Content about The Drug Store News Group

September 6, 2012
Recognized but underutilized

Despite the fact that 77% of pharmacy patients believe that the pharmacist at their preferred pharmacy is always available to answer their questions, consult on medications, etc., only 28% say that they interact often with their pharmacist. And again, this is an area where local independents are way ahead of the curve (52%), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

Despite the fact that 77% of pharmacy patients believe that the pharmacist at their preferred pharmacy is always available to answer their questions, consult on medications, etc., only 28% say that they interact often with their pharmacist. And again, this is an area where local independents are way ahead of the curve (52%), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

September 5, 2012
Good news first...

This is one of those good news/bad news situations. On one hand, 77% of pharmacy patients believe that the pharmacist at their preferred pharmacy is always available to answer their questions and consult on medications, with local independents ranking at the high end of the curve, at 84%. Unsurprisingly, pharmacists at mail-order pharmacies got the lowest marks (56%), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

This is one of those good news/bad news situations. On one hand, 77% of pharmacy patients believe that the pharmacist at their preferred pharmacy is always available to answer their questions and consult on medications, with local independents ranking at the high end of the curve at 84%. Unsurprisingly, pharmacists at mail-order pharmacies got the lowest marks (56%), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

September 4, 2012
A chain reaction?

More than one-third of pharmacy patients say that the pharmacist is a very important factor for them when choosing a preferred pharmacy — and 92% of patients say they have a preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. But when asked which types of pharmacies they believed had the most professional and trained pharmacists, 33% answered traditional drug store chains, such as Walgreens and CVS.

More than one-third of pharmacy patients say that the pharmacist is a very important factor for them when choosing a preferred pharmacy — and 92% of patients say they have a preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. But when asked which types of pharmacies they believed had the most professional and trained pharmacists, 33% answered traditional drug store chains, such as Walgreens and CVS.

September 4, 2012
The pharmacist factor

It's probably no surprise that for the 9-of-10 patients who say they have a preferred pharmacy that the pharmacist is a very important factor in choosing one pharmacy over another (37% overall), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. It should be even less surprising that this number was even higher among patients who listed the local independent as their preferred pharmacy (54%).

It's probably no surprise that for the 9-of-10 patients who say they have a preferred pharmacy that the pharmacist is a very important factor in choosing one pharmacy over another (37% overall), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. It should be even less surprising that this number was even higher among patients who listed the local independent as their preferred pharmacy (54%).

August 30, 2012
How patients choose a preferred pharmacy

More than 90% of pharmacy patients have a preferred pharmacy — and for 98% of that group, it isn’t mail order. But how do patients choose a preferred pharmacy, you ask? According to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August, after convenience/location (among the top three factors selected by 75% of patients), the second most critical reason is customer service (top three for 57% of patients).

More than 90% of pharmacy patients have a preferred pharmacy — and for 98% of that group, it isn’t mail order. But how do patients choose a preferred pharmacy, you ask? According to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August, after convenience/location (among the top three factors selected by 75% of patients), the second most critical reason is customer service (top three for 57% of patients).

August 29, 2012
Surprise, surprise: 98% of patients DON’T prefer mail order

Although fully one-third of patients use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, 9-of-10 say they actually do have a preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

Although fully one-third of patients use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, 9-of-10 say they actually do have a preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. Unsurprisingly, just 2% of Patient Views respondents named a mail-order provider as their preferred pharmacy.

August 28, 2012
Why patients use multiple pharmacies

A little more than one-third of patients use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, according to an exclusive survey of 745 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. Why? The obvious reasons are convenience/location (63%) and price (46%), but there are many other factors.

A little more than one-third of patients use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, according to an exclusive survey of 745 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. Why? The obvious reasons are convenience/location (63%) and price (46%), but there are many other factors.

August 27, 2012
Introducing DSN Patient Views

Can you feel that? 
It’s the seismic shift that currently is occurring in health care in this country. And really, it’s just a tremor. The intense stuff isn’t expected to hit until 2014.


Can you feel that? 


It’s the seismic shift that currently is occurring in health care in this country. And really, it’s just a tremor. The intense stuff isn’t expected to hit until 2014.


That’s why we’re creating “Patient Views” (see page 6), a new department that will be featured Upfront in every issue of DSN and in every edition of our daily 
e-newsletter, DSN A.M.


August 27, 2012
Pharmacists’ value recognized, underutilized

Almost 2-in-3 patients reported that the individual pharmacist plays a key role in which pharmacy they choose, but less than one-third of patients tap into that accessible health resource on a regular basis, according to an exclusive survey conducted by AccentHealth and DSN. 


Almost 2-in-3 patients reported that the individual pharmacist plays a key role in which pharmacy they choose, but less than one-third of patients tap into that accessible health resource on a regular basis, according to an exclusive survey conducted by AccentHealth and DSN. 


For the full report, click here.

August 27, 2012
The poly-pharmacy blues

One-third of pharmacy customers say they use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescription needs — and that sets up multiple opportunities to foul up patient adherence and negatively impact patient outcomes.

