Dr. Tim
Murphy, pharmacist at the new independently-owned Capitol Hill Care
Pharmacy, began dispensing prescriptions on August 12 from the same
location previously abandoned by a major drug store chain. The
totally remodeled pharmacy, which is in the Penn Medical Building, is
part of a trend that started
with the new millennium.
"After a decade of seeing the number of independent pharmacies
decrease, the year 2000 begin a new trend where the number of
independent pharmacies is increasing," says Deleisa Johnson, Vice
President of Communications for the National Community Pharmacists
Association. "I think our numbers will continue to increase as more
doctors and patients demand a higher level of service and timeliness,"
added Murphy.
Just like the old neighborhood supermarket, bank, and department
stores, the neighborhood pharmacy was a vanishing breed. In the
past decade, such familiar Washington area pharmacies such as
Fairfax
Village, Brook & Thomas, and Ayres Pharmacy have disappeared.
Even with the increase in independent pharmacies, less than half of all
pharmacies in the United States are independent operations.
Before opening day, one of Murphy's
first tasks was to hire a store
designer, who redesigned the space to include a much larger stock
room. "We needed more space because there are now more drugs
available and to stock then when the previous owners planned the
spacing," says Murphy.
"Epivir for HIV,
Prozac for depression, or Zantac for ulcers just didn't exist
until a few years ago," he says. Modern pharmacies also
need space for computers that let the pharmacists know which drugs will
interact with each other negatively.
Murphy, who is a 1987 graduate of Howard University's School of
Pharmacy and has worked for several major chain drug stores, added, "I
am happy to be from under the regime of a large drug corporation.
Working for an independent pharmacy, means I will have more time to
provide personal
service to my customers rather than dealing with corporate issues."
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Dr. Tim
Murphy
650 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. USA
Tel 202-548-0008
Fax 202-548-0017
Monday thru Friday 9a to 6p
Saturday 10a to 2p
Specializing in Medical
and Surgical Supplies
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