LITTLE CURRENT—The Edgewater PharmaChoice pharmacy on Water Street in Little Current has opened its doors to the public, offering a host of services that include not only traditional pharmacy services, including medicine packaging, simple compounding, medication review and reconciliation from hospital discharges, but also many geriatric services aimed at providing quality of life and mobility to seniors.
Those specialty services include mobility aids, not only walkers and other supportive devices, but a wide range of electric scooters that can meet just about anyone’s mobility needs, certified compression stockings (with trained staff to assist), opioid replacement therapy (methadone and suboxone), anti-coagulant monitoring and consultation, blood pressure monitoring, medication management (customized) and influenza vaccination.
The pharmacy is the brainchild of Jim Roszel of Whitefish Falls, who has 18 years of experience in operating a pharmacy, including the Espanola Clinic Pharmacy, Shoppers Drugmart, and Loblaws just to name a few.
Mr. Roszel is being joined by a familiar face for many Islanders, as pharmacist Diane Meehan, former owner of the downtown Little Current IDA, will be a pharmacist at the Edgewater PharmaChoice.
Mr. Roszel took The Expositor on a tour of the new store, highlighting many of the unique items that are available at the heavily renovated facility.
One interesting item was a wheelchair with easily detachable/attachable large wheels. By taking the larger wheels off, a second set of smaller wheels tucked under the chair come into play. The trimmed down result is ideal for moving around in tight corners of an apartment or home that hasn’t been designed or retrofitted.
“Our prices are very competitive with Sudbury,” noted Mr. Roszel. “I want people to be able to come in and access the equipment they need here on Manitoulin.” Electric scooters as lost leaders? Mr. Roszel smiles, “I think when people take a look they will find our prices are very favourable to what you would find anywhere off-Island.”
There are still a number of cosmetic enhancements coming to the store, including a swing bridge themed sign and new awnings for the windows on the front street.
The hours of operation are: 9 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 10 am to 2 pm on Sundays. The statutory holiday hours remain a work in progress, but pharmacy services will be available.
The Edgewater PharmaChoice pharmacy is located on Water Street in the site of the historic Edgewater Restaurant.