One-third of pharmacy customers say they use multiple pharmacies to fill their prescription needs — and that sets up multiple opportunities to foul up patient adherence and negatively impact patient outcomes. The findings are the first to come out of a new content partnership between The Drug Store News Group and AccentHealth, which will create a new Upfront department called Patient Views that will appear in every issue of DSN and the daily electronic newsletter, DSN A.M.

July 30, 2012
CRN launches online
community for NPs

The Council for Responsible Nutrition has joined the new, professional networking website Generation NP, an online community for practicing nurse practitioners.


The Council for Responsible Nutrition has joined the new, professional networking website Generation NP, an online community for practicing nurse practitioners.


CRN is similarly involved in Pharmacist Society, an online community sponsored by The Drug Store News Group, to dispense relevant information around the broad use of dietary supplements to augment a healthy diet and exercise regimen.


July 30, 2012
Retail’s undeniable 
interconnectedness

“It’s actually an illusion that those boxers are separate entities. The separate entities are just the way we choose to perceive them. The boxers, you, me — we’re all part of the same quantum field. Think of the two boxers as ocean waves or currents of air — two tornadoes, say. They appear to be two separate things, but they’re not. Tornadoes are just wind. The wind stirred up in different directions. The fact is nothing is separate. Everything is connected. The shapes we see exist only in our own consciousness.”

“It’s actually an illusion that those boxers are separate entities. The separate entities are just the way we choose to perceive them. The boxers, you, me — we’re all part of the same quantum field. Think of the two boxers as ocean waves or currents of air — two tornadoes, say. They appear to be two separate things, but they’re not. Tornadoes are just wind. The wind stirred up in different directions. The fact is nothing is separate. Everything is connected.

July 20, 2012
CRN hosts supplement medicine interaction webinar for pharmacists, nurse practitioners

The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced it is hosting a free webinar on the interaction between dietary supplements and pharmaceutical drugs via the professional networking website Pharmacist Society, an online community created by Skipta and sponsored by The Drug Store News Group, and Generation NP, a website that serves nurse practitioners.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced it is hosting a free webinar on the interaction between dietary supplements and pharmaceutical drugs via the professional networking website Pharmacist Society, an online community created by Skipta and sponsored by The Drug Store News Group, and Generation NP, a website that serves nurse practitioners.

This webinar is part of CRN’s ongoing initiative to help ensure that healthcare practitioners have access to science-based information on dietary supplements and the supplement industry.

July 10, 2012
CRN joins nurse practitioner professional networking website Generation NP

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Tuesday announced it will join the new professional networking website Generation NP, an online community that enables its users to have easy access to information most relevant to nurse practitioners.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Tuesday announced it will join the new professional networking website Generation NP, an online community that enables its users to have easy access to information most relevant to nurse practitioners.

CRN will represent the dietary supplement industry by providing content about dietary supplements to thousands of nurse practitioners. CRN is similarly involved in Pharmacist Society — an online community sponsored by The Drug Store News Group —the association stated.

May 18, 2012
Mylan sponsors Drug Store News and Pharmacist Society to provide a new business networking platform for pharmacy schools and students

The Drug Store News Group, the Pharmacist Society and Mylan Inc., one of the world's leading generics and specialty pharmaceutical companies, are pleased to announce an exclusive sponsorship to expand membership opportunities at PharmacistSociety.com – an online forum that supports and enhances professional networks for U.S.-based retail pharmacists, professional organizations and pharmacy companies.

PITTSBURGH and NEW YORK — The Drug Store News Group, the Pharmacist Society and Mylan Inc., one of the world's leading generics and specialty pharmaceutical companies, are pleased to announce an exclusive sponsorship to expand membership opportunities at PharmacistSociety.com — an online forum that supports and enhances professional networks for U.S.-based retail pharmacists, professional organizations and pharmacy companies.

April 22, 2012
DSN, CVS breakfast an opportunity to share focus

The Drug Store News Group on Sunday co-hosted a breakfast with CVS Caremark. Larry Merlo, CVS Caremark president and CEO, shared with attendees CVS’ focus on leveraging personalization opportunities, through both marketing and assortment, to engender loyalty. And suppliers were introduced to new CVS/pharmacy president Mark Cosby and chief merchant Judy Sansone.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Drug Store News Group on Sunday co-hosted a breakfast with CVS Caremark to celebrate DSN’s March 12 “Category of One” issue. Larry Merlo, CVS Caremark president and CEO, shared with attendees CVS’ focus on leveraging personalization opportunities, through both marketing and assortment, to engender loyalty. Suppliers also were introduced to new CVS/pharmacy president Mark Cosby.

For pictures of the event, click here.

April 13, 2012
What your shoppers say about you: Meet C2B Mobile Insights

“We want to make sure we’re talking to our members where and how they want to be spoken to.”
 That was something Sam’s Club VP health and family care Jason Reiser said to me for the special report we did on the company that appeared on the cover of our April 2 issue.

