For more than 40 years, The Medicine Shoppe has been a trusted name in Southern Illinois, providing personalized pharmacy services and expanding to meet the evolving needs of the community. Founded in 1983 by Steve Ledbetter and continued by his son, Brad Ledbetter, this family-owned business has grown from a single pharmacy in Harrisburg to multiple locations across the region, all while maintaining its core commitment to patient care.
The Medicine Shoppe’s journey began in Harrisburg, but it didn’t take long for the Steve to recognize the need for high-quality pharmacy care in other parts of Southern Illinois. In 1986, a second location opened in Marion, and in 2006, the company expanded further into Gallatin County with the Ridgway pharmacy.
But their vision didn’t stop at prescriptions. Recognizing that many patients needed access to essential medical equipment, The Medicine Shoppe launched Home Health Solutions in 2008, delivering everything from home oxygen and CPAP machines to hospital beds and wheelchairs river to river in Southern Illinois. By 2014, Home Health Solutions had grown enough to become its own standalone location. The company continued its expansion, opening a Shawneetown pharmacy in 2018 and acquiring the Medicap Pharmacy in Eldorado in 2020, ensuring that more communities had access to their personalized approach to healthcare.
While the locations and services have grown, the philosophy has remained the same: treat patients like family, help them navigate their healthcare, and provide the kind of personal service that has become increasingly rare in today’s pharmacy industry.
At The Medicine Shoppe, patient care isn’t just a business—it’s a commitment. In a world where corporate or mail order pharmacies often feel impersonal, the Ledbetter family and their team make it a point to know their patients by name, understand their medical needs, and go the extra mile to provide solutions.
Brad Ledbetter, Vice President, explains, “When you walk into a big-box pharmacy, you might not even get eye contact before someone asks for your date of birth. That’s just not how we do things. We take the time to know our patients and talk to them.” That personal approach extends beyond the pharmacy counter. Additionally, as a locally owned business, The Medicine Shoppe is deeply involved in the communities it serves. From sponsoring local events to supporting small businesses, their presence is about more than just healthcare—it’s about strengthening Southern Illinois as a whole. 
The pharmacy industry has changed significantly in recent years, with independent pharmacies facing growing challenges from large Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). These middlemen dictate drug pricing, control reimbursements, and often push patients toward corporate-owned pharmacies, making it harder for local businesses to compete.
Despite these challenges, The Medicine Shoppe remains committed to its mission. “We’re still here, and we’re still fighting for our patients,” says Brad Ledbetter. “We don’t just fill prescriptions—our pharmacists help people manage their health. That’s something chain pharmacies will never do as well as an independent one.”
The Medicine Shoppe continues to expand its specialized services, making healthcare more accessible and convenient. It offers home delivery, medication synchronization immunizations, and durable medical equipment such as CPAP machines, home oxygen, ventilators, and wheelchairs. As highly accessible healthcare professionals, their pharmacists offer expert guidance on medications, side effects, and chronic condition management.
At its core, The Medicine Shoppe is about more than just prescriptions—it’s about people. Whether it’s helping a patient find an affordable alternative to an expensive medication, making sure an elderly resident gets their prescriptions delivered on time, or simply taking a few extra minutes to answer a question, their pharmacists are dedicated to making a difference.
“One of the most overlooked facts about healthcare is that pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals. You don’t need an appointment, you don’t have to sit in a waiting room for hours, and you don’t need insurance approval just to get advice” says Brad Ledbetter. “And that’s what our pharmacists are here for. Whether it’s a quick question, a consultation, or help managing a medication regimen, we take pride in being the healthcare professional people turn to when they need real, practical advice.”