Grants, loans for Minnesota city telepharmacy set to bring pharmacy service back to the area

Nobles County Comissioners in Worthington, MN approved of plan to loan $25,000 to the City of Adrian, MN for installation of a telepharmacy in communication with a private pharmacy in Worthington after Adrian was awarded a $50,000 grant for broadband internet from the Blandin Foundation, and the municipality was approved for a $25,000 loan from the Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp.

Julie Buntjer of Minnesota's Worthington Daily Globe writes:

In other action, the board:

Received a request from the City of Adrian for financial assistance to help establish a telepharmacy in the Adrian Government Center.

Bruce Heitkamp, Adrian City Administrator, said the community is working with Sterling Drug of Worthington to establish a pharmacy that would allow a pharmacist to provide adequate consultation to clientele via video and teleconferencing equipment. Plans are to have a pharmacy technician on staff at the Adrian location.

“In the last year, our city council has really taken a look at health care,” said Heitkamp. When the town’s only pharmacy closed a year ago, he said it left residents scrambling for services.

“The clinic in Adrian was concerned about the ability to provide prescriptions to their clientele,” Heitkamp said.

Already the City of Adrian has been approved for a $50,000 Light Speed grant from the Blandin Foundation, and it was approved for a $25,000 loan from the Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp. Heitkamp said the city was looking to the county for another piece of financing for the project. The money would cover the estimated $100,000 cost for the telepharmacy equipment. The cost represents roughly one-fourth of the total project cost.

Commissioners voiced support for the telepharmacy and directed the county administrator to work with the WREDC and the City of Adrian to finalize the funding plan.