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Add Quint McCoy to the list of people who still conduct their business the old fashioned way—that is, with care and perfection.

by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

Pharmacist Quint McCoy, left, accepts the Preceptor of the Year Award from College of Pharmacy graduate Kevin Hope at an awards ceremony in May.

McCoy's business is pharmacy compounding. He provides patient care services and a whole lot more. In his small corner of northeastern South Carolina, McCoy combines two worlds: one of traditional medicine and today's era of designer drugs and hi-tech products.

Compounding is the ability to customize medicine which is prepared by a certified pharmacist according to a doctor's specifications to meet a patient's needs.

From his lab and clean room in the Medi-Fare Drug/Home Health Care in Blacksburg, McCoy measures, mixes and dispenses compounded prescriptions. And if he is not in his lab, he is sitting with a customer in the patient care room discussing the latest pharmaceutical innovations or the correct delivery of insulin injections for diabetic patients.

Visiting his small pharmacy practice is like stepping back in time. This age-old process of “counting, pouring, licking and sticking" is still valued today in a world dominated by the advances of technology and manufactured drug products.

“Our mission is people helping people,” said McCoy, R.Ph., a certified compound pharmacist. “Patients are the center of care here. I'd like to think that they in turn, take care of us.”

McCoy also shares his knowledge and expertise with students as a preceptor with MUSC's College of Pharmacy and member of the college's board of advisers. He sponsors pharmacy students each year in his practice and offers them hands-on experience.

McCoy takes his roles of educator and pharmacist seriously. He believes that pharmacists can do more when it comes to providing service. McCoy is a firm believer in the medical relationship of patient-physician-pharmacist. Through these pairings, the patient's needs are a high priority as decisions regarding treatment with medication are made. “Seeing this at work with our customers instills a vote of confidence for me and my staff.”

This past year, students honored McCoy for his invaluable service and support to students by naming him as the College of Pharmacy's Preceptor of the Year. He was previously honored with a statewide award recognizing his innovative pharmacy practice in 1996.

McCoy's business was established about 30 years ago. The center provides services to customers locally, statewide and beyond. A decade ago, this small 1,500-person community had no medical care available to its residents. It wasn't until 1993 that a nurse practitioner provided limited medical support in nearby Gaffney, just 12 miles away. With no town physician, Blacksburg residents currently receive some health care services through a weekly-sponsored health clinic.

Medi-Fare Center fills prescriptions and provides disease management education and services to patients diagnosed with chronic conditions like diabetes. Diabetic patients rely on McCoy's council and expertise on everything from diet to foot care. He can even provide proper shoe fittings. The center supplies patient care support for patients with asthma, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Recently, the center initiated a new adult immunization program.

McCoy is one of 1,300 professionals who are members of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, the trade's professional organization. Locally, there are 35 registered compounding pharmacists in South Carolina.

Usually referred by their physicians, patients meet with McCoy or his other part-time staff pharmacists to discuss their prescription, its effects, instructions on the drug's dosage, reactions, affects and other precautions.

“Spending time with these patients is so critical to good patient care,” McCoy said, crediting his staff of 18 pharmacists, technicians and assistants. “Today's physicians can get so busy that it's difficult to find enough time to talk about everything with their patient.”

Perhaps one reason that McCoy has prospered as an apothecary and a pharmacist is because he runs his operation like a business. McCoy is able to extend his varied services to people of all economic backgrounds. He manages health care regulation by limiting acceptance to only one health care provider. Other patients are content in paying for prescriptions and services in cash.

Because of his specialized work and offerings, it is not unusual for patients to seek him out. The “niche market” he provides for physicians, specialists and veterinarians to patients and representatives from other health care centers is unparalleled within his geographic area.

“What Quint has been able to accomplish is to add on innovative projects that benefit patients and enhance his practice,” said Peter Edwards, R.Ph., assistant professor of pharmacy practice. “It shows what can be done beyond the traditional role of dispensing medicine and counseling patients.”

Among his biggest customers are hospice centers. Because hospice caregivers specialize in providing pain management and care for their patients in a dignified manner, there is a need for pharmacists to be innovative in providing medication that is non-traditional in appearance. Compounding pharmacists use their expertise in creating and developing effective forms of medicines for these types of patients. In some cases, medication that is usually administered in pill form can be altered and prepared for a patient as a suppository, transdermal gel or even in the form of a popsicle.

“Independent pharmacists like Quint really provide a needed service that is still viable for many patients,” Edwards said. “He's an excellent role model to our students, in addition to being an innovative practitioner and fine gentleman.”

Editors note: This story is part of a continuing series which will feature MUSC preceptors and their roles and contributions to the university and the South Carolina community.