Guardian Pharmacy LLC, one of the nation’s largest long-term care pharmacy companies, announced a partnership with Michael Counts, Pharm.D., owner of UVANTA Pharmacy of Southern Missouri. The pharmacy will operate under the new name Guardian Pharmacy of Missouri and will serve assisted living and skilled nursing facilities across the state and throughout northwest Arkansas. The addition of Guardian Missouri expands the company’s footprint in the Midwest.
 
Founded in 2009, UVANTA Pharmacy of Southern Missouri has earned a reputation for superior customer service, growing significantly over the past seven years.
 
Counts will continue to serve as president and own and operate the pharmacy in partnership with Guardian. Guardian will assist with the time-consuming financial, technical, and administrative tasks, while Counts continues to focus on the individual, localized needs of his customers.
 
“Growing up in this industry under a father who owned a local retail pharmacy, I’ve learned what it takes to be successful in this business,” said Counts. “Our pharmacy and Guardian share the same goal – to simplify the community staff’s job so they can focus on their residents. We do that by providing quality products and services, excellent customer service, ongoing training and continuing education courses, and innovative technology to enhance their operations.”
 
“Michael is an experienced pharmacist with a passion for exceptional customer care, an important quality we seek when partnering with a pharmacy owner,” said Kendall Forbes, executive vice president of sales and operations at Guardian. “The longstanding reputation of his pharmacy and emphasis on his customers, employees and community mirrors our core business beliefs.”