Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Pocahontas County Family Resource Network vacated its office on the first floor of the Community Care Building on Third Avenue, but the office didn’t stay vacant for long.
By November 25, the space was transformed into the Community Care Pharmacy and was open to the public.
Community Care West Virginia’s Director of Pharmacy Joshua Dunn said the healthcare providers who work in Marlinton made the recommendation to turn the space into a pharmacy to better serve the area.
“It took approximately six months from the time we first contacted the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy until we opened our Community Care Pharmacy in Marlinton,” he said. “We are thrilled to meet an important need by providing the community with accessible, quality pharmacy services.”
The pharmacy is helmed by two pharmacists, one, who travels from Maxwelton, and Marlinton native Gabrielle Morgan.
Morgan began her career as a pharmacist at Pocahontas Pharmacy before she joined the Community Care family and worked at the Green Bank branch pharmacy.
“My desire to become a pharmacist stemmed from my strong interest in science and passion for helping others,” Morgan said. “I became intrigued by the field of pharmacy and the profound impact pharmacists have on improving patient health outcomes.
“Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professional and that is one of my favorite aspects of my job,” she continued. “This career allows me to actively engage with my patients and contribute to the well-being of the community in a meaningful way.”
The pharmacy staff also includes Crystal Halterman and Hannah Cooper, both of whom have worked at other pharmacies in the county.
In addition to filling prescriptions, Morgan said there is a small selection of over-the-counter medications available in the lobby and if she sees a need to add more, she will.
“I foresee that expanding when we see the need,” she said. “We can order for people. If there is something specific you couldn’t find in town, we could try to look it up and order it.”
Although the pharmacy is under the Community Care umbrella, you do not have to be a patient of the clinic to use it. Morgan wants to assure the community that the pharmacy is open to everyone in the community who needs a prescription filled or has questions about medication.
“I would really like to highlight the fact that we are open to the public no matter where you go to the doctor,” she said. “You do not have to be a patient of Community Care to use our pharmacy. Community Care Pharmacy of Marlinton is an open-door pharmacy, meaning we serve not only patients from our health clinic, but all patients in the community.”
The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday – Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
