Spring ? Summer - St. Margaret's Hospital

Jim Jr.’s son Terry is Director of Pharmacy at St. Margaret’s
Health. Terry says he feels lucky to have worked in a hospital setting
for more than three decades. “When I finished pharmacy school,
there just happened to be an opening at St. Margaret’s Hospital, and
although it was a far cry from my father’s retail drugstore, I know I
made the right decision back then.”
Through the years, the profession has seen many changes. The
education requirements have increased from two years to a six-year
doctoral program, which enables pharmacists to take a greater role in
healthcare. They not only dispense medications, but also educate
patients on their medications and counsel them regarding their
health, advising them about dosage, side effects and potentially
harmful interactions. “It is amazing how much the hospital
pharmacy has changed, and how the pharmacist’s role in healthcare
has expanded exponentially during the 31 years I have been here,”
says Terry.
Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, most pharmacists
dreamed of owning their own store. In many cases, that meant
working 55 to 65 hours a week to succeed. Today, larger chain
pharmacies, with their greater purchasing power, have put many
smaller stores out of business. Insurance companies and the
government also play a greater role in determining which
medications are available to patients based on coverage restrictions.
Jim Jr., who is now retired and volunteers as a Red Coat at St.
Margaret’s Hospital, marvels at the many changes in the field. “In my
opinion, the biggest difference from the early 20th century until now
is probably the application of medication,” he observes. “Back then,
the emphasis was on the compatibility of the medications outside the
body and, secondarily, within the body. These days, the emphasis is
more on the reactions and desired results within the body.”
These days, Bill is semi-retired and is doing relief work at the Hy-
Vee and Granville Pharmacies, Jim II is a Pharmacist with Walgreen’s
in Peru and Ottawa, and Jack is at Goslin Drugstore in Mendota.
Jim II’s daughter, Christine, took an interest in the profession as well,
and earned a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Drake University. Today, she
works as Chief Pharmacist at Target in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Though they enjoy the special bond that comes from sharing their
life’s work, the pharmacists in the Arkins family find it most
gratifying that they have had the opportunity not only to help
families over the years but also to become their friends and earn their
trust. As Jim Jr. reflects, “When people come to us for advice and
help, that trust comes with an awesome amount of responsibility.”
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