Talks Underway to Bring Pharmacy Services Back to Victor

Last week, members of the Victor Health Center board, the Victor Community Development Association board, and Grinnell Regional Medical Center, met with a pharmacist/entrepreneur to talk about the possibility of bringing pharmacy services back to Victor.

Earlier this summer, Phillip Pharmacy closed its Victor location and relocated all its activity at its other pharmacy in Brooklyn. Since then the Brooklyn pharmacy has obtained a new owner. Todd Thompson, pharmacist and owner of Remedy Drug in Montezuma, just purchased the Brooklyn pharmacy from Phillip Pharmacy. Thompson is considering the possibility of expanding to offer pharmacy coverage in Victor again.

“Our focus is working with small communities to keep pharmacy service available locally,” Thompson says. “I was really happy to hire Erin Riffel, Pharm.D., when I purchased the Brooklyn Pharmacy. She is a top notch pharmacist and has such strong local ties.”

Thompson, the VCDA, the health center board, and GRMC are exploring various options to bring a pharmacy back to Victor. The groups are examining locations, possible services and hours, and staffing needs. The largest obstacle to overcome is approval from the state pharmacy board.

“Todd Thompson has been a great partner in Montezuma working with Dr. J.B. Paulson and GRMC to provide outstanding pharmacy services there,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO, which manages the Victor Health Center. “Having a pharmacy in Victor is important to the viability of the Victor clinic. We stand ready to assist Todd in any way in retuning pharmacy service to Victor.”

Leonard Seda, president of the VCD agrees. “We are thrilled to be working with Todd Thompson to make the Victor Pharmacy a real community asset. Many people have commented on what a loss it was when Phillips closed the pharmacy. VCD has been working hard to make sure we get back this vital downtown business.”

Bill Lynch, chair of the Victor Health Center board, says: “We are excited that Todd Thompson has such a focus on working with smaller communities to bring pharmaceutical service back to Victor and help make sure patients at the Victor clinic have access to their needed medications. It is also exciting to be exploring other services such as home oxygen.”

Thompson is working with the board of pharmacy to obtain the appropriate licensure.

“I hope to get a time frame established very soon for re-opening a pharmacy in Victor. In the meantime, we will gladly deliver prescriptions to Victor residents,” Thompson says.

Victor residents may use the old Philips Pharmacy number to call the Brooklyn Pharmacy for prescriptions. The number is 319-647-3322. It will be listed under Victor Pharmacy in the new phone books this fall.