Valley-Wide Pharmacy

The Valley-Wide Health Systems’ Pharmacy provides prescription services to all Valley-Wide patients. We are committed to patient care and education. Valley Wide Pharmacy was established in 1996 to offer a full-scale pharmacy option for underserved patients to access affordable medications.  Prescription medications are provided through a federal reduced drug-pricing program (340B), where cost savings are passed along to patients, making medications more affordable. Over the years, the pharmacy has been housed at 2 different locations before its current location, Alamosa Family Medical Center, at 1710 1st Street in Alamosa.

Many pharmacists have contributed to the growth of the Valley-Wide Pharmacy over the past 20 years.  Currently Valley Wide employs five pharmacists who are passionate towards the mission of Valley Wide.  Alamosa native Justin Hanel was hired in 2008 and currently serves as Pharmacy Director.  Jordan Ricard from Holcomb, Kansas assumed his current role as Staff Pharmacist in 2010. Alamosa native, David Gurule has been with Valley-Wide Pharmacy since 2017 and oversees clinical services in the Arkansas Valley. Brandon Fritz from Eaton CO is our newest Pharmacist since 2020. Valley Wide Pharmacy has been privileged to employ some exceptional pharmacy technicians since 1996 including our Lead Technician John Cisneros who has held his current position since the pharmacy’s opening (25 years!).  Valley Wide Pharmacy continues to support the original intent of providing pharmacy services to patients of the San Luis Valley and the Upper and Lower Arkansas Valley who might not be able to access or afford medications.  Today, the pharmacy processes prescriptions under Valley Wide’s Sliding Fee Discount Program, Co-Medicaid, and offers low cost medications under a self-pay option.

In 2001, Valley Wide expanded the role of the pharmacists by collaborating with the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy to develop clinical pharmacy services.  The primary goal of the collaboration has been designed to improve the health outcomes of Valley Wide’s patient population as well as to promote rural pharmacy practices.  The original pharmacy clinical service was an anticoagulation clinic that still operates today.  The idea for the anticoagulation clinic stems from the rationale that dedicated pharmacist ran clinics are known to improve patient health outcomes in comparison to traditional care models.   Our clinical pharmacy services site serves as a training site for 4th year pharmacy students who have become an invaluable asset to the Valley Wide Pharmacy Department. Today, Valley Wide’s clinical pharmacy services include anticoagulation, diabetes education, general nutrition (weight gain or weight loss), hypertension education, comprehensive medication reviews, and immunization administration.

In 2015, Valley Wide’s clinical pharmacy services were recognized by HRSA during an operational site visit and by The Joint Commission as a Best Practice. For more information about the services the Valley-Wide Pharmacy provides please see our Valley-Wide Pharmacy Services page.