Let’s Redefine Pharmacy!
In recent years, more and more people have become disillusioned with the traditional healthcare system and are looking for alternative methods of treatment. At Hometown Pharmacy we saw our patients getting sicker as we filled their prescriptions, knowing that the patients we typically saw on a monthly basis were individuals that would be on medications for life, were not feeling well in general and not living their best life.
We knew that we had to find a way to change how pharmacies treated their patients, how to educate them on their health before it was too late- before disease set in. We knew that we had the opportunity - being a health provider who saw their patients at least every 30 days and also one with 70 locations throughout Wisconsin - to really impact health in our communities and our patients.
Fast forward about eight years and Hometown Pharmacies has made it a priority to offer a unique approach to healthcare that is focused on treating the root cause of patients' health issues rather than just addressing the symptoms; addressing health before it becomes a disease state.
Hometown Pharmacy takes a holistic view of their patient’s needs, examining how lifestyle choices, genetics, environment, and other aspects can affect overall health. They focus on providing education and personalized options that target specific conditions rather than prescribing medications as a one-size-fits-all solution. Additionally, and most importantly, Hometown Pharmacy looks at NUTRITION as an important part of treatment plans for chronic illnesses and mental health issues because it can be an effective way to promote long term healing.
What Makes Pharmacy the Perfect Choice to Educate Patients on Their Health?
Hometown Pharmacy pharmacists and their health teams strive to build strong relationships with their patients in order to gain a better understanding of their medical history and current lifestyle choices. Our pharmacies are in smaller communities and our pharmacy team knows their patients intimately. This allows them to provide personalized treatments which may not always be available through conventional medicine. Furthermore, these relationships can help increase patient compliance by increasing trust between the pharmacy staff and the individual receiving treatment. In this way, independent pharmacies are able to treat illness in all its complexity in order to achieve better results for their patients.
How Does Hometown Pharmacy Use Food as Medicine?
Nutrition plays an important role in treatment plans for both chronic illnesses and mental health issues. By believing that FOOD IS THE BEST MEDICINE Hometown Pharmacy pharmacists and health teams talk to patients about food and provide individualized nutrition advice.
Our pharmacists know what medications our patients are on and therefore, what nutrients their bodies are deficient in due to those medications. With this knowledge and a FOOD FIRST philosophy, we are able to help patients stay healthier longer.
Diet and nutrition can be used to manage symptoms, reduce risk factors, and prevent further disease progression. Additionally, certain nutrients have been found to have positive effects on mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Eating a balanced diet full of nutritious foods is important for overall health and wellbeing, but it is especially beneficial when it comes to disease prevention and treatment. Independent pharmacists understand the power of food as medicine and are able to make personalized recommendations to their patients based on their individual needs.
Our pharmacy team as well as our “community stitchers” , a team of dieticians and health coaches look at the patient's current diet, lifestyle and medical history in order to make an informed decision about which foods or supplements may be beneficial for the patient. They understand how the body responds to different nutrients and are better prepared to answer any questions that a patient may have regarding nutrition.
You can find our community stitchers out in the communities educating schools, organizations and anyone who will listen and participate, how to use personalized nutrition to treat and even prevent symptoms and disease.
Why is Personalized Nutrition Important?
Personalized nutrition recommendations have numerous benefits:
Provides tailored advice that is based on a patient's individual nutritional needs and health goals. This ensures that the advice being given is appropriate for each patient and can greatly improve their quality of life.
Helps to reduce the risk of diseases or illnesses as well as manage existing conditions in a more effective way.
Helps to increase patient's motivation and compliance with lifestyle changes by ensuring that the advice being provided is relevant and meaningful specifically to them by taking into account the patient's lifestyle, nutrition, medication and medical history.
Targets their individual needs and helps them to make long-term improvements in their condition or preventative health.
Additionally, because patients see pharmacists monthly they are also more likely to catch any potential issues before they become serious problems and provide extra support throughout the treatment process. This ensures that patients get the best possible care and can have trust in the accuracy of what they are being told.
What are Some Examples of Personalized Options for Patients?
Examples of personalized advice that can be given by pharmacists include:
Test Don’t Guess - At Hometown we like to know the numbers. Are you deficient in Vitamin D, Omega 3’s or any vitamins, minerals, etc? That’s why we offer Point of Care Testing to find out what our patients actually NEED. Test - Teach - Therapy - Test.
Visit a Hometown nearest you to set up an appointment for a Micronutrient, Vitamin D or Omega 3’s testing www.hometownpharmacyrx.com/Locations
Tailored meal plans to meet nutrient needs
Lifestyle recommendations to improve overall health
Medication/supplement protocols that are optimal for the patient's condition.
Alternative therapies which may be appropriate for the patient's condition. Hometown Pharmacy pharmacists have worked with patients with cardiovascular issues, diabetes, Thyroid issues, ADHD and more to find protocols that work for the patient to help get them off medication or so that they can decrease dosage and feel better.
Manage side effects from medications and other methods to reduce symptoms of disease.
At Hometown Pharmacy we will continue to seek out alternative ways to improve patients lives, to educate our communities on the many health concerns facing our world and REDEFINE PHARMACY.
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