Pelmeds, The Guild’s longtime pharmacy partner, has been honored with the “Business Partner of the Year” award by the Providers’ Council, the state’s largest association of human service organizations.
Pelmeds, or Pelham Community Pharmacy, has specialized in delivering medications to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 20 years. A pioneer in medication delivery, Pelmeds was among the first pharmacy in the region to offer synchronized medication disbursement to clients, allowing for one-stop pick-up and cutting down on frequent pharmacy trips.
Throughout the pandemic, Pelmeds sourced PPE and provided an alternative to mass vaccination sites for those they served. Nurses and other Pelmeds staff traveled to Guild residences and vaccinated individuals directly, providing a comfortable, flexible option that met The Guild community’s needs.
“Thanks to our partnership, our staff and residents were among the first in congregate care to be vaccinated,” says Maureen Costello-Shea, Chief Program Officer with The Guild. “The skill, compassion, and patience of Pelmeds’ staff made it easy for our residents to receive their vaccinations seamlessly.”
Bhuren Patel, CEO of Pelmeds, highlights the organization’s massive efforts in pivoting to provide a tailored vaccination experience for clients. “It was very touching to see how we impacted lives,” he says. “It just felt like it was part of what we were supposed to do.”
The Providers’ Council is a trade association of human service organizations and offers its over 200 members public policy research, advocacy, education training, and professional development opportunities. The Providers’ Council’s annual convention & expo, Celebrate Our Strength, gathered over 800 human services professionals at the Marriott Copley in Boston last month. In addition to Pelmeds, The Guild’s Bob Renois was also honored with an Award of Excellence at the convention.
During the ceremony, the Providers’ Council presented a short video in Pelmeds’ honor. You can watch it here!