As healthcare organizations look to improve access and streamline care, adding a pharmacy within a clinic can be a smart, patient-centered investment. But adding a pharmacy isn’t as simple as carving out space and installing shelving. It requires careful planning, coordination, and design to ensure regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and a seamless patient experience.
If you’re considering adding a pharmacy to your clinic, here are four key factors to think through early in the planning and design process.
1. Prioritize Location and Access
Where the pharmacy sits within your clinic matters. Many organizations choose locations along the patient exit path to encourage prescription fulfillment. Others prioritize visibility or convenience from the main entrance. Drive-through access is another growing consideration, offering added convenience and accessibility for patients. Security and access—both internal and external—are critical, requiring features such as controlled entry points, secure zones for controlled substances, thoughtful sightlines, and separation between public and staff workflows.
2. Design for the Patient Experience
An on-site pharmacy should make care easier. Features like intuitive wayfinding, efficient pickup areas, and private consultation rooms can significantly enhance the patient journey.
3. Plan for Compliance Early
Pharmacies are highly regulated environments. Requirements around controlled substances, patient privacy, and safety can significantly impact layout and construction. We’ll help you understand compliance requirements early to avoid costly changes later.
4. Support Workflow
A pharmacy’s efficiency depends on how well it supports daily operations. Clear separation between public and staff areas—and logical circulation—helps reduce errors and improve speed. From prescription intake to medication storage and pickup, every step should be intentional. Details about the design and layout of shelving, casework, sinks, and refrigerators are important and require in-depth conversations.
Example Project: Essentia Health’s Cloquet Clinic Expansion
As part of a design-build collaboration with Nor-Son Construction, Widseth is helping integrate a new on-site pharmacy with drive-through access into the expanded facility.
The project—set to double the clinic’s size—demonstrates how thoughtful planning can seamlessly incorporate pharmacy services alongside specialty care, telehealth, and expanded clinical space, all while maintaining a cohesive, patient-centered environment.
Ready to Talk About Your Clinic Addition?
Adding a pharmacy is an opportunity to improve convenience, enhance care delivery, and strengthen your organization’s long-term strategy. With the right planning and design approach, it can become a natural extension of your clinic—not just an add-on.
Contact us to start the conversation about your next project.
