Filling customers” needs for medication management and medical equipment
By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Business name: Bouvier Pharmacy & Home Medical Solutions
Address: 515 Lincoln St., Marlborough
Owners: Phil Bouvier, Brian Bouvier
Phone: 508-485-0432
Website: www.bouvierpharmacy.com
How have you stayed in business for 112 years?
“Our unofficial theme is “we'se older than the Red Sox.” My dad carved out our niche by offering custom medicine-on-time packaging, starting our medical equipment business and differentiating with service. If you want customer centric care, that's what we do. We'se growing faster than we ever have, because this is what people want,” said Brian Bouvier, who recently joined Bouvier Pharmacy after 16 years with Fidelity as the fourth generation to run the family business. His father, Phil, remains president.
“We provide a level of holistic, high touch service the big store chains want no part of. People say just go to Bouvier's and they'sl take care of it.”
Who are your customers?
“Beyond those living independently, a major growth part of our business is working with people in assisted living facilities or group homes. We reach an agreement with a facility to be the preferred pharmacy provider, train their residents and staff on our custom packaging and then we service each individual resident. We will do vaccine clinics or diabetic shoe fittings or make available our respiratory therapists to help those on oxygen or with sleep apnea and, of course, everyone loves free delivery,” Brian said.
How does your medication management program work?
“Our Medicine Management program to help reconcile and manage medications is one of our most important services for individuals. A large percentage of hospitalizations are medication-related and completely avoidable.? People are on so many pills that they take them wrong or they are getting pills from multiple places and doctors so no one is managing the whole picture.
“We offer a monthly service to folks on a lot of pills, pre-packaging all their meds on monthly cards, with separate cards for each time of day. We coordinate with the doctors, manage and consult on dose changes and refills and can even package over-the-counter medications as well.
“Most importantly, we send a pharmacist to the house to review all the medication and teach customers or caregivers how to use the program. They will also reconcile the pills customers are on and those they no longer take. We'sl dispose of anything outdated or not currently prescribed to be sure that only the correct medications are in the house.”
Does insurance cover this plan?
“There is a $10 per month fee and otherwise only normal drug co-pays apply which in most cases are the same anywhere,” Brian said.
What medical equipment do you carry?
“Our biggest medical equipment categories are oxygen and CPAP, diabetic shoes and ostomy products, but we also carry everything from breast pumps and stockings to scooters and lift chairs. We have staff that takes care of all the insurance and clinical paperwork. We are finding that more and more doctors refer patients to us because they know we are “customer first” something, they say, is far different from the national companies.”
Bouvier Pharmacy is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and is closed Sunday. It offers 24-hour emergency service. For more information including resources for caregivers, see the website, www.bouvierpharmacy.com.
