CVS makes 'difficult decision' to close one of its Hagerstown stores

Mike Lewis, The Herald-Mail
·3 min read

CVS will close one of its Hagerstown pharmacies next month and transfer prescriptions to another one of its stores.

The move is part of a plan by the company "to ensure it has the right kinds of stores in the right locations for consumers and for the business."

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"We’ve made the difficult decision to close our pharmacy at 1580 Wesel Boulevard in Hagerstown on October 12," Amy Thibault, lead director of external communications for CVS, wrote in an email Thursday.

"All prescriptions will be transferred to the nearby CVS Pharmacy at 10 East Wilson Boulevard, which is about two miles away, to ensure that patients continue to have uninterrupted access to pharmacy care. All store employees are being offered comparable roles within the company," she wrote.

In November, the company announced several steps "to support its strategy of making health care more affordable, accessible and convenient for consumers." The actions included naming a new chief pharmacy officer, announcing new store formats and cutting hundreds of locations.

"The company has been evaluating changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs to ensure it has the right kinds of stores in the right locations for consumers and for the business," the company said in a November news release.

"As part of this initiative, CVS Health will reduce store density in certain locations and close approximately 300 stores a year for the next three years. The company is committed to offering impacted colleagues roles in other locations or different opportunities as part of its overall workforce strategy."

The closures began earlier this year.

Maintaining a community's access to pharmacy services is one of the factors the company considers in store closures, Thibault wrote in Thursday's email.

"Other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density, and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations," she wrote.

What about other CVS stores in Hagerstown?

After the Wesel Boulevard store closes, the company will have six locations in the Hagerstown area, including one MinuteClinic and CVS HealthHUB location, which offers expanded health and wellness products and services.

The company also offers prescription home delivery services to eligible patients through CVS.com and its CVS Pharmacy app.

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CVS also has stores in the Chambersburg, Pa., area.

Thibault wrote that there "are no immediate closings planned" in or around Chambersburg.

CVS aims for "higher engagement with consumers"

In November, CVS Health also announced that it will create new store formats "to drive higher engagement with consumers." The move includes three models:

  • Sites dedicated to offering primary care services;

  • An enhanced version of HealthHUB locations with products and services designed for everyday health and wellness needs; and

  • Traditional CVS Pharmacy stores that provide prescription services and health, wellness, personal care and other convenient retail offerings.

Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter: MiLewis.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: CVS to close Hagerstown store and pharmacy on Wesel Blvd.