Idaho State University’s Bengal Pharmacy will celebrate grand opening of fourth telepharmacy

Citizens in small towns across Idaho are receiving the increased health benefits of having access to a local pharmacy, due to the efforts of Idaho State University’s Bengal Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, and community partners, including Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. A fourth telepharmacy location operated by Bengal Pharmacy staff opened in Kendrick on Jan. 22. The rural Idaho towns of Challis, Council and Arco celebrated similar openings of Bengal Telepharmacy locations in 2017.

Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmaceutical care using telecommunications and other information technologies to patients in locations who do not have direct contact with a pharmacist. Prescriptions are filled on location at the pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist.

 “I think these telepharmacy locations have been a fantastic benefit for citizens in rural areas of Idaho,” said ISU’s College of Pharmacy Dean Paul Cady. “One of our missions of the college and the health sciences division at ISU is to help meet the health needs of these rural citizens. We were able to help build this model in Idaho and help train future pharmacists to provide care in rural settings who otherwise would not have convenient access to a pharmacy and the care that a pharmacist can provide.“

The grand opening on Thursday, April 5 will feature public tours of the Kendrick location, at 509 E. Main Street, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. At 1:15 p.m., attendees will hear from Gritman Medical Center’s CEO, Kara Besst and Dr. Rex Force, vice president for health sciences at ISU, followed by a ribbon cutting and light refreshments.

The Kendrick Bengal Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans, including Idaho Medicaid, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed for lunch between 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pharmacists can be reached by calling 208-289-3075.