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In Pembroke, the name Mulvihill is synonymous with pharmacy. For three generations, the Mulvihills have been providing unsurpassed patient care to this eastern Ontario city. It began in 1927 when founder W.L. (Bill) Mulvihill purchased the pharmacy operated by Wallace and Company and renamed it Mulvihill Drug Mart. The family tradition continued when Bill's son, Thomas Mulvihill, graduated from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Pharmacy in 1957 and returned to Pembroke to join his father's practice. Ten years later, pharmacist Bill Skorenky bought out W.L. Mulvihill and became the long-time business partner of Thomas Mulvhill. Under their direction, the business has grown to include three locations.
In the summer of 1996, a lease expiration meant that one of the three pharmacies would need to be relocated. As third generation pharmacist Brian Mulvihill began planning for the relocation of the newer west-end store, an assessment of the changing needs of Pembroke and nearby CFB Petawawa led to the conclusion that it would also be prudent to relocate the historical family pharmacy in downtown Pembroke to new facilities. As planning began, Brian recruited his pharmacist-sister Jane Mulvihill, long time employee pharmacist Ray Harnish, and Guy Belisle of Planipharm to develop innovative concepts for the two new locations. Long time pharmacist-owners of the businesses, Thomas Mulvihill and Bill Skorenky, were also on hand to provide input and expertise as the project proceeded. The result was 2 innovative designs, incorporating similar features but adapted to fit different store sizes and different services.
Efficiency, Comfort and Convenience
The first task at hand was to create a new and efficient workspace to replace the west end location. Subsequent to the expiration of the lease in the late summer of 1996, a permanent solution became an ever-pressing need. Keeping a focus on patient care, dispensing efficiency, and customer convenience, the design began to evolve. Of the approximately 3600 square feet in the pharmacy, a full one-third of the space is dedicated to the dispensary and professional services area. The focal point of the spacious and brigh dispensary area is a partial octagon shaped reception counter. At the far right end of the counter, a recessed computer screen is strategically positioned in the patient reception/prescription intake area to enable pharmacists to...