Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the “Progress 2014” section of North Country This Week.

Since Kimro’s Medicine Place opened in June 1985, Pharmacist owner Kim Demers has seen many changes in the retail pharmacy business. The next change he experiences will be life-changing. Kim will retire from his profession of forty years. Kim’s daughter Shannon, a graduate of North Country Community College and Potsdam State will take over as president and co-owner of the company.

Kim will still work from time to time when he is needed and he will remain active in The Ogdensburg Lions Club and on the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He will be available for giving advice to Shannon and co-owner Rosemary.

Every pharmacy needs at least one person who keeps up with the ever changing laws concerning patient’s privacy, issues concerning requirement for policies and procedures, dealing with fraud waste and abuse regulations, and the problems encountered with insurance, Medicaid and Medicare billing. Chief Pharmacy Technician and co-owner Rosemary Demers takes on the challenging role in the business.

Kimro’s employs two outstanding professional pharmacists. Supervising Pharmacist Jennifer Denoncourt R.Ph. and Natalie Jackson PharmD both are graduates of Albany College of Pharmacy and will answer all your questions and concerns about your medications. Jennifer has many years of retail pharmacy experience; Natalie is a recent graduate and is licensed to administer vaccines.

Since pharmacy has become reliant on computers and other technology the store needs a technical person.

Douglas Duprey, pharmacy technician, has degrees in nursing and chemistry form SUNY Potsdam. Duprey provides computer skills, accounting book-keeping and manages Kimro’s inventory.

The store’s staff is complete with pharmacy clerks Roxanne Brunet and Donna Reagen who provide friendly prompt, and caring service.

This coming year presents Kimros with some of the same challenges as in the past; which includes local unions and employers unwittingly drawn into thinking mail-order pharmacy is cheaper. It certainly is not as safe as seeing your personal pharmacist face to face in a caring environment. Many insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, in some cases do not pay pharmacies the cost of the medication, which results in losses.

Kimros belongs to two national buying groups, Leader and United Drugs. Because there is strength in numbers, independent pharmacies like Kimros are able to compete with large chain stores.

United Drugs also provides help educating pharmacists, owners and employees with keeping up to date about changes with regulations in the industry.

In addition to over the counter and prescription medications, Kimros provides shingles shots with a prescription, flu shots in the fall and some durable medical equipment including blood glucose monitors and test strips.

There is a fine selection of American Greetings Cards and a number of household items-some priced at only one dollar.

Kimros accepts most prescription plans and offers free prescription delivery within the Ogdensburg City limits.

Visit us at www.Kimrosmedicineplace.com or on Facebook.