A public fellowship final project

Local pharmacies are a vital part of rural health care.

This free guide connects North Carolinians with medication assistance, pharmacy services, workforce programs, and evidence showing how community pharmacists can help close gaps in care.

Find North Carolina resources Prepare for a pharmacy visit

No sign-up. No advertising. Links go to public agencies, nonprofit programs, and research sources.

NORTH CAROLINA
Stylized North Carolina community health map A decorative map-like shape with connected rural communities, a pharmacy, and health symbols.
Mountains to Piedmont to Coast

North Carolina snapshot

Why rural pharmacy access deserves attention

78 rural counties are identified by UNC’s Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative. Source 1
38 counties do not meet the cited benchmark of one primary care provider per 1,500 residents. Source 1
100 counties have at least one pharmacy, making pharmacies a statewide access point. Source 1
86K physician shortage projected nationally by 2036 in the latest AAMC report. Source 13

These figures describe different measures and should not be combined into one estimate. Rural definitions and workforce data can change over time.

The challenge

Distance, workforce shortages, and medication costs can compound one another.

Rural residents may travel farther for primary care and specialty services. A local pharmacy can be one of the most consistent points of contact in the health system.

01

Access is not only about geography

Transportation, limited clinic capacity, insurance status, prescription cost, broadband access, and pharmacy operating hours can all affect whether a person receives and continues treatment.

02

Medication use is a continuing process

Filling a prescription is only the beginning. Patients may need help understanding directions, managing side effects, coordinating refills, comparing costs, and resolving differences between medication lists.

03

Pharmacists extend the care team

Research supports pharmacist involvement in chronic disease management, medication optimization, adherence support, and transitions from hospital to home. Services vary by pharmacy, staffing, payer, and state law.

More than dispensing

Ways a community pharmacist may support patients

Availability differs by location. Call ahead and ask which services are offered and whether an appointment or payment is required.

Medication review

Review prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements for duplication, interactions, side effects, and practical barriers.

Refill and adherence support

Discuss synchronization, packaging, reminders, delivery, 90-day supplies when appropriate, and concerns that make medications hard to take.

Chronic condition support

Some pharmacies offer blood pressure checks, diabetes education, medication monitoring, or collaborative care with prescribers.

Vaccination and prevention

Many pharmacies provide recommended vaccines and may offer testing, screening, or public health services within their scope and capacity.

Hospital-to-home transitions

A pharmacist can help reconcile medication changes after discharge and communicate questions back to the care team.

Affordability navigation

Ask about lower-cost alternatives, assistance programs, insurance issues, manufacturer programs, and nonprofit medication resources.

North Carolina resource finder

Start with the need you have today.

Use the filters or search box. Each card links to the organization that operates the program.

Find careOfficial

Find or verify a North Carolina pharmacy

Search the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy’s current license and permit database by facility name, city, or permit information.

Open NCBOP verification
Medication costState program

Medication Assistance Program

North Carolina safety-net clinics and health centers help eligible low-income, uninsured patients access free or low-cost medications.

Visit NCDHHS MAP
Medication costNonprofit

NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy

Provides free prescription medications to qualifying North Carolina residents who are uninsured, plus free over-the-counter medication programs.

Check eligibility
MedicareFree counseling

NC SHIIP

Free, unbiased counseling for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, supplements, and Part D prescription drug coverage.

Find a SHIIP counselor
Navigation24/7

NC 211

A free, confidential, multilingual referral service for health and human services in all 100 North Carolina counties. Dial 2-1-1 or use the online search.

Search NC 211
CoverageState program

NC Medicaid pharmacy services

Information about the state’s prescription drug benefit and pharmacy program for NC Medicaid beneficiaries and providers.

Visit NC Medicaid
Medication safetyStatewide

Operation Medicine Drop

Find permanent drop boxes and community take-back events for unused or expired medications.

Find a drop box
WorkforceEducation

NC AHEC Pharmacy

Education and workforce support for pharmacy students, pharmacists, technicians, preceptors, and other health professionals.

Explore NC AHEC Pharmacy
Rural workforceUNC initiative

Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative

UNC-led rural hubs, internships, workforce pathways, and team-based care efforts in Eastern and Northeastern North Carolina.

Explore the initiative
Practice supportPublic health

NC Public Health Pharmacy

State resources for public health pharmacy practice, including standing orders, nurse dispensing, and 340B links.

Open practice resources

Patient conversation guide

Five questions to ask your pharmacist

Bring a current medication list, insurance cards, allergy information, and any discharge paperwork. Include vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter products.

  1. 1

    What is this medicine for, and how will I know it is working?

  2. 2

    What side effects or interactions should I watch for?

