Pharmacy honored for distinguished service

Customers at Whitesell's Pharmacy often find owner and pharmacist Dave Fulton up at the front, filling prescriptions or making phone calls to insurance companies and doctors.

The North Market Street pharmacy was recently honored by the Frederick County Commission on Disabilities with a distinguished service award.

Fulton, whose family has owned the independent pharmacy since 1984, credits the success of his business to the experience of his staff.

"It takes everybody here as a team to make it work," he said.

He and his wife, Julie Fulton, work to provide a welcoming environment where everyone is treated individually.

"It starts with the first person that either answers the phone or greets them up front," Dave Fulton said.

Ken Eidel, a member of the commission on disabilities, said many social service agencies refer clients to the pharmacy, which first opened in the 1950s.

"They have just provided outstanding community service for the last 50 years, and just exhibit so much compassion and understanding," he said. "They're very helpful to people, (and) explain everything."

The pharmacy offers delivery, and has a second storefront selling and fitting medical equipment such as canes, crutches and walkers.

Whitesell's was selected by the commission in part because the owners and employees work to get insurance companies to approve medications, Eidel said.

"For people who are typically on very low or limited incomes, it's critical that they get their medications," he said.

A lot of time and effort can go into figuring out why a claim has been rejected, and then working with the doctor or insurance company to resolve the issue.

Leilani Drayer, a Whitesell's pharmacist, said the staff is only able to spend the time because Fulton hires enough people to make it work.

She has worked at other pharmacies where employees didn't have enough time, and people had to resolve those issues on their own.

Drayer tries to keep in mind that everyone with a medical condition still has a life, she said. They can't spend all their time worrying about getting medicine.

"People have to keep going, they have to progress and move forward," she said. "If this helps it move forward, that's what we're here to do."

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