specialized, like tetanus, diphtheria, and meningitis. And some of the chain drugstores like Walgreens and CVS now have walk-in clinics staffed with nurse practitioners who can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses like strep throat, bladder infections, pink eye, and ear infections.

This trend isn't just about health and healing, however.

"We're always looking to offer more services," Taylor said. "You're always looking for ways to get people into your store."

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