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BAYBORO, N.C. — Bayboro Pharmacy and Wellness Center embodies the future of pharmacy practice, one that has evolved beyond simply dispensing medications to encompass a holistic approach to supporting individuals’ health and wellness.
“I’m very thankful that we have modern medicine, which saves lives every day,” says Bayboro owner and pharmacist Lori Altman. “But I do think that medications are over-prescribed. I would like to see more natural remedies, more holistic health and less dependence on pharmaceuticals.
“I think we have a large pocket of the population that’s ready for that, and we’re ready for it, so I think in the future, pharmacy is going to be in a beautiful position to blend the best of both worlds, and our population is really going to benefit.”
Altman’s pharmacy journey began while in high school, after her grandmother got her a job at a local chain drug store. Although hired to be a cashier, the staff saw her aptitude for pharmacy and trained her to be a technician. In college she initially set her sights on a medical degree, but later decided a career in pharmacy would offer more flexibility with her personal life. She gave birth to her first child 10 days after graduating from pharmacy school.
After graduation, Altman returned to Pamlico County, N.C., where she was born and raised, and went to work in a small independent pharmacy in Bayboro, the county seat. She had worked there happily for nine years when the owner decided to sell to a large chain. But events dictated otherwise, and two weeks later Altman ended up the new owner of the pharmacy.
Thirteen years have since passed and, together with her husband and co-owner Jonathan, Altman has developed a pharmacy practice that is geared to the particular health care needs of her community, with critical patient services including diabetes education, vaccinations, point-of-care testing and other disease state management services.
Bayboro is a small rural community with a population of just around 3,000. The pharmacy consequently serves the entire county and two neighboring counties as well. There is little industry to provide jobs for young people, Altman notes, so Pamlico County’s population of 13,000 is heavily weighted toward seniors and retirees, many of whom are drawn by the area’s abundant natural beauty.
As a result, the population faces numerous age-related health problems, including diabetes. According to Altman, one in three residents of Pamlico County have diabetes, placing the county in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Diabetes Belt. This designation includes the 640 counties across the country with the highest diabetes rates per capita.
Altman developed an interest in the disease during pharmacy school. As a result, she volunteered one year to work at a camp where young patients with type 1 diabetes were taught how to manage their condition and administer insulin independently.
“I think that’s where my love of education started, because I saw what was happening to these young kids and how we could make a difference in their lives and empower them,” she recalls.
Altman partnered with the local health department early on to offer free diabetes education, which was well received by residents. In 2015, she discovered that it was possible to receive accreditation for a Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program, allowing the pharmacy to be compensated for the service.
A few years ago, Altman remodeled the pharmacy to include a classroom that accommodates up to eight patients per session. She limits the class size to foster a supportive atmosphere.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize that we were changing lives with this program, and that it wasn’t fair that it was only for diabetes patients, because we had other patients who really needed to learn how to manage their health,” she says. “And that was the birth of the Bay Wellness Program.”
The transition and evolution of Bayboro Pharmacy and Wellness Center have been made possible by its membership with Good Neighbor Pharmacy. Several years ago, Altman recalls, the pharmacy was struggling with challenges faced by all community pharmacies at the time, prompting her to make several pivotal changes to the business.
“We decided to change wholesalers, purchase the building we’re in and become part of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy network,” she says. “It was an excellent decision for us. Not only did it help us get better prices on drugs, but as a member of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, we receive support from a business coach, a merchandiser and a marketing expert.”
Bayboro Pharmacy and Wellness Center has proven to be a vital and trusted resource for its community, as Altman and her colleagues have repeatedly demonstrated their readiness to help patients faced with extraordinary problems and crises.
“In 22 years, you really learn your community,” she says. “You really understand what they need and want, and you build that trust. I think my greatest source of pride is being a trusted resource in this community.”
In recognition of Altman’s dedication to patient care and to her community, Bayboro Pharmacy and Wellness Center has been named as 2024 Clinical Care Champion by Good Neighbor Pharmacy.
