From the Blogs
HEALTHCARE IT
KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL 2013 FLU SEASON: PLANNING STARTS NOW
By Mike Carmody
In today’s world, April is the time to begin preparations for the wave of patients who will start visiting pharmacies as early as August to be immunized. On the heels of a severe flu season, past trends suggest the demand for flu shots this year will be tremendous. more ...
CUSTOMER OPTIMIZATION
THE PITFALLS OF POWER: ARE YOU VULNERABLE?
By Dan Mack
A leading category manager who purchases a $4B category of business shared with me during a recent interview that he believes less than 5% of the companies calling on him “truly create meaningful value” and actually “get it.” He went on to share that, “they don’t understand or appreciate my definition of value.” more ...
UPMARKETING
BIG DATA. BIG DEAL.
By Dave Wendland
In my last UpMarketing post, Dart and Science, I described how combining quantitative and qualitative research with good old-fashioned gut instincts can drive results. This post examines a related topic — Big Data. Everyone’s talking about the mountains of data at their fingertips, just waiting for analysis and action. But it seems that no one has figured out an effective way to begin excavating to find the hidden treasure. more ...
GUEST BLOG
BILLIONS AT STAKE IN CMS'S PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE RANKINGS
By Bart Foster
Money is a powerful motivator. Look no further than the sports world for validation. The PGA’s FedEx Cup encourages golfers to earn “points” towards participation in playoffs that offer a big season-ending payoff. Tennis has a similar format with the U.S. Open Series where performance in a series of events equates to a huge prize purse. Both instances use hefty prize money to help ensure the top performers participate and at high levels. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have applied this sports theory to its rankings system of Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) plans. And there’s billions of dollars up-for-grabs for healthcare plans. more ...
GOING MOBILE
LESSONS FROM MOBILE GAMING APPLIED TO CPG BRAND ENGAGEMENT
By Moira Koch
User engagement is critical to driving brand loyalty. Mobile gaming can offer a unique perspective on how consumer packaged goods firms can engage their consumers. more ...
SCENE ON SHELF
Target resets OTC section, expands VMS offering
Target recently reset its over-the-counter section with new, colorful signage that makes each section pop. more ...
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EDITOR'S OPINION
Welcome to DSN+
By Rob Eder
DSN+ is a brand-new app that turns a page in Drug Store News into an interactive experience, linking readers seamlessly from print to digital just as quickly and easily as it is to take a picture with your smartphone.
more ...
RESEARCH
The 340B Drug Discount Program by BIO, COA, NCPA, NPAF, PCMA and PhRMA
Mobile Technology & Medication Adherence: Why pharmacy needs to go mobile by Kony
Understand Your Brands Core Identifiers by the Goldstein Group