The Medicine Shoppe in Deer Park is closing its doors permanently on November 28th due to undisclosed circumstances. All patient prescription files are being automatically transferred to Sixth Avenue Pharmacy in Spokane. Patients will need to contact the new pharmacy to update their payment information, as credit card details could not be transferred.
Deer Park residents who use The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy will soon need to adjust their routines, as the local franchise is closing permanently. According to a notice posted at the pharmacy the closure is due to “circumstances beyond our control.” No additional details regarding the reason for the closure have been made public.
All patient prescription files will be automatically and securely transferred to Sixth Avenue Pharmacy, located at 508 W 6th Ave in Spokane. In a letter sent to patients, the new pharmacy confirmed it has acquired the files and is prepared to continue service without interruption. Sixth Avenue Pharmacy noted that it specializes in compliance packaging, a Med-Sync program for coordinating refills, and offers free mailing and home delivery services.
While prescription files are being transferred, patients must take one crucial step. The letter from Sixth Avenue Pharmacy states that “due to security regulations, credit card information could not be transferred.” Any patients who had a card on file with The Medicine Shoppe will need to contact the new pharmacy to provide their payment information securely.
The new pharmacy can be reached by phone at (509) 455-9345. An email address of [email protected] was also provided in the notices. It is important for patients to understand the potential risks of using non-secure email. Health information privacy experts advise against sending sensitive, private data, known as Protected Health Information (PHI), to standard email accounts. Free services can not configured for HIPAA compliance, creating a risk of data exposure. For sharing sensitive information like new payment details or personal health questions, secure methods like a phone call or a pharmacy’s official patient portal are recommended.
In their closing notice, The Medicine Shoppe staff apologized “for any inconvenience this has caused” and thanked customers “for your loyalty and support over the years.”
