SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs, America’s oldest family-owned pharmacy, has launched a new specialty pharmacy service that personalizes health care for those experiencing conditions requiring specialized ­medications.

“Being diagnosed and entering treatment can be overwhelming,” states Bartells clinical programs manager Christina Ree. “Our specialty pharmacy program helps take the fear out of the process and replaces it with confidence.”

Some of the difficult-to-treat conditions may include cancer, hepatitis B and C, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, and a host of other medical conditions requiring specialized medications and therapy regimens. Specialty pharmacy dispenses medications used to treat challenging and complex medical conditions.

“Specialty care is more than just dispensing medications,” says Ree. “Through this program, we help engage with patients to address all the issues relevant to their condition and take care of everything behind the scene so they can start and stay on therapy.”

The specialty pharmacy programs are available at all Bartells locations. Patients can check with a Bartells pharmacist to learn more about the program.

In other Bartells news, CareClinic by Kaiser Permanente at Bartell Drugs recently opened in Des Moines, Wash., providing area residents with access to high-quality, convenient health care to get them well and on their way. This new location will provide treatment for minor illness and injuries, as well as preventive services from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

“Patients come to our CareClinics for quality and convenient care,” said Kaiser Permanente clinician and CareClinic chief Michael Erickson. “We’ve proven that CareClinics live up to the promise of quickly diagnosing and treating common ailments.

“We get you in, taken care of and on your way for an affordable price.”

CareClinics are open to everyone ages 2 and up, including both Kaiser Permanente members and nonmembers. The cost is $75 per visit for those without health coverage. Led by Kaiser Permanente care teams, services include treatment for minor illnesses and injuries and such routine preventive care as vaccinations.

Kaiser Permanente and Bartell Drugs now operate 11 CareClinic locations in Washington and plan to add four more by the end of the year. These clinics help to further Kaiser Permanente’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and improve the health of the communities it serves.

The four new CareClinics are set to open later in the spring and summer in Everett-Silver Lake, Gig Harbor, Snoqualmie and Redmond (in Redmond Town Center).