With over 65,000 long-term care facilities and fewer than 1,300 specialized pharmacies, finding the right pharmacy partner is more than just important—it’s essential for resident care.
When you're running a long-term care facility, picking the right pharmacy isn't just another task on your to-do list—it's something that directly affects medication safety, compliance, and the well-being of your residents. But right now, it's not an easy decision.
As of 2023, there are only 1,282 pharmacies in the U.S. that are specialized in (LTC). These pharmacies have to serve more than 65,600 regulated facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living centers, and personal care homes. And with an aging population and a shift toward more home-based care, the need for these pharmacies is only going to grow, making the selection even more critical.
So, how do you choose the right partner and make sure they meet your clinical, regulatory, and budget needs?
Not all pharmacies are set up to handle the unique needs of long-term care. While regular pharmacies focus on walk-in customers and short-term prescriptions, LTC pharmacies need to manage things like chronic disease care, coordinating multiple medications, and following strict rules and regulations.
Here's what to look for in a good LTC pharmacy partner:
With so few LTC pharmacies available, some facilities might be tempted to settle for whatever's available, which can lead to problems like missed deliveries, billing issues, compliance failures, or limited clinical support. In fact, say they might have to cut services or shut down if financial pressures keep increasing. For your facility, that could mean medication disruptions, extra administrative work, and unhappy residents.
Experts recommend going through a structured Request for Proposal (RFP) process to make sure you're picking the best pharmacy. This means clearly outlining what your facility needs, reviewing multiple proposals, and looking at more than just cost.
Consultants at —who help facilities all across the U.S. with pharmacy selection—say that many places miss important details during the process, like how well the pharmacy integrates with your clinical staff, whether they offer helpful reporting tools, or how quickly they respond to issues.
"A pharmacy may seem great on paper, but without the right support systems in place, the partnership can fall apart fast," one consultant shared.
Changing pharmacies doesn't have to be a stressful process. With the right planning, many facilities actually see smoother service and better cost savings after making the switch. Experienced consultants can assist with:
As care moves more into homes and community-based settings, LTC pharmacies are adopting new technologies like telehealth, AI-driven medication management, and remote monitoring.
Facilities that think ahead and choose pharmacy partners who can adapt to these changes will be in the best position to succeed in the face of new regulations and shifting demographics.
Your pharmacy partner should be more than just a service provider—it should be a key asset to your operation. If you're thinking about switching providers or just want to evaluate your current partner, getting advice from LTC pharmacy experts could give you a clearer picture.
