With drive-through and free delivery options as well as unit dose packaging services, Complete Care offers everything from standard household medications, sterile compounding, immunizations, medical supplies to highly customized prescriptions.
The facility offers compounding services to modify medications so they better suit patients’ individual needs including medication in alternative forms such as ointments, capsules and nasal sprays.
It’s the kind of place owner Ken Kwarteng refers to as “a neighborhood pharmacy.” The Pharmacy is also part of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and Ken hopes they will become an integral part of the community.
A long-time pharmacist at Northeast Georgia Medical Hospital, Ken opened the Buford store in early June, realizing a life-long dream to own his own pharmacy. “We couldn’t ask for a better location than this!” Ken said of his pharmacy at 4050 Buford Dr., located near the intersection with Satellite Blvd. “This is my first time opening a pharmacy, and I’ve always wanted to do it. I guess you could say it’s a dream come true.”
Complete Care Pharmacy which recently opened in Buford, is part of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Owner Ken Kwarteng has been a pharmacist at Northeast Georgia Medical Hospital for many years, and he considers working at his private pharmacy as well as the hospital, the best of both worlds, giving him invaluable insight into the kind of care patients need.As the youngest in a family of medical professionals, Ken’s career followed a straight and narrow path. “My father told me, we have a doctor in the family, and you will be the family pharmacist so if I get sick, your brother will diagnose me, and you will give me medicine.” From then on, his father’s wish became his own, and Ken set his mind on becoming the best pharmacist he could be.
After receiving his degree from Long Island University at the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy in New York, Ken moved south to raise his family. He has three children; His first daughter graduated from Vanderbilt University where she studied Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the youngest in high school at Tallulah Falls in North Georgia.
This neighborhood pharmacy adds another level of customization with the Clean Room machine specifically designed with compartmentalized spaces with controlled temperatures to store sterile medications, IV infusions and prepared antibiotics for infusion. These are rare to find in traditional retail pharmacies however, the demand for these kinds of medications is on the rise in recent time.
Ken pointed out that often patients are discharged from the hospital as soon as they are stabilized, but they may need some IV or infusion medications and antibiotics to fully recover, else would end up back in the hospital. “The Clean Room enhances our ability to do just that for them here and ensures those medications are stored in ideal conditions,” Ken said.
Ken and his staff work to fill the needs of patients across the spectrum of healthcare needs. He considers their team, “a first line of defense” as they provide a complete ‘arsenal’ of standard household medicines, vaccinations, and flu-shots to highly specified prescriptions.
Complete Care offers solutions for hospice patients, infants and many others who need to adjust their medications while saving them a trip to a doctor. And for those taking Hormone Replacement Therapy, Complete Care can provide specialized doses of estrogen or testosterone as well as medical vitamin supplements in sterile form.
Some of the Complete Care Pharmacy staff, during their Grand Opening celebration.The Complete Care staff includes pharmacists and skilled technicians. They are accepting applications for all positions including pharmacists, technicians, and drivers to expand their free delivery service.
Guy Green, is a fulltime pharmacist at Complete Care who graduated from UGA’s School of Pharmacy. He grew up in the “one traffic light town” of Breman, Ga. and moved to Gwinnett in the 80s. In the following decades, he worked at various retail pharmacies before he met Ken.
“Going into a chain store just isn’t the same,” said Guy. “Here you’ll get more relationship-based service. That’s what really differentiates us from our competitors.” “We’ve got a special niche for what we do, and we have options to do things a little different from traditional retail pharmacies,” said Guy, affirming that they provide medications for pets as well.
“Helping people to be compliant with what their medical doctors prescribe is what we’re most needed for. After they’re stabilized, we make sure they’re doing what the doctor asks and not missing doses. In turn, that controls disease and ensures that people are healthier,” Guy added of their greater role in Gwinnett’s healthcare industry.
Complete Care Pharmacy owner Ken Kwarteng and his daughter, Mia Kwarteng, at the Grand Opening Celebration. Mia is in high school and enjoys seeing her dad bring his dream to life in opening his own pharmacy.Playing double duty as both an entrepreneur and hospital pharmacist, Ken has gleaned invaluable insight into the kind of care patients need, and it’s what he considers the best of both worlds. He’s witnessed the increasing need for professional healthcare and limited capacity to meet the demand. That’s why he believes there is a growing need for true neighborhood pharmacies.
“As a pharmacy, we are very accessible,” Ken said. “We are the first line of defense in the professional healthcare industry for people to come in and consult. You don’t need an appointment to benefit from our wide range of knowledge. You can tell us your symptoms, and we can help you find the right medication right there and then, so we are definitely the most accessible of healthcare professionals.”
Remarking on Complete Care’s forthcoming role in Gwinnett, Sandy Richardson of the Chamber of Commerce stated, “People often come to Gwinnett for two reasons. The education system and health care. I have to say from the bottom of my heart, that this absolutely enhances that health care landscape.”
As far as payment options, the staff works with customers on a budget. Most forms of insurance are accepted and have an extensive database to find almost any plan. For those who do not have insurance, Complete Care also offers reduced price payment options.
Visitors are welcome to come by the store during business hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The staff can be reached by phone at (678) 288-9798 or by email at info@theCompleteCarerx.com Visit Complete Care online at www.theComplete Carerx.com
