Community Retail Pharmacists: A Case Study

I have graciously been given the opportunity to broaden my horizons and learn a variety of practices in the pharmaceutical environment. Since the October of 2017 I have been employed at Hoey Apothecary under the care and teaching of many pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. At Hoey Apothecary I work as a pharmacy assistant, and only because of the Youth Apprenticeship Program that Monona Grove High School has offered to it’s students. During my time in the program I having developed a variety of skills and learned the inner works of the cooperation between the technicians and pharmacists. Specifically as an assistant, I am tasked with the responsibilities of; ensuring that the patients are receiving the correct prescription, at the right time,

With the huge shift in the U.S. healthcare system, healthcare services are now trending towards value-based outcomes.1 With passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it has become increasingly important to improve quality of care while simultaneously reducing health care costs.2 Pharmaceutical care services are one of the key components that has an essential impact on optimizing therapy outcomes; minimizing cost and enhancing quality of life of chronically ill patients. Community pharmacists are the third largest healthcare provider group in the world after physicians and nurses.3 Despite the fact that many studies have shown that community pharmacists’ provision of direct patient care can lead to improved patient outcomes and reduced health care costs. However, community pharmacists are the only health professionals who are not primarily rewarded for delivering health care and hence are under-utilized as public health professionals.3 Community pharmacists could help to improve health by reducing drug-related adverse events and promoting better medication adherence, which in turn may help in reducing unnecessary provider visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions while strengthening primary care delivery across the health system.

Introduction: On January 1, 2014, SB493 otherwise known as the Provider Status law was put into effect (American Pharmacists Association). This law allows pharmacists to be considered as health care providers that can administer certain health care services. It especially helpful for patients who need drug therapy because pharmacist can better explain the therapy. In addition, pharmacists will be able to provide immunizations to patients that are three years and older. This law will lessen the work load for primary care physicians because under this law pharmacists can now aid more in the process of a patient since recently there has been a shortage of physicians. Although, the Provider Status law is a major accomplishments for pharmacists,

Any practice that operates in such a manner will focus much of it time putting out “little fires” which can drain a practice not only of its energy, but also of its resources. A practice must be strategic in its planning for the future, which requires individuals (staff) that are knowledgeable and understand the uniqueness of the organizations culture. Physician Strategy Group defines a practice strategic planning as a process of determining a company’s long-range goals and the best approach for reaching them. Not only must a practice be

The writer of the article suggests that the retail clinics have a bright future in this arena and quietly the primary care providers are saying there is a need for these clinics. The retail clinics are serving a twofold purpose, they are bringing in customers who don’t have a primary care provider and the retail clinics are referring these patients to physicians that are accepting new patients. In the midst of all this primary care physician is still reaping benefits due to this. The retail clinics in some cases are taking on the role of being the care coordinators in some instances. According to the article, the Convenient Care Association (CCA) that on the east coast in highly populated areas that big hospitals and health systems will be

Rite Aid in their "Code of Ethics" policy from General Counsel quickly spells out what conviction the company believes and expects from their employees to abide by in their behavior towards all parties of business in the Pharmacy store (Rite Aid, 2018). Rite Aid covers the following in a long list of policy coverage they start off with first, a passion for customers and secondly encouragement for their associates (Rite Aid, 2018). In saying this, Rite Aid has achieved by making a customer and the associate a primary focus that they have been able to keep up with pharmacies such as Tumblers CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance (Marketline, 2015). Rite makes it clear that they purposely provide and create an environment that "inspires and motivates" the best people to work for them (Rite Aid, 2018), the question that remains, is that true; there is truth to that statement, due to the fact that Rite Aid's hardly hired any personally lower than a shift leader due to the standards of the policy they uphold (Rite Aid, 2018). However, in a meeting, a senior manager has expressed that often times Rite Aid high expectation burns out these qualified employees due to the lack of system support necessary to serve the

Strategic Planning: Due to the current issues, both internally and externally, the organization is facing, Dr. Townsend is challenged to prepare an action plan to implement the proposed strategy needed to restore the organization back to financial health and improve the morale among the physicians and support staff. Another course of planning Dr. Townsend will challenge is the organizations old structure into a way that all patients will be satisfied.

To be “My Walgreens” for everyone in America — the first choice in health and daily living … owning the strategic territory of “well.”

Through my upbringing and exposure to the healthcare profession through parents' careers, I have had the opportunity to witness their commitment and empathy towards their clients, and have grown to appreciate the work that medical professionals do. Pharmacists are ambitious and reliable people that interact and connect with their clients while providing treatment. They make personal sacrifices to ensure the wellbeing of others and I genuinely aspire to make that kind of difference in the lives of those struggling with illnesses while being in a profession that really interests me.

Pharmacists play a very important role in helping patients feel better and get well as quickly as possible. Patients tend to do better when pharmacists are part of their healthcare team because pharmacists are able to help manage their medications. Pharmacists improve medication adherence. They are clinically competent healthcare providers who communicate effectively to evaluate many factors that affect a patient’s ability to take a medication. These factors include diet, lifestyle, side effects, reactions, and much more.Pharmacists work with other health care professionals to help improve health outcomes. Numerous studies have proven that the presence of a pharmacist on hospital rounds as a member of the patient care team has been shown to

Faced with a trivial query of the pharmacy assistant, I should be cautious about having any irrational and judgmental plans of action. I should first recall intensively the uses of Aspirin 500mg (Cortal 500) and its toxicological effects if taken abusively than the prescribed dose. Then and there, I would know that the information I would be sharing to the patient will be of accuracy.

We would like to thank you so much for all the hard work that you all have been doing. As Walgreens still continue being one of the top largest retail pharmacy in the United States. Our goal and vision has always been; to be America's most loved pharmacy-led health, wellbeing and beauty retailer and to champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy and that also include our employees. With that being said we really appreciate your loyalty and the excellent work that you continue to do despite our current predicament.

McKesson has a strong foundation with the partnership with Creative Pharmacist