Content about Pharmacy

May 6, 2013
NACDS chairman Bob Narveson: Pharmacist counseling best at improving adherence

There is no substitute for the face-to-face counsel of the pharmacist in improving patient adherence — and he’s got the data to prove it. That’s the message Thrifty White president and CEO Bob Narveson had for DSNTV in part two of a frank and broad-ranging interview about the state of the industry, the role community pharmacy can play in healthcare reform and the results of an exciting new study that validates the role companies like his can play to innovate patient care, improve outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

FARGO, N.D. — There is no substitute for the face-to-face counsel of the pharmacist in improving patient adherence — and he’s got the data to prove it. That’s the message Thrifty White president and CEO Bob Narveson had for DSNTV in part two of a frank and broad-ranging interview about the state of the industry, the role community pharmacy can play in healthcare reform and the results of an exciting new study that validates the role companies like his can play to innovate patient care, improve outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

April 16, 2013
PoweRx Players: Profiles of the kings of retail pharmacy

Eighty-five percent. That’s roughly the combined market share for the companies that appear in the 2013 DSN PoweRx50, representing more than $190 billion in pharmacy sales and more than 51,500 stores, or more than 8-out-of-10 retail pharmacies in America, across all classes of trade, chains and independents. The indisputable Kings of Retail Pharmacy.

Eighty-five percent. That’s roughly the combined market share for the companies that appear in the 2013 DSN PoweRx50, representing more than $190 billion in pharmacy sales and more than 51,500 stores, or more than 8-out-of-10 retail pharmacies in America, across all classes of trade, chains and independents. The indisputable Kings of Retail Pharmacy.

April 10, 2013
Walgreens omnichannel evolution in pharmacy

DSN recently sat down with Suzanne Hansen, Walgreens group VP pharmacy operations, to discuss the evolution of the business of pharmacy from a dispensing model to a service model, and to tease out how Walgreens is beginning to mold its pharmacy service model into a comprehensive omnichannel offering.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN recently sat down with Suzanne Hansen, Walgreens group VP pharmacy operations, to discuss the evolution of the business of pharmacy from a dispensing model to a service model, and to tease out how Walgreens is beginning to mold its pharmacy service model into a comprehensive omnichannel offering.

March 20, 2013
Pharmacy interoperability and emerging care models: Conversations from HIMSS13

One major theme resonating across the show floor at HIMSS13 was the importance of interoperability within healthcare ecosystems. Emdeon's Lathe Bigler discusses how interoperability in the pharmacy space has been centered on advances in e-prescribing and clinical messaging.

In early March, more than 30,000 healthcare industry participants swarmed upon New Orleans for the annual HIMSS conference. In the words of keynote speaker James Carville, this is the Super Bowl of conventions. Most attendees arrived on Sunday to discover a water outage warning. Even when the water pressure returned to normal, the message was clear — do not drink it! On Monday morning, there was not a latte to be found in the entire city. We were roughing it…

March 4, 2013
Diabetes Roundtable 2013

In November 2012, The Drug Store News Group hosted in New York an exclusive roundtable discussion of leading pharmacy retailers and a handful of key vendors. Moderated by special guest Dave Wendland of Hamacher Resource Group, the panel tackled a wide range of issues, including how to expand pharmacist accessibility for patients with diabetes; measuring and managing patient outcomes; government reform and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and the use of complementary and alternative medicines.

In November 2012, The Drug Store News Group hosted in New York an exclusive roundtable discussion of leading pharmacy retailers and a handful of key vendors. Moderated by special guest Dave Wendland of Hamacher Resource Group, the panel tackled a wide range of issues, including how to expand pharmacist accessibility for patients with diabetes; measuring and managing patient outcomes; government reform and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and the use of complementary and alternative medicines.

February 19, 2013
A guide for the specialty-perplexed: Avella launches animation explaining specialty pharmacy

One of the biggest questions the average person might have about specialty pharmacy is, well, what the heck is it?

PHOENIX — One of the biggest questions the average person might have about specialty pharmacy is, well, what the heck is it?

Avella Specialty Pharmacy seeks to answer that question with a new, 1-minute, 45-second animated video titled, "What is a Specialty Pharmacy?" which seeks to explain the differences between a specialty pharmacy and a traditional retail pharmacy.

February 19, 2013
Medication therapy management contribution to improved outcomes and cost savings in health care

By now we are all well aware of the healthcare IT transformation taking place across the nation. This transformation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future with further implementation of Meaningful Use and the expansion of state Medicaid programs in 2014 as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requirements. Providing clinical services through the coordination of care among a variety of providers in the healthcare space will continue to be a focal point in the future of healthcare as well. For example, we will likely see more elaborate collaborative care models through the expansion of accountable care organizations, patient centered medical home efforts, and the development of health insurance exchanges in one form or another.

By now we are all well aware of the healthcare IT transformation taking place across the nation. This transformation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future with further implementation of Meaningful Use and the expansion of state Medicaid programs in 2014 as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requirements. Providing clinical services through the coordination of care among a variety of providers in the healthcare space will continue to be a focal point in the future of healthcare as well.

