|
Since
1986, Elaine and Earl have provided problem-solving
services at Expert Pharmacy, a community pharmacy that
specializes in meeting physician and patient needs through
compounding. What began as a unique business venture
has turned out to be a successful, compounding-only
practice that continues to help patients pursue more
positive therapeutic outcome.
"Compounding changed my life,"
says Earl, principal owner of Expert. "I wouldn't
be in business without it. It has allowed me to help
so many patients over the years."
"Pharmacy compounding is so
rewarding," says Elaine. "I'm excited to come
to work everyday to work with a devoted staff. If it
weren't for them, we wouldn't be where we are today."
Looking back
 After
graduating from the University of Southern California
in 1953, Earl was drafted into the U.S. Army, where
he spent two years as a pharmacist. He was stationed
in Japan for 1-1/2 years in support of the Korean troops.
Earl returned to the States, and
spent several years working for independent and chain
pharmacies before opening Expert in 1963. Thirty-five
years later, Earl continues to build a successful practice
by helping problematic patients.
"When I joined PCCA in July
1985, it was tough getting started," says Earl.
"I visited neighborhood doctors, and slowly began
to build my practice. We've gone from five compounds
a day to 40."
"I never saw what was going
to happen to pharmacy. I'm glad now that I invested
in compounding. It's rewarding to still be able to smile
and enjoy working as a pharmacist in a profession that
I love."
Elaine graduated from the University
of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1974.
She immigrated to the United States in 1978, and attended
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford,
Okla., graduating in 1981. She joined Expert in 1986,
and has spent the last 12 years preparing customized
medications for physicians and patients.
"We started out making progesterone
suppositories; our practice has evolved so much since
then," says Elaine. "Today, we get calls from
all over inquiring about our services. Not only is it
exciting, it's professionally rewarding as well."
A good foundation
Earl and Elaine continue to market
their problem-solving services, using a variety of techniques.
They realize the value of promoting their practice to
generate business and to remain viable in the medical
community.
"If you're going to market
your services, it's important to stay committed and
never get discouraged," says Earl. "It can
be hard at times, but it pays off. Some of our techniques
include holding breakfast meetings in hospitals, conducting
cable TV interviews, and checking the local newspapers
for support group meetings. That's how I found out about
the Spondylitis Association, of which I'm a board member,
now. We always drop off business cards to physicians,
too."
"We use direct mail to market
our services, and we follow-up with physicians and patients
to monitor our service levels," says Elaine. "As
for the TV interview, we've received a lot of great
exposure and response. We've been written up in about
40 articles regarding our services for motion sickness.
We've been featured in health-related magazines and
also in some of the popular boating and fishing publications."
Getting involved
When he's not meeting the needs
of his Expert patients, Earl devotes his time to other
medical organizations to give back to his beloved profession.
He's a member of NCPA, the Pharmacists Professional
Society of the San Fernando Valley, and the American
Academy of Rheumatologists. Last year, Earl spent two
weeks in Guatemala as a pharmacist volunteer, where
he worked with optometrists, orthotists and dentists
to provide patient care.
"Supporting these organizations
gives me the opportunity to network with colleagues
and stay innovative," says Earl. "I encourage
other pharmacists to do the same. Getting out of the
store helps generate new ideas and allows you to build
good relationships within the medical community."
Generation next
Elaine develops new ways to meet
patient needs by attending seminars and networking with
colleagues. She recently attended PCCA's January National
Seminar to learn more about hormone replacement therapy
(HRT). She serves as Expert's HRT specialist, counseling
female patients on the benefits of this alternative
therapy.
"After I returned from the
seminar, I called on an OB-Gyn who inquired about the
hormones which Oprah had mentioned on her show,k"
says Elaine. "After that visit, I had two prescriptions
waiting for me when I returned to the pharmacy. We prepared
the medications in unique dosage forms for the patients.
They were so grateful; you should have seen the smiles
on their faces."
A bright future
Earl and Elaine are planning for
a prosperous future for Expert and its staff. They will
continue to work together to provide personalized care
to their physicians and patients.
"I'm very proud to be one
of the few compounding-only pharmacists in the United
States," says Earl. "It's very rewarding."
"Earl's the greatest person
to work for," says Elaine. "I'm looking forward
to building a stronger practice together."
"So I think it's professionally
rewarding and it distinguishes the independent pharmacist
from the chain pharmacies,"she said.
Broidy earned his degree in pharmacy
from the University of Southern California in 1953,
and worked for several chains and independents before
opening his first store in 1963 near his present location
in the 8200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard.
He began compounding about 25 years
ago and , over time, devoted more of his practice to
it as his name became more widely known. "I can't
tell you that I foresaw what was going to happen in
pharmacy. It was luck," he said.
His compounding business started
flourishing about five years ago when orders began coming
in from states across the map. "We started putting
dots on the states from where we got phone call: "We
got Rhode Island!" he recalled yelling after one
such call.
One out-of-state customer is Milwaukee
rheumatologist Dr. Sanford Baim, who has ordered anti-rheumatoid
drugs from Broidy for the last few years, said Brian
Bernal, Baim's medical assistant.
Broidy is one of the few that can
supply the drugs, which serve as an alternative to another
more easily obtainable medicine, he said.
"In essence, it's always good
to have the alternatives on hand," Bernal said.
Broidy's trade often requires him
to use ingenuity and unexpected ingredients - for example,
reducing a heart medicine to a child's dosage that would
be palatable. He developed a solution; A tasty liquid
administered with a dropper.
In fact, standing alongside containers
of substances with unpronounceable names are cans and
bottles otherwise found in a supermarket: beef-flavored
bouillon and extra virgin olive oil, among others.
And his concoctions aren't just
for humans. He once received an order for an antifungal
medication for a kitten that called on his skills as
an apothecary - and chef.
"We made a liquid and flavored
it with tuna," he said. "So we do a lot of
creative things and we get a new challenge every day."
|
