Patient

1. Customer Service 

It’s no secret that locally owned businesses (of any kind) are more likely to have excellent customer service, and pharmacies are no exception. 

Because independent pharmacies are not bound to the same bottom lines as corporate pharmacies, their pharmacists and staff have more time and energy to treat customers as individuals rather than numbers. 

According to a study by Consumer Reports, over 50% of patients who filled out prescriptions at an independent pharmacy said that their pharmacist knew them by name – in contrast to only 14% at chain pharmacies. 

 2. Convenience 

The answer is by offering a variety of Prescription Pick-up and Free Delivery options.

Independent pharmacies may be outnumbered in most states, and they may have tighter hours of operation windows, but they also have the flexibility and willingness to deliver medications to their community members – flexibility that chains simply do not have. 

3. Affordability 

Pricing varies, of course, from pharmacy to pharmacy, but the willingness of most local pharmacies to have lower profit margins on medication sets them apart from the big boxes.  

For many people, the price of medications is not a huge concern because their insurance absorbs most of the cost. But even with a good insurance plan, a local pharmacy is sometimes able to offer prices low enough to where purchasing out-of-pocket makes more sense. 

 4. Efficiency 

Vistara Pharmacies have significantly lower wait times because of staff availability and the technologies they use. Answering Phone Calls and getting things done on time is our top priority.    

Independent pharmacies also provided a much greater number of one-on-one consultations.

Another recent study found that independent pharmacies have been much more efficient at administering COVID-19 vaccines.