Independent pharmacist Steve Coomes has a clear message for his peers: “This is 2026. Quit practicing pharmacy like it’s the 1980s.” At Aubrey Health Mart Pharmacy in Aubrey, Texas, that mindset led him to adopt the PharmaSelf24 automated prescription pickup kiosk, transforming his store into a true 24-hour pickup destination without adding staff or sacrificing personal connection.
A 24/7 Pharmacy For A 24/7 Community
Aubrey has evolved from a rural community into a growing bedroom town for the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, with many patients commuting, caring for families, and managing irregular schedules. Steve realized the traditional 8-7 hours on weekdays and a short Saturday window, no longer matched his patients’ lives.
By installing the PharmaSelf24 kiosk, he effectively turned Aubrey Health Mart into a 24-hour prescription pickup location, so patients no longer have to “race the clock” to make it before closing. Steve describes coming in on Sundays to do paperwork and hearing the kiosk “fire up” as someone picks up a prescription while the store is closed, including one patient who retrieved a prescription at 4:30 a.m.
Smart Investment, Practical Volume
Steve calls himself an early adopter and already had experience with automation, but the decision to add PharmaSelf24 was also a strategic business move encouraged by his CPA as a timely investment in a depreciable asset. The kiosk gave him a way to modernize operations and visibly demonstrate value to patients without overhauling his entire model.
He selected the larger PharmaSelf24 model because his building offered the floor space, giving room for growth. Capacity-wise, the machine typically tops out in the mid-20 prescriptions at any given time, but that number reflects steady turnover rather than underuse, since patients pick up consistently throughout the day and night. For Steve, the kiosk “certainly displays its value” in convenience, loyalty, and differentiation.
Patient Adoption: From Skepticism To Routine
As with any new technology, Steve saw different comfort levels among patients. Tech-friendly patients adopted the kiosk quickly, while others needed reassurance and more hands-on help.
His rollout strategy combined simple tools and personal conversations:
- Printed bag stuffers using Health Mart marketing funds to introduce the 24-hour pickup option.
- Posted signs at the drive-thru and front entrance to promote PharmaSelf24.
- Trained staff to explain the kiosk: “We’ve got a new 24-hour pickup called the PharmaSelf. I’m going to put this card in your bag, look it over and call if you have questions.”
Today, the patients who use the kiosk range “young to old,” including older adults confidently picking up prescriptions after dark. Resistance is less about age and more about comfort with technology.
Workflow Integration, Not Extra Work
Inside the pharmacy, the kiosk is not treated as a bolt-on gadget; it is integrated into daily workflow.
Key process points include:
- Flagging “PharmaSelf all the time” patients in the pharmacy management system so their labels route to a special print queue, signaling staff to load those prescriptions directly into the kiosk.
- Using a simple card system to track which orders are destined for the kiosk.
- Treating kiosk orders like any other non–face-to-face channel, similar to mailing prescriptions introduced during the COVID era.
On the patient side, the text-to-pay system is designed for speed when used correctly:
- For zero co-pay prescriptions, the pickup code often appears on the patient’s phone by the time staff press the final button to load the order.
- For paid prescriptions, patients receive a secure text-to-pay link, can store a card with the processor, and then pay and receive a pickup code within about a minute.
Protecting Time While Strengthening Relationships
Before PharmaSelf24, Steve describes himself as someone who would sometimes meet patients on Sundays for one-off pickups. The kiosk has helped to support his work–life balance while still giving patients after-hours access.
To keep the system fair and efficient, Aubrey Pharmacy has developed a set of rules:
- If a patient repeatedly fails to pick up prescriptions from the kiosk, they lose kiosk privileges after three missed pickups.
- Staff explain this diplomatically, often “giving it another try,” which usually motivates patients to follow through.
Competitive Edge And IPC Alignment
The kiosk has already proven its competitive value. One of Aubrey’s earliest kiosk users transferred prescriptions to Steve specifically because he offered PharmaSelf24 and continues to use it years later. In a region where grocery and chain pharmacies continue to open, this kind of tangible differentiation matters.
Steve also promotes the kiosk in community venues like Chamber of Commerce meetings and local bank breakfasts, emphasizing that patients can get big-chain convenience from a local, independent pharmacy team that still knows their names. That blend of innovation and personal care mirrors what IPC aims to deliver through preferred vendors like Lansworth Pharma SelfServe, master distributor of PharmaSelf24.
The IPC Vendor Advantage Network Difference
As a member-owned cooperative led by independent pharmacy owners, IPC focuses on solutions that help pharmacies adapt to rising complexity while preserving the heart of community care. The PharmaSelf24 kiosk is one of those solutions: it extends access, stabilizes workflow, and protects owners’ time without forcing them to compromise on personal service.
For single-store and multi-store owners, new operators, and those planning for succession, Steve’s experience in Aubrey shows how thoughtfully implemented technology can strengthen both business and community impact. The next step is simple: start a conversation about whether a 24/7 pickup solution like PharmaSelf24 fits your patients, your building, and your goals for the future of your pharmacy.
