Blaine County Beacon: Creating the Next Generation of Pharmacists

Twenty five years ago in July, Kelcey and Nancy Diemert moved to Chinook, just in time to share in the All-Class Reunion and its festivities. As the community's new Registered Pharmacists who had recently graduated from the University of Montana's Pharmacy School in 1993, the couple was struck by how welcoming and supportive people were. After having spent a year in Seattle, the Diemerts were ready to put down roots and set up shop in a small town.

"Chinook is like one big family, and this has been a great place to raise our family," Nancy said. "We have a lot of memories here."

The couple has been active in the community, promoting businesses with the Chinook Chamber of Commerce and contributing to school, sporting, and other community events-not only with volunteerism, mentoring, and advocacy but with dollars. The Diemerts and Chinook Pharmacy donated $1000 towards the Eagles Fireworks Display for this year's All-Class Reunion. They wanted to help make the fireworks display the best it could be and "to give back to the community that has given us so much," Nancy said.

"It's also a way for us to celebrate our 25th anniversary and to say thank you to the residents of Blaine County," Kelcey added. The couple plans to also host a party later in the summer to mark this business milestone.

Although they have been involved in various community service projects, the golf course holds a special place in their hearts. According to Kelcey, "Chinook is really fortunate to have a golf course. We have spent numerous hours bonding in family activities at the golf course."

While time and memory have a way of airbrushing the past into something nostalgic and pleasant, Nancy recalls being scared when they first embarked in the independent pharmacy business. Having come from a family where both her parents were teachers, she didn't grow up knowing about the risks involved in owning a business. Security came from a regular pay check, so business ownership represented an unknown.

Kelcey, on the other hand, grew up South of Galata in a farming family, and farmers face the risk of failure from many angles, beginning with production risks. These arise from adverse weather conditions such as drought, freezing temperatures, or excessive rainfall at harvest or planting. Production risks may also result from failure of equipment and machinery and from damage due to insect infestations or disease, despite control measures employed. Then there are marketing, financial, legal, and human resource risks, such as the risk of injury.

"My family was more entrepreneurial and accustomed to adapting to change and to the environment," Kelcey said.

As they struggled to get established, Kelcey not only worked in Chinook but did relief work in pharmacies up and down the Hi-Line. The couple's hard work paid off, as they eventually opened four drug stores from "basically nothing" and created jobs and new businesses in four different towns: Chinook Pharmacy in Chinook; Chester Pharmacy in Chester; Milk River Pharmacy in Harlem, now owned by Hilary Richman; and Western Drug Pharmacy in Havre, currently owned by Dominique Preputin.

"I'm really proud of how many people, especially women, that we have helped to develop their own businesses," Nancy exclaimed. "We've created jobs for technicians, pharmacists, clerks, and delivery personnel."

Both of the Diemerts were quick to add, "We could not have done any of this without the advice we received from business people in town or without the loyalty of our employees. We owe much of our success to them and their dedication since they have made our lives easier."

Darla Fisher has worked for the Diemerts for at least fifteen years, and Pharmacy Technician Cathy Luke, who currently works out of the Chester store, was willing to go wherever she was needed, travelling from Chinook to Harlem or Havre or Chester. They additionally expressed gratitude to Angie Billmayer, another pharmacist who currently serves the community at Chinook Pharmacy.

Small, rural communities are often known for their supportive and loyal residents, and the Diemerts also credit their success to the close working relationships they have with the Sweet Medical Center and the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home.

"We've developed relationships with many of these wonderful people as we've participated in their lives and watched them transition from their homes to the Grand Villa or to the rest home," Nancy reflected. "Our commitment to patient care and health is a priority here at Chinook Pharmacy. We believe in the value of providing personalized service and quality products. We're not a big box store; we take the extra step to care and to develop a personal relationship with the patient."

The pair also promotes the next generation of pharmacists by providing a place for internships and clinical experiences. "It feels good to be able to do that," Kelcey said.

As they continue to conduct business, the Diemerts plan to keep looking for ways to benefit the people in Blaine County. In response to customer needs, their store in Chinook has a photo kiosk, for example, where residents can print their pictures and preserve memories. Furthermore, the store offers a large selection of baby gifts and carries an assortment of Montana Coffee Traders products in addition to the typical products like vitamins, over-the-counter treatments, personal hygiene and sports care items, as well as durable medical equipment. "We want to provide services that keep people shopping at home, but we don't want to be in direct competition with other businesses in town, which is why we don't carry greeting cards, for instance," Kelcey explained.

They also have a glass display case to the left of the entrance that exhibits products, instruments, and pharmaceutical aids from the past, much like that a person might encounter in a museum. "People find things in their basements that they donate to the collection," Nancy said.

The case featured items like Johnson's Foot Soap, Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, and Page's Asthmatic Inhalers (formerly called cigarettes). These thin cigarettes were manufactured by Consolidated Chemical Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and sold for thirty five cents.

As the health care industry continues to change, the Diemerts hope to assist their patrons with what is called medication therapy management. When asked what that means, Kelcey explained that some insurance plans keep track of high risk patients, those who take multiple prescriptions and who might be at risk for adverse drug reactions. "We meet with these patients and help them manage their care, even reaching out to the doctor so as to avoid drug interactions. This proactive approach to individualized care prevents potential problems," he stated.

"We also offer a RefillRx service," Nancy said. "RefillRx is an app available that enables a person to refill a prescription remotely. You simply scan the barcode on your prescription bottle, and RefillRx sends the request to us. Busy people can then stop by to pick up their orders at their convenience."

Another service accessible from the Chinook Pharmacy website is a Pill Identifier. If pills become separated from their original packaging, they can be quickly identified by using a large database to search for a match. That service also helps patients verify tablet and capsule products they may have questions about, ensuring that the correct medication is taken to treat the precise medical condition.

Despite their years of experience in the pharmacy business, the Diemerts hesitated when asked to share advice with others-that hesitation is likely due to their humility. "Be proactive with your health," Nancy offered. "No one else can exercise or eat right for you; you are the sole individual responsible."

And to the young, they offered this advice: "You can't go wrong with a job in health care. People, unfortunately, will always get sick, so you'll have job security," the pair agreed.

Kelcey added: "Don't be afraid to fail when you take the plunge to independent business ownership. The rewards are huge, especially in rural places like the communities across the Hi-Line."