More than a counter — Local Pharmacists Keep Weston County Healthy, Every Day
As National Pharmacy Week shines a light on those behind the prescription counter, Weston County Health Services celebrates its dedicated pharmacists and technicians who go far beyond filling bottles — they serve, teach, and care for the entire community.
When most people think of a pharmacy, they picture someone in a white coat counting pills and printing labels. But at Weston County Health Services (WCHS) and Weston County Pharmacy, the work goes much deeper — and it happens around the clock.
Since January, WCHS pharmacists have dispensed more than 36,800 medications to hospital patients and processed over 5,700 hospital orders, ensuring that every dose given in the hospital or Manor Nursing Home is accurate, safe, and timely. Their automated packaging system, affectionately called “Phred,” has already prepared more than 155,000 doses this year alone.
On the retail side, the Newcastle and Upton pharmacies have filled more than 40,700 prescriptions, serving not just as medication providers, but as trusted health advisors and problem solvers.
Local Faces, Local Dedication
The WCHS pharmacy team includes four full-time pharmacists and one part-time, supported by seven certified pharmacy technicians who keep both the hospital and retail operations running smoothly. Two pharmacists live in Newcastle, one in Upton, and two make a 45–60 minute drive each way to serve local patients. All pharmacists hold Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degrees, and all but one of them obtained it at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy.
Outside of work, they are as down-to-earth as the people they serve: one recently returned from a hunting trip to South Africa, another coaches a trap-shooting team, one has balanced ranching with mayoral duties, and another enjoys gaming and has a dog named after a supernatural being. The pharmacy technicians are just as diverse — one sews sweaters for her cat, another helps run a family business, two are trained in firearms, one raises chickens, another is originally from Oregon, and one finds relaxation riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
What Pharmacists Do Every Day
At WCHS, pharmacists’ responsibilities go far beyond filling prescriptions. They teach other healthcare practitioners about proper medication therapies, keep meticulous records, and handle administrative tasks that ensure patient safety and compliance. They oversee the work of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in training, work with insurance companies to make sure patients receive the medications they require, and complete the paperwork that helps those prescriptions get approved.
Pharmacists also play a hands-on role in patient care. They help physicians select and properly dose antibiotics, monitor and adjust blood thinner medications, and provide vaccinations, including flu shots. They advise patients about exercise, diet, and stress management, explain potential side effects, and provide clear instructions on how and when to take medications. They review every prescription for possible drug or vitamin interactions and verify the physician’s instructions before any medicine reaches the patient.
Pharmacy technicians support this process every step of the way, ensuring that each task is completed efficiently and accurately so pharmacists can focus on patient care and education.
As National Pharmacy Week (October 19–25) reminds us, pharmacists and technicians are vital members of every healthcare team — ensuring that treatment plans work safely and effectively. At Weston County Health Services, they are more than medical professionals. They are neighbors, advocates, and the unseen hands that keep Weston County healthy, one prescription at a time.
Did u know?
Pharmacists invented Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper, both originally intended for medicinal purposes.
The Necco wafer began as an apothecary lozenge.
There’s a song called “Mr. Pharmacist.”
Pharmacists even appear in films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Better Living Through Chemistry, and Murphy’s Romance.