Bob Ekeren This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Grand Forks Herald | 01/11/2004 | FROM AREA NEWSPAPERS

   www.grandforks.com/mld/grandfo - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/11/2004   Last Visited: 1/12/2004

   Bob Ekeren, owner of Ekeren Drug, has sold the store to Thrifty White. Ekeren started working for the family business as soda jerk and a stockboy.

2. 2. Ekeren Drug to close its doors Jan. 8

   www.trftimes.com/archive/01070 - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/7/2004   Last Visited: 1/7/2004

   Bob Ekeren is not one to look back and lament the passing of time and the ways and things that used to be. He'd rather look ahead. Bob sees a bright future because he has his health, a new job, and an opportunity to spend more time with his stepchildren and grandchildren. This bright new future, however, will create a void, or at least a very different picture of Thief River Falls and northwestern Minnesota than we're used to seeing.
   
   Last week, Bob Ekeren announced that Ekeren Drug will close its doors for good on Jan. 8.
   
   Ekeren Drug has been a fixed landmark in Thief River Falls for one month shy of 70 years, and during that time has created a very large and faithful clientele.
   
   One longtime customer has already expressed her displeasure to Bob.
   
   Why then, has Bob Ekeren decided to close Ekeren Drug?
   
   For some time, Bob explained, he has known that when he hit 62, he'd have to start looking at his options. He'd been told by experts that it could take up to two and one-half years to sell the business. He'd have to sell, because there was no one in his family who could take over, and finding someone to take over would be almost impossible because pharmacists are in short supply. In addition, he said, he is blessed with good health now, and while he has his good health, he would like to spend some time with family and enjoy more free time.
   
   Though...it's hard to think of the community without an Ekeren Drug. After nearly 70 years of service to the community, many customers are able to recall stories from earlier days. The soda fountain at Ekerens may be chief among those stories.
   
   When Bob began working in the family business it was as a Soda Jerk and stock boy. Bob recalled that the soda fountain was one of the best business builders they ever had at the store. At one time, one egg would buy a fountain Coke. During those specials, Bob said, the floor was slimy with broken eggs.
   
   Times change, but as Bob looks at it, that's all, just change, which is neither good nor bad.
   
   In 1964 Bob was planning to go to the University of North Dakota and obtain a Masters degree in Business Administration, but at the last minute decided that it would be in the best interest of the family to take over the family business. As the eldest son, he also felt it was his duty and responsibility to do so.
   
   He has no regrets that he spent so many hours at the store, and no regrets that he provided exclusive on-call service to the community and northwestern Minnesota. His dad told him once that, "Above all, take care of your own." Bob took that to mean to take care of the customer. Customers appreciated this by awarding us with their enormous confidence, he said, so their trust and confidence was an important consideration when he finally decided to sell the business.
   
   Selling the Business
   
   Bob said he had many offers, but above all, he wanted his business to go to someone who would value the customer and provide the kind of service he would want. He decided to sell his business to Thrifty White.
   
   Bob met recently with his seven employees to announce the sale of the business. He also announced that they were all eligible to be employed at Thrifty White.
   
   Bob said he's not sure who will accept the offer, but that those who do may be trained for new roles.
   
   Terms of the agreement included the purchase of all salable merchandise. At a future date, some of the fixtures and equipment may be sold, too.
   
   Not Retiring
   
   Bob isn't retiring. He has been hired by Thrifty White to be the Pharmacist in Charge at its 7,000-square-foot store in Bemidji. Bob noted that his stepdaughter and her family live in Bemidji, and as interesting aside, it's also where he started his career as a pharmacist.
   
   A long time ago, people would come to Ekeren Drug to buy merchandise, like mineral oil for their cattle, in bulk. Bob said when they had their one cent sales the sales floor and the basement were filled to the rafters with merchandise. Now, while there's merchandise on the sales floor, it's much different, and the basement is completely filled with records.
   
   When Bob took over the business he was able to do all of the books. That's no longer possible. There are so many insurance issues to deal with, and so many required record-keeping duties that it would be impossible for one person. Larger stores, he said, are able to deal with those issues much more efficiently.
   
   He's looking forward to his new job with Thrifty White, the chance to spend time with his family, and an opportunity to keep up with some of his other interests, such as his piano lessons, and computer work. He'd like to do some handiwork, too. He's got all the tools, but he's never had the time.
   
   Bob Ekeren of Ekeren Drug announced last week that Ekeren Drug is closing. Ekeren sold the 70-year-old business to Thrifty White, and he accepted a position as pharmacist in charge at the Thrifty White store in Bemidji.

