Timely access to prescription medication and pharmaceutical services is vitally important for a healthy community, yet retail drugstore chains and independent pharmacies across the nation have been shutting down. To counteract this trend locally, Samaritan Health Services has opened retail pharmacies throughout its service area, including its most recent one, Samaritan Pharmacy in Lincoln City.
Located on the campus of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, this new neighborhood pharmacy will open on Monday, Jan. 6. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and closed daily from 1 to 2 p.m. “After one local pharmacy closed in Lincoln City a few years ago, I began hearing concerns that the
remaining pharmacies may close or cut back on service,” said Lesley Ogden, MD, CEO of the two Samaritan hospitals in Lincoln County. “I’m so pleased that Samaritan recognized the need and made the investment in this new pharmacy as an additional resource in our rural community.”
The new pharmacy is in Building 5 on the campus of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. An 1,800-square-foot area in the east wing of that building underwent a complete remodel to provide space for the pharmacy, gift shop, a walk-in entrance and drive-thru window, which is accessible off 28th Street. The walk-in entrance is just around the corner from the drive-thru, on the north side of the building, with convenient customer parking. In addition to filling prescriptions, Samaritan Pharmacy services include vaccinations, medication therapy management, sharps disposal and drug take-back bins. Pharmacists can prescribe birth
control, naloxone, Paxlovid and emergency insulin refills. The pharmacies also offer translation services for prescription labels, medication guides and counseling.
Refilling prescriptions is also convenient in the Samaritan MyChart online system, which allows refill requests from a patient’s personal computer or mobile app. If a patient has trouble affording medications, Samaritan’s medication assistance program may be able to help. Samaritan Pharmacy also offers free prescription mailing within Oregon. People wishing to transfer their prescriptions to this new Lincoln City pharmacy may call 541-557-
7106. For all other questions, call 541-996-7231 or go online to samhealth.org/Pharmacy.
Remarks by CEO Dr. Lesley Ogden
Good Morning
It’s an honor to be here today as we open the Samaritan Pharmacy –
Lincoln City, an outpatient retail pharmacy, and an important step in
improving access to healthcare for our neighbors.
We all know that rural areas face unique challenges when it comes to
healthcare. Among those challenges is the reality of "pharmacy deserts,"
areas where residents are 10 or more miles away from a pharmacy.
Nationwide, approximately 15 million Americans live in these pharmacy
deserts, with rural communities disproportionately affected. This lack of
access can mean delays in getting essential medications and can lead to
poorer health outcomes, especially for those managing chronic conditions.
In our own community, despite having a handful of retail pharmacies, we
have witnessed a pharmacy closure as well as staffing shortages resulting
in shortened hours and compromised services.
Today, we take a significant step toward closing that gap. This pharmacy
will not only bring medications closer to home but will also serve as a vital
resource for education, guidance, and preventative care for our community.
I want to thank everyone who made this possible—Megan Jones, Director
of Outpatient Pharmacies, and our outpatient pharmacy team, our project
manager, Leigh Anne Baller, and our dedicated local team including Angel
Serrato, Facilities Director along with his team, Jenny Will, COO, Mary Jo
Kerlin, Marketing-Communication Strategist, and our IS team of Stacey
Thompson and Joel Skinner, as well as many others who have come
together to make this project a reality. Together, we are making healthcare
more equitable and accessible, ensuring that everyone in our community
has the support they need to thrive.
Thank you, and welcome to your new pharmacy.