“We want to make sure we’re talking to our members where and how they want to be spoken to.”


That was something Sam’s Club VP health and family care Jason Reiser said to me for the special report we did on the company that appeared on the cover of our April 2 issue. In case you missed it, you can download the full report here.


March 8, 2012
Where are the ‘integration sweet spots’ for your brand?

“How does that help me sell more cases, pallets and truckloads?” That’s a question I have been asked repeatedly, particularly as the world of retail pharmacy has evolved to play a larger role in health care. With that, the business that we cover in Drug Store News has become incredibly more complicated.


“How does that help me sell more cases, pallets and truckloads?” That’s a question I have been asked repeatedly, particularly as the world of retail pharmacy has evolved to play a larger role in health care. With that, the business that we cover in Drug Store News has become incredibly more complicated.


February 17, 2012
Where everyone wants to be ... but how to get there?

According to IMS VP industry relations Doug Long, who spoke Feb. 6 at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Regional Chain Meeting on current trends and forecasts for the U.S. pharmaceutical market, specialty pharmacy dollars are growing more than 10% on a 12-month moving annual total basis. 


“I have 20 years in the retail sector, and I know that not every pharmacist can be a specialist in a retail environment. So we give the pharmacists a higher level of confidence by using technology to target specific [national drug codes]. If a limited-
distribution product or a specialty script that they either don’t stock or they have never seen before comes across the counter, the computer directs them to Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions.

November 23, 2011
Wendland reprises role as group moderator at Drug Store News’ Diabetes Leadership Forum

Hamacher Resource Group will be participating in The Drug Store News Group's Diabetes Leadership Forum, part of the Industry Issues conference, to be held Nov. 29 at the New York Athletic Club.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group will be participating in The Drug Store News Group's Diabetes Leadership Forum, part of the Industry Issues conference, to be held Nov. 29 at the New York Athletic Club. HRG VP Dave Wendland will moderate the discussion for the eighth year in a row. The panel will include six of the leading health and beauty retailers in the country.

November 14, 2011
DSN From The Blogs: Ideas are your products, too

Ideas are just as important to a winning company’s overall success as the products and services it sells. So, what’s your company doing to create a culture where the ideas that create your products and services are as important as the products themselves?

NEW YORK — Ideas are just as important to a winning company’s overall success as the products and services it sells. So, what’s your company doing to create a culture where the ideas that create your products and services are as important as the products themselves? That’s the question Dan Mack — EVP strategic business development for The Swanson Group and founder of the Mack Elevation Forum — puts to DrugStoreNews.com users in a hot, new content feature that debuted this week on DrugStoreNews.com.

November 4, 2011
Industry experts anchor new DSN blogs

This month The Drug Store News Group introduced “From the Blogs,” a hot, new content feature on DrugStoreNews.com. Meant to provide an interactive forum for DrugStoreNews.com users, DSN From the Blogs will be anchored by expert blogs written by leading opinion leaders.


This month The Drug Store News Group introduced “From the Blogs,” a hot, new content feature on DrugStoreNews.com. Meant to provide an interactive forum for DrugStoreNews.com users, DSN From the Blogs will be anchored by expert blogs written by leading opinion leaders.


October 19, 2011
DSN guest moderates Congressional briefing

The Drug Store News Group editor Rob Eder moderated a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Sept. 27 for U.S. House of Representatives staffers.


WASHINGTON — The Drug Store News Group editor Rob Eder moderated a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Sept. 27 for U.S. House of Representatives staffers.


Eder, who presented on current retail trends in homeopathic remedy sales, Americans’ growing interest in self-care and implications for U.S. health care, also moderated a panel discussion of experts, including AAHP president Mark Land and legal counsel Al Lorman, as well as Wayne Jonas, president and CEO of 
Samueli Institute.


October 19, 2011
Mr. Eder goes to Washington

I’m not going to lie about it. The first thing I thought as I checked into the U.S. Capitol on official business for the story that appears at the bottom of this page was: “Wow, this is pretty cool.”


I’m not going to lie about it. The first thing I thought as I checked into the U.S. Capitol on official business to moderate a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists was: “Wow, this is pretty cool.”


Truth is, the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists believed that Drug Store News could make some pretty complex ideas understandable for a group of 20-somethings whose job it is to tell 435 members of Congress what to think and how to vote.


September 12, 2011
The flip side of the ride back from Boston

Somewhere along the road back from Boston, DSN publisher Wayne Bennett and I looked at each other and realized that the previous 24 hours or so had been some of the most productive time we had enjoyed at a trade show in quite a while.


Somewhere along the road back from Boston, DSN publisher Wayne Bennett and I looked at each other and realized that the previous 24 hours or so had been some of the most productive time we had enjoyed at a trade show in quite a while. To be honest, that’s not exactly what we had expected when we headed to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Pharmacy and Technology Conference a day earlier. Hurricane Irene — which had already dampened our travel plans — also had dampened our expectations.