Burgess Health Center Announces Whiting Family Pharmacy Closure and Future Partnership with Lewis Drug
In an ever-evolving healthcare setting, Burgess Leadership and the Governing Board have made the difficult decision to cease operations and permanently close Whiting Family Pharmacy, effective February 12, 2025. This decision reflects a challenging reality faced by retail pharmacies nationwide as the industry undergoes dramatic changes and mounting pressures to improve operational efficiencies.
“The closure of Stangel Pharmacy and now Whiting Family Pharmacy are symptoms of much larger systemic issues within the retail pharmacy industry,” said Lynn Wold, President/CEO of Burgess Health Center. “While this decision was not made lightly, we are committed to ensuring our community has access to vital pharmacy services. This is why we are taking proactive steps to address these challenges.”
Burgess Health Center is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Lewis Drug, a mid-sized retail pharmacy operator based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with a strong history of serving rural communities. Together, we will construct a 4,200-square-foot pharmacy building on the Burgess campus. Burgess will own the land and building, while Lewis Drug will operate the pharmacy business under a long-term lease agreement.
This partnership represents a sustainable solution that ensures continued access to quality retail pharmacy services for the Burgess service area. Lewis Drug brings decades of expertise and a commitment to serving the unique needs of rural communities in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Northwest Iowa.
A question we have heard from the community is: “Why is Burgess going to such great lengths to support a corporate pharmacy chain like Lewis Drug?”
The answer lies in Lewis Drug’s mission. Their decision to open a location in Onawa is driven by their rural mission—not profit. With Stangel Pharmacy set to close, there were no reasonable options to preserve sustainable retail pharmacy services in our area. While Whiting Family Pharmacy has provided a wonderful service over the years, large-scale retail pharmacy operations are not a core competency Burgess can or could have provided. Burgess’s role as the community healthcare leader is reflected in welcoming and partnering with a capable, sustainable retail pharmacy organization like Lewis Drug to ensure continuity of care.
“We understand the vital role retail pharmacies play in the overall delivery of healthcare,” Wold added. “This partnership will allow us to sustain high-quality pharmacy services while addressing the economic and operational realities of today’s healthcare environment and provide focus on our core competency of primary healthcare delivery services. ”
As we prepare for this transition, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Whiting Family Pharmacy team. For over 20 years, they have provided exceptional service and patient care to our community. Their dedication and professionalism have been a cornerstone of healthcare in Whiting, and their contributions will not be forgotten.
The coming weeks and months will bring change, but Burgess Health Center remains steadfast in its commitment to our community’s health and well-being. We ask for your support and understanding as we navigate this transition together.