Licensed Pharmacist Harpreet Chowli is now in charge at the Millbrook Pharmacy.
Customers of the Millbrook Pharmacy are aware that something changed this fall.
In late summer, Steve Susko sold the pharmacy to Harpreet Chowli, a licensed pharmacist who has practised for more than 10 years. Hers is not the only new face in the store: there are new faces everywhere, many of them moving quickly between the dispensary and the back room.
With the proliferation of staff, one might conclude that Steve was a superstar given how many staff are required to replace him. Of course he was a superstar, but another reason for the increase in staff is that the business at the Millbrook Pharmacy has changed along with its ownership.
Today the pharmacy employs four pharmacists, including Steve who works several days a week. There are also two registered technicians and many other staff. When the business changed hands, the new owner incorporated another, separate business into the Millbrook location. Behind the retail area is a commercial dispensary serving nursing and retirement homes and shelters from the GTA, Port Hope and Peterborough area. Until recently, this business was based in North York, and many of its staff are now employed in Millbrook. Staff travelling between the pharmacists at the front and the dispensary at the back are collecting prescription drugs that are packaged in blister packs. This packaging system puts prescriptions into strips divided by the time and day they should be administered, with a weekly strip for each customer. This packaging is a security feature that improves the timeliness and accuracy of dosage for patients with complex prescriptions. Delivery drivers arrive daily to pick up pharmaceutical orders to deliver them to the commercial clients.
The retail operations will continue as usual, and once established, Ms. Chowli hopes to introduce some educational sessions about common health concerns for the community. The hours of operation are unchanged, but there is an after-hours service available on Monday to Thursday in case of emergency.
At the moment, Ms. Chowli spends the week living about the pharmacy, returning to her Brampton home for the weekend. This is a temporary solution until she and her husband, who works remotely, find a home to purchase in the area. Staff from the North York business are also looking to get established in the area, which seems to be a welcome change from living conditions in the GTA. Welcome to Millbrook!