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Jennifer Metcalf
Hayden Health Mart Pharmacy
4086 Alabama State Hwy 160
Hayden, Ala. 35079
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jennifer Metcalf virtually grew up in the pharmacy business, frequently visiting the pharmacy where her father and stepmother both worked as long-term care pharmacists and accompanying them on their visits to nursing homes. Her father, she notes, helped launch the first long-term care pharmacies in the country. “I always thought it was the greatest thing in the world,” she says. “It really piqued my interest in pharmacy.”
It also inspired her to follow in their footsteps to Samford University, where she obtained an RPh degree. However, she found retail pharmacy more appealing because of the opportunity for community engagement, and after graduation she initially went to work for a chain pharmacy.
Metcalf’s goal, though, was to open her own pharmacy to serve her community, and she realized that ambition in 2004, when she opened her first location. She now owns two pharmacies in Blount County, located about six miles apart. They are the only pharmacies in that part of the county.
Both are situated in rural communities north of Birmingham: Hayden Family Pharmacy in Hayden and Shipp’s Discount Pharmacy in Warrior. One is located across from an urgent care center, while the other is close to schools in the town. According to Metcalf, the customer base consists mainly of seniors who have common health problems such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.
The locations have shaped the practices of the two pharmacies. The pharmacy near the schools performs a lot of immunizations and wellness screenings, while the pharmacy near the urgent care center often handles coughs, colds and emergency prescriptions.
“Recently we’ve partnered with a local gym to provide wellness screenings and lab tests, such as cholesterol and blood sugar screening, to help their clients track their fitness regimens and progress in dealing with obesity,” Metcalf says. “It’s a new initiative, but it’s going great so far.”
In addition, the pharmacies provide prescriptions for hospice patients on a 24/7 basis, so hospice nurses can call any time and get a script filled. Furthermore, Metcalf and her pharmacy teams hold vaccine clinics at several local businesses. The service has been a win-win for both the pharmacies and the businesses, which experience fewer sick leaves, and Metcalf intends to expand the offering this year. Medication therapy management (MTM) is another service that has been well received by customers, Metcalf says. Her teams proactively call patients and encourage them to come in for comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs), during which the pharmacy staff remind the patients about refills and emphasize the importance of taking their meds.
“Sometimes patients don’t understand or realize why they’re taking their meds,” Metcalf explains. “This really helps them understand and adhere to their medication regimens. Looking ahead, we’re planning to offer diabetes education and point-of-care testing for conditions like strep and flu.”
Underlying Metcalf’s approach to pharmacy practice is a heart-felt dedication to her communities. The pharmacies regularly donate to support student athletics, student bands and the local police. Metcalf and her pharmacy teams view their customers as if they were family members, she says.
“Being a local pharmacy means we’re deeply rooted in the community,” she says. “These aren’t just people we hardly ever see; they’re our neighbors, our friends. We know their families, their kids, their struggles. When they come in, we ask about how their loved ones are doing, how school is going or how they’re coping with a particular hardship.
“That personal touch makes all the difference. They know we genuinely care; it’s not just about filling prescriptions — it’s about being there for each other.”
Metcalf pays tribute to her father as her greatest mentor, who provided her with invaluable lessons about values and the pharmacy business. In particular, he stressed the importance of treating employees and customers well.
“I’m lucky to have some of the best employees I could possibly have,” she says. “They all work together seamlessly across both stores. They’re the whole reason why we’re so successful, and they make my job so much easier.”
With that kind of commitment, it is no surprise that Hayden Family Pharmacy was one of three finalists for Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year for 2024. “Being named a finalist was such an honor,” says Metcalf. “There are so many deserving pharmacies across the country. These are tough times, and we’re all trying to expand our clinical services to support our patients and maintain our business. That’s why it’s so great when pharmacists and business owners can come together at McKesson ideaShare to talk about things, and we can all learn from each other. I got so many great ideas from others at ideaShare; it was an invaluable experience.”
