Lopez Island Pharmacy Exhibits a Lifelong Commitment to Community

Richard “Rick” C. McCoy, RPh, and his wife, Marge McCoy, RPh, are the co-owners of Lopez Island Pharmacy in Washington. After owning several pharmacies in Denver, Colorado, from 1978 to 1994, Rick, Marge, and their family made a significant life change—selling their Denver pharmacy and moving to Lopez Island. The remote community is located in Washington’s San Juan Islands, off the state’s northwest coast.

The story of Lopez Island Pharmacy began in 1978 when a young pharmacist who had grown up on Lopez Island returned after attending the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle. He opened the pharmacy with the intention of serving his community but tragically died in a small plane crash on the island a few years later. His family attempted to keep the pharmacy open, but it proved too challenging for nonpharmacists, leading to its closure. In the early 1990s, a pharmacist from Florida was visiting the area and was approached by locals to reopen the pharmacy. With their help, he did, but health concerns led him to sell the pharmacy to Rick and Marge in 1994.

The move to Lopez Island was driven by Rick and Marge’s shared passion for independent pharmacy and Rick’s involvement in pharmacy advocacy. Rick had played a key role in founding a pharmacy group in Colorado, but a piece of legislation they supported was vetoed by the state’s governor, who was a patient at one of their pharmacies. This experience, along with their desire to be part of a closeknit community, led Rick and Marge to relocate their family to Lopez Island.

Lopez Island Pharmacy is renowned for its advanced business model, which enables Rick, Marge, and their team to serve the local population in exceptional ways. They operate the largest vaccination practice in the San Juan Islands, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marge played a key role in organizing mass vaccination events. With the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, they successfully administered up to 300 vaccinations in a single day. The community contributed at every stage of the vaccination process.

This spirit of innovation extends to the pharmacy’s approach to urgent medical needs. Rick, Marge, and their team are frequently called out at all hours, working closely with emergency services to address critical situations. For instance, they are well equipped to handle urgent cases such as providing rapid rabies vaccinations for animal bites, demonstrating their dedication to managing unique and pressing health concerns.

Community outreach is integral to Lopez Island Pharmacy’s daily operations. Given the island’s remote location, every day presents an opportunity for outreach. The pharmacy staff members have served on various boards, including those for local clinics and schools, and their efforts culminated in the large-scale vaccination events they organized. These activities not only support public health but also strengthen their ties with the community.

The pharmacy also benefits from a 30-point collaborative practice agreement with the local clinic, allowing their team to treat a variety of conditions, including shingles, burns, insect stings, and urinary tract infections. They take pride in being strong advocates for their patients, offering services and support that extend beyond the typical scope of pharmacy care.

Rick notes that one of the pharmacy’s strengths is the personal connection they maintain with their patients. “Other than visitors, we know every one of our patients by name,” he said.

Lopez Island Pharmacy uses social media platforms, such as the local LopezRocks online forum and Facebook, to stay connected with the community. Rick and Marge, alongside their team, also maintain a website that they can update as quickly as needed. This combined online presence and their strong community ties enhance the pharmacy’s ability to connect with and support their patients effectively.

Rick and Marge shared that the pharmacy often goes above and beyond to meet the needs of their patients, especially given the challenges posed by their remote location. The pharmacy relies heavily on air flights and ferry services, which can be disrupted. When this happens, the pharmacy staff works with local residents who have planes and boats to ensure that patients receive their medications in a timely manner.

The community’s appreciation for Lopez Island Pharmacy is evident in the support that they have received over the years. During the pandemic, when the pharmacy was closed to the public for 454 days, local restaurants partnered with the community to provide lunches and dinners for the staff as they worked long hours behind the scenes to continue serving their patients. “There’s hardly a week that goes by when we aren’t brought in food and snacks,” Marge McCoy said.

Rick and Marge live close to the pharmacy and have been very involved in the community since their move to Lopez Island in 1994. Their children were school-aged when they arrived, and the couple continues to help with school activities when needed. They also care for 6 acres of land and have had several dogs and cats over the years. Their current dog, Raven, often accompanies Rick and Marge to work, providing comfort to patients during vaccinations and delighting children who visit the pharmacy.