RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) – When it comes to health care, pharmacists are often the most accessible professionals in terms of educating the patient on medicine, proper dosage, side effects and general questions. Randall Chaffin, along with his wife of 43 years, Anita, have recently opened The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Ronceverte.
On July 21, Randall Chaffin became the newest pharmacist in the area and believes that connecting with patients is among his most important responsibilities. “In a world where health care seems to rush or feels impersonal, I enjoy talking to my customers, the doctors and nurses,” he says. “I don’t have a phone bank. When you call us, you will talk to a human. We do things a little differently here; back like they used to do it.”
Chaffin, a graduate of Marshall University and 1985 WVU School of Pharmacy, opened his first pharmacy in Kentucky one year after graduation. “My Kentucky pharmacy is still in operation, and I have a great crew up there,” he says. “My wife and I spent so much time here, and West Virginia has always seemed like home, even though we lived in Kentucky. We became residents of Greenbrier County in 2016 to be closer to our two sons and their families,” Chaffin recalls. “Our oldest son practices family medicine in Greenbrier County, and our youngest son pastored a church in Bluefield but now pastors a church in Greeneville, Tennessee.”
When asked to describe a typical day in the life of a pharmacist, Chaffin admits that it does have certain challenges. “Sometimes you spend a lot of time fighting on behalf of the patient to get something approved through insurance or talking to doctors,” he says. “It’s a lot of legwork, but we’re here to serve the patients.”
Speaking of patients, Chaffin has spent nearly four decades helping people through what is often a very emotional time. When someone walks into a pharmacy, they are often fighting a health battle, often of a serious nature, and are looking for a caring individual on the other side of the counter.
“You have to have empathy and caring toward the patient, Chaffin says. “It can’t be ‘oh, there’s another dollar.’ It’s more than a profession,” he adds. “I like talking to my customers, seeing them month after month. After 39 years, you’ve watched some customers grow up and bring in their families. In some cases, their children are having children, and now you’re looking at three generations.”
Whether you are filling a prescription, inquiring about a vaccine or simply asking questions about cold and flu season, the pharmacy that you choose will have a large impact on your health – now and in the future. Not only that, but the pharmacist behind the counter will serve as your advisor on the most important thing in life – your health and the medicine you need to maintain it. With a soft-spoken, kind demeanor, Chaffin offers a caring approach to his customers and the community. “I’ve always put my faith first in this business,” Chaffin admits.
For more information, visit The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy at 8468 Seneca Trail S. in Ronceverte. For questions, call 681-214-7774 or search for The Medicine Shoppe 2212 on Facebook.