3. 3. Pharmacist has some concerns

   www.trftimes.com/archive/times - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/31/2002   Last Visited: 7/31/2002

   Bob Ekeren Bob Ekeren of Ekeren Drug, a small independently operated pharmacy in Thief River Falls, said he is not exactly opposed to the service being proposed by Canada Discount HealthCare Centre, but he does have some concerns.
   
   In 1995-1996 Ekeren Drug was one of eight stores in Minnesota participating in "Pharmacy Access Network," a Minnesota program operating in ways similar to Gaddie and Canada Discount HealthCare. Orders were collected and faxed to a San Antonio intermediary who forwarded prescription orders to a Mexican pharmacy. The patient received prescription orders directly from that pharmacy. Ekeren Drug was continuously updated on order status and assumed the obligation of properly counseling and receiving customers in person, by phone or mail. Ekeren Drug was paid a fee once medications had been received and the counseling component was complete.
   
   ...
   Ekeren said business grew steadily as people became aware of the program, and a "hot list" of 60 to 80 drugs was developed. He said patients could realize a substantial savings by ordering these drugs through this service. A heart drug, for example, that cost $200 in the United States, could be obtained for $60 in Mexico. An inhaler that would cost $10 in the United States could be purchased for $2 to $3 in Mexico.
   
   Ultimately, the Food and Drug Administration failed to approve the plan because once a drug left the United States the FDA could not guarantee the quality and safety of the drug that was being re-imported into the United States.
   
   Ekeren knows many people regularly cross the borders &endash; Mexico or Canada &endash; to obtain prescriptions at significant discounts. As this practice continues and if this new service is legalized, he believes that U.S. licensed pharmacies will demand and receive access to Canadian suppliers at prices that will allow state-side pharmacies to compete favorably with their Canadian counterparts. This prospect as now promised in the Senate bill would render the practice of reimportation at the consumer level unnecessary. An important component will be establishing full reciprocity with Canadian and Mexican pharmacists for prescription transfers. Physicians in participating countries will need changes in existing law to permit transmission of new and refill orders across national borders. It would only be fair; and, there would be less of a chance of a customer running into an unscrupulous dealer and adulterated drugs.
   
   Ekeren is most upset, however, at the demonization of pharmacies in the media. Pharmacies are not the root cause of high drug prices. Current prices follow inflation trends more closely, and large increases can just about always be traced to unexpected raw material shortages or legal problems that befall certain medications. The disparity of cost between a drug that is manufactured in the United States, but purchased in Canada at great discount, is created by the manufacturers. That's an issue that will eventually have to be addressed. Ekeren offered his opinion that Americans are being victimized by drug manufacturers who base their costs on their belief that Americans are better able (and should) pay the high cost of research, development and advertising.
   
   The service now being offered by Canada Discount HealthCare Centre is being watched carefully by many people. Ekeren said the new business had only been in Thief River Falls a couple of days when he learned that the FDA had been contacted. He was told that the FDA has assigned one individual to follow this case. This is being watched carefully, he explained, because the outcome will affect businesses in the northern tier of states.
   
   Ekeren also has some other concerns about the service being provided by Canada Discount HealthCare Centre. Forgiven co-pays, cleverly replaced by shipping and handling fees create an opening for building higher prescription profitability through changes in shipping or handling equations. The amount an employee benefits should be examined in the light of why the employer always seeks ways to negate the upward spiral of the health care dollar paid as an employee benefit. The health care system at large would benefit in favor of employers and insurers when Canadian or Mexican physicians are certified to provide basic and advanced care for the United States patient since money exchange rates create a favorable trade environment for U.S. consumers.
   
   Finally, a State Board of Pharmacy opinion issued July 28, 2002, has been clarified by its top officials, Daivd Holmstrom. Holmstrom stated, "the only thing we can do is to advise pharmacists to advise their patients that by obtaining their drugs from Canada, they are violating federal law and there is no guarantee that they will not have the drugs seized as they cross the border, and there is no guarantee that the drugs they do get are the same as what they would get from their local pharmacy."
   ...
   Ekeren is also concerned that the service, offered as it is at Dakota Clinic - Thief River Falls, forces the centralization of prescription drugs. Ekeren speculates that Dakota Pharmacy will probably capture most of the initial business &endash; a first prescription that can be quickly filled &endash; and then Canada Discount HealthCare Centre will capture the repeat business. It is able to do this, he said, because it is able to offer a savings that local pharmacies cannot match.
   
   Ekeren said the service is not for everyone. Most of the benefit will be observed by individuals on certain maintenance drugs &endash; drugs that are needed for extended periods of time.
   
   One local pharmacists worried that this will result in no one having a complete history for the patient.
   
   Ekeren pointed out the obvious &endash; that this is a difficult and complex matter.
   
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