January 31, 2013
Walgreens talks scope of new WellTransitions program

Hospitals need retail pharmacy if they're going to reduce re-admissions, eliminate unnecessary healthcare costs and avoid penalties from Medicare for patient re-admission rates that are too high, under a new law that took effect Oct. 1. With that in mind, Walgreens created WellTransitions.

Audio Q&A: Drug Store News sat down with Joel Wright, Walgreens VP health systems operations, to talk about the company's WellTransitions program. Hospitals need retail pharmacy if they're going to reduce re-admissions, eliminate unnecessary healthcare costs and avoid penalties from Medicare for patient re-admission rates that are too high, under a new law that took effect Oct. 1. With that in mind, Walgreens created WellTransitions.

December 27, 2012
Health reform's impact on pharmacy

One week following the re-election of President Barack Obama, DSN spoke with Mike Cantrell, president of AmerisourceBergen's Good Neighbor Pharmacy, on the impact — and opportunity — healthcare reform holds for community pharmacies.

AUIDIO Q&A: DSN spoke with Mike Cantrell, president of AmerisourceBergen's Good Neighbor Pharmacy, one week following the re-election of President Barack Obama about the impact — and opportunity — healthcare reform holds for community pharmacies.

Smartphone users can access the mp3 file here.

December 27, 2012
Managing HIV/AIDS treatment

The Obama administration recently stressed the importance of increasing coverage of HIV treatment, as well as increasing access to HIV testing and counseling. It's an initiative that Walgreens, with more than 700 HIV-specialized pharmacies and over 2,000 pharmacists with special HIV/AIDS-accredited educational training, follows closely. Walgreens' senior manager for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis pharmacy services Glen Pietrandoni talked with DSN on the scope of Walgreens' HIV/AIDS services.

AUDIO Q&A: Walgreens' senior manager for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis pharmacy services Glen Pietrandoni talked with DSN on the scope of Walgreens' HIV/AIDS services.The Obama administration recently stressed the importance of increasing coverage of HIV treatment, as well as increasing access to HIV testing and counseling.

December 10, 2012
Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2012

DSN looks back on the past year's most influential events in the pharmacy industry, from Obamacare and record patent expirations to Humira surpassing Lipitor as the world's top-selling drug and the merger of Walgreens and Alliance Boots.

DSN looks back on the past year's most influential events in the pharmacy industry, from Obamacare and record patent expirations to Humira surpassing Lipitor as the world's top-selling drug and the merger of Walgreens and Alliance Boots.

 

November 30, 2012
Preparing for pharmacy’s future

Today pharmacists are administering vaccinations, managing patients’ medication therapy regimens and providing expertise on everything from specialty drugs to travel medicine. With all these changes in the pharmacy, it’s important to train the next generation of pharmacists. DSN Collaborative Care recently had the opportunity to talk with Bill Riffee, dean of the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy, about how pharmacy schools are preparing students.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN Collaborative Care recently had the opportunity to talk with Bill Riffee, dean of the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy, about how pharmacy schools are preparing students. Today pharmacists are administering vaccinations, managing patients’ medication therapy regimens and providing expertise on everything from specialty drugs to travel medicine.

October 3, 2012
Acro and the four P's

DSN recently caught up with Sajid Syed, president of Acro Pharmaceutical Services, to talk about how the company works with what he calls the "four P's" — the patient, physician, pharmaceutical manufacturer and payer — to provide an array of specialty pharmacy services to clients.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN recently caught up with Sajid Syed, president of Acro Pharmaceutical Services, to talk about how the company works with what he calls the "four P's" — the patient, physician, pharmaceutical manufacturer and payer — to provide an array of specialty pharmacy services to clients.

September 27, 2012
Predictive analytics' role in health care

DSN caught up with Dave Dimas — program director of engineering, sciences and information technology at the University of California, Irvine Extension — to discuss the role predictive analytics can play in health care, as well as a new certificate program on how to best translate that consumer data into action plans.

AUDIO Q&A: With the number of loyalty cards collecting reams of consumer data these days, the ability to crunch that data into meaningful insights will become more valuable.

September 21, 2012
'Life…Supplemented' launches resource app

DSN sat down with Judy Blatman, SVP communications for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, to get the details on the launch of the organization's "Life…Supplemented" resource app for iPhones and iPads.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN sat down with Judy Blatman, SVP communications for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, to get the details on the launch of the organization's "Life…Supplemented" resource app for iPhones and iPads.

September 21, 2012
Getting to know millennials

DSN sat down with Jeff Weidauer, Vestcom International VP marketing and strategy, for some insights on who the millennial is, and when it comes to shopping, what her expectations are.

AUDIO Q&A: The millennials now are the demographic with accretive buying power and they are forcing marketers to rethink how to promote brands. DSN sat down with Jeff Weidauer, Vestcom International VP marketing and strategy, for some insights on who the millennial is, and when it comes to shopping, what her expectations are.

September 18, 2012
Annual Pharmacist Reader Survey 2012, Part 2

In part two, DSN asks pharmacists to name their top OTC brand recommendations across 15 core product categories.