  3. 3

    What should I do if I miss a dose?

  4. 4

    Is there a lower-cost option or an assistance program?

  5. 5

    Can my refills, packaging, delivery, or medication schedule be simplified?

This website is educational, not medical advice. Do not stop or change a medication without guidance from an appropriate health professional. For an emergency, call 911. For a suspected poisoning, contact Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Turn information into action

What different audiences can do next

For patients & caregivers

Use one pharmacy when practical.

A more complete medication record can help pharmacists spot duplication, interactions, refill gaps, and changes after a hospital visit.

For community partners

Invite the local pharmacy into planning.

Include pharmacists in health fairs, chronic disease initiatives, emergency preparedness, transportation planning, and referral networks.

For students

Seek rural exposure early.

Rural rotations, internships, mentorship, and community-based projects can build the relationships and practical knowledge that support rural practice.

For health professionals

Build reliable referral loops.

Share accurate medication information, clarify responsibility for follow-up, and create direct communication pathways with community pharmacists.

Evidence and source library

Research behind this project

The source list combines the materials supplied for this fellowship project with current North Carolina program pages. Summaries are written in plain language and do not replace the full publications.

Chronic disease management

A review of reviews found that community pharmacist-led interventions can improve clinical outcomes across several chronic conditions, with economic and utilization effects varying by intervention and study.

See sources 4 and 5

Transitions of care

Inpatient-to-community pharmacist follow-up has been associated with lower 30-day readmission, mortality, and total costs in a high-risk patient population.

See source 2

Medication adherence

Medication nonadherence is common and multifactorial. Frequent, patient-centered conversations can identify practical barriers and connect patients with workable solutions.

See sources 3, 9, and 10

Implementation barriers

Time, workflow, reimbursement, technology, policy, and information exchange affect whether pharmacists can consistently deliver expanded patient-care services.

See sources 6, 7, and 8
  1. UNC / ProgramRural Pharmacy Health Initiative

    North Carolina rural workforce context, county-level access framing, rural hubs, internships, and collaborative care.

    Open source ↗
  2. JAPhA / StudyReductions in 30-day readmission, mortality, and costs with inpatient-to-community pharmacist follow-up

    Study of pharmacist-supported transitions from hospital to community pharmacy.

    Open source ↗
  3. Pharmacy Times / Practice articlePharmacists as Influencers of Patient Adherence

    North Carolina practice perspective on using frequent pharmacy encounters for individualized adherence support.

    Open source ↗
  4. Systematic reviewImpact of community pharmacist-led interventions in chronic disease management

    Review of evidence on clinical, utilization, and economic outcomes.

    Open source ↗
  5. Peer-reviewed reviewCommunity-Based Pharmacy Practice Innovation and the Role of the Community-Based Pharmacist Practitioner in the United States

    Overview of evolving services, care models, and practice innovation.

    Open source ↗
  6. Policy reviewOptimizing the Role of Community Pharmacists in Managing the Health of Populations

    Barriers, facilitators, and policy recommendations for expanded community pharmacy care.

    Open source ↗
  7. Drug Topics / Workforce articlePharmacists Want More Time with Patients

    Practice environment concerns affecting patient interaction and service delivery.

    Open source ↗
  8. PubMed Central / Supplied sourceAdditional peer-reviewed pharmacy source (PMCID: PMC10391141)

    Included from the fellowship project’s original research set.

    Open source ↗
  9. NEJM / ReviewAdherence to Medication

    Foundational review of the scale, causes, measurement, and consequences of medication nonadherence.

    Open source ↗
  10. Public Health Reports / CommentaryMedication Adherence: Helping Patients Take Their Medicines as Directed

    U.S. Surgeon General commentary describing medication adherence as a major public health issue.

    Open source ↗
  11. AAMC / Earlier reportAAMC Report Reinforces Mounting Physician Shortage

    The earlier workforce projection supplied with the original project research.

    Open source ↗
  12. NCDHHS / State programMedication Assistance Program

    Current state information on free and low-cost medication access through eligible safety-net organizations.

    Open source ↗
  13. AAMC / Current projectionNew AAMC Report Shows Continuing Projected Physician Shortage

    The March 2024 projection estimates a national shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

    Open source ↗
  14. NCDOI / State serviceSeniors’ Health Insurance Information Program

    Current Medicare and prescription drug counseling resources.

    Open source ↗
  15. United Way / Statewide serviceNC 211

    Free, confidential, multilingual health and human service referrals available statewide.

    Open source ↗

About this project

Built to be shared, adapted, and kept current.

This educational website was created as a final project for a public fellowship program focused on rural pharmacy resources in North Carolina. It is intentionally lightweight, mobile-friendly, and free to host.