I heard this phrase the other night and loved it because it spotlighted our rural area as a “Pharmacy Desert.” In most places, the pharmacy desert definition is people living at least 15 miles from a pharmacy.
Maine was called this, but our location is an hour away from any pharmacy. You may have remembered the big rainstorms we had several years ago, and there was no way out of town for three days.
My medicines got delayed, and I ended up sick for a month because of it. The prescriptions were supposed to be mailed out, but they didn’t. Then, we could not get there to pick up the refill.
Even last week one of my husbands medications was not sent out. We ended up taking a ride to get it as we needed groceries. The wait for mail has been delayed many times as well.
Pharmacy Shortages
Maine’s pharmacy shortage is caused by a mix of staffing and economic issues. Smaller, rural areas struggle to attract pharmacists due to fewer incentives and higher workloads.
Big chain pharmacies have also been cutting hours, partly due to low reimbursement rates from insurance companies. Many pharmacists feel burnt out from juggling increased responsibilities, including giving vaccines and managing prescriptions.
Plus, fewer students are entering the field, deepening the problem. This combination has left communities with longer wait times and limited medication access in an already pharmacy desert area.
1. Planning Ahead in Pharmacy Desert Areas
We’ve always planned ahead as we know taking the drive an hour one way and an hour back can take up a day if you also do grocery shopping and stop for lunch or other errands. We also try to pick the best weather day with winter storms lasting from October through April when mud season takes over.
Even in the summertime with big rainstorms there can be flooding with no way around to get out of town. Even friends who come to visit and see our cabinet filled with everyday medicines think we have a pharmacy.
We even signed up for mail delivery emails from the post office to know if they are being sent so we can call to triple check on them.
2. Others Rely On Facebook Friends in Pharmacy Deserts
We often see people posting on local Facebook pages asking if anyone is going into the big town near the pharmacy. Oftentimes, others will pick up prescriptions for them. It’s nice when people can coordinate to do that. It’s not like we have Ubers around here to drive people.
They used to be a senior bus taking seniors for the hour ride but I haven’t seen in lately.
3. Change To 90 Day Prescriptions
Some of our friends have changed over to a 90 day mail order prescripton. It sounds like a great idea for many people.
We haven’t done this for a few reasons: One, we may be moving and two, what if that gets delayed? We don’t want to drive half way across the country to get our prescriptions.
It also takes time to set up as you have to contact your doctor to have them change the presescriptions to 90 days and then call your medical insurance company and spent an hour on the phone like I did last year to inquirer.
4. Don’t Get Sick or Get in An Accident
That sounds easier said than done as we’ve experienced both over the years. Besides getting hit by a mouse while driving we have both had snowmobile accidents.
Where the weather is extreme there is more opportunities for accidents to happen whether you are on the trails or just walking in your icy driveway. Other times it may be your pet that needs attention.
Veterinarians are not easily found in rural areas as many not taking in new patients. I had to call last week to inquire about getting our dog spayed.
The answering machine mentioned they were not taking on any new clients. Thank goodness she already had her first visits there already.
Conclusion: Living in Pharmacy Desserts
If you are thinking of moving to a rural area, check out where the closest pharmacy is. Especially if you are older and want to retire there or have little kids that get sick often. Our next location we have planned has several pharmacies within 25 minutes.
But if you love being out in the woods prepare to have as much medicine in the medicine cabinet in case you or your loved ones get sick. And of course, don’t forget about your pet.