Part one of the first annual Drug Store News pharmacist-reader survey revealed how quickly the practice of pharmacy is evolving to have a greater emphasis on patient care. Nearly half (46%) indicated they had been spending more time counseling patients in recent years, and slightly more (50.5%) said their pharmacies were doing more work around disease state management and chronic care programs.

In all, 378 pharmacists completed the survey, which was conducted between July 31 and Aug. 6.

August 27, 2012
Point-of-care perspective

AccentHealth’s Andrew Schulman, VP marketing, recently sat down with DSN to talk about a new regular DSN feature debuting in this issue called “Patient Views,” and how this series of surveys can help inform pharmacy operators and healthcare suppliers alike.

AUDIO Q&A: AccentHealth’s Andrew Schulman, VP marketing, sat down with DSN to talk about a new regular DSN feature debuting in this issue called “Patient Views,” and how this series of surveys can help inform pharmacy operators and healthcare suppliers alike.

August 17, 2012
Annual Pharmacist Reader Survey 2012, Part 1

Part one of the first annual Drug Store News pharmacist-reader survey revealed how quickly the practice of pharmacy is evolving to have a greater emphasis on patient care.

The first annual Drug Store News pharmacist-reader survey is certainly a sign of the times. In all, 378 pharmacists completed the survey, which was conducted between July 31 and Aug. 6. As the business of pharmacy continues to become more focused on patient services, 46% of pharmacist-readers told DSN that they are spending more of their time counseling patients.

July 18, 2012
How suppliers can create value for retailers

As part of the Executive Viewpoint Series, DSN talked to Dan Mack — DSN expert blogger, EVP strategic sales at The Swanson Group and managing director of Mack Elevation Forum — discusses his unique perspective on what suppliers should focus on when engaging with retailers and what "blind spots" they should be wary of.

AUDIO Q&A: As part of the Executive Viewpoint Series, DSN talked to Dan Mack — DSN expert blogger, EVP strategic sales at The Swanson Group and managing director of Mack Elevation Forum — who discussed his unique perspective on what suppliers should focus on when engaging with retailers, and what "blind spots" they should be wary of.

July 11, 2012
Highlights from Cardinal Health RBC 2012

DSN talked to Cardinal Health SVP independent sales Steve Lawrence about the big news from Cardinal’s 2012 Retail Business Conference, including a best practices competition for its customers, its Women in Pharmacy program and Cardinal’s joint outreach program with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN talked to Cardinal Health SVP independent sales Steve Lawrence about the big news from Cardinal’s 2012 Retail Business Conference, including a best practices competition for its customers, its Women in Pharmacy program and Cardinal’s joint outreach program with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse.

May 21, 2012
Northern focus

Retail pharmacy veteran Frank Scorpiniti officially assumed the role of CEO of Rexall Pharma Plus in February. Now that he’s settled in North of the Border, Scorpiniti talked with Drug Store News about his new role and his insights on the Canadian retail pharmacy market.

Retail pharmacy veteran Frank Scorpiniti officially assumed the role of CEO of Rexall Pharma Plus in February. Now that he’s settled in North of the Border, Scorpiniti talked with Drug Store News about his new role and his insights on the Canadian retail pharmacy market.

April 25, 2012
Careers in Pharmacy 2012

Careers in Pharmacy prepares students and prospective students for a career in pharmacy with articles on the latest career options, how to prepare for a pharmacy career, pharmacy practice in the new healthcare system and a list of U.S. pharmacy colleges, as well as profiles of day-to-day responsibilities of pharmacists in different sectors of the pharmacy industry.

Careers in Pharmacy prepares students and prospective students for a career in pharmacy with articles on the latest career options, how to prepare for a pharmacy career, pharmacy practice in the new healthcare system and a list of U.S. pharmacy colleges, as well as profiles of day-to-day responsibilities of pharmacists in different sectors of the pharmacy industry.

April 23, 2012
Inside Sam's Club: Aligning clinical offerings with wellness

In part 3, VP health and wellness operations and compliance Jim Langman and director of business development Angie Muldoon discuss how Sam's Club's clinical offerings — pharmacy, optical and hearing aid centers — and its health screenings and new magazine align with the retailer's wellness platform.

In late January, DSN.TV traveled to Bentonville, Ark., for an exclusive look at what Sam's Club is doing to win in health and wellness. In part 3, VP health and wellness operations and compliance Jim Langman and director of business development Angie Muldoon discuss how Sam's Club's clinical offerings — pharmacy, optical and hearing aid centers — and its health screenings and new magazine align with the retailer's wellness platform.
 

March 27, 2012
Diabetes Roundtable 2011

In November 2011, The Drug Store News Group hosted in New York an exclusive roundtable discussion of leading pharmacy retailers and a handful of key vendors. Moderated by special guest Dave Wendland of Hamacher Resource Group, the panel tackled a wide range of issues surrounding diabetes management and much more.

In November 2011, The Drug Store News Group hosted in New York an exclusive roundtable discussion of leading pharmacy retailers and a handful of key vendors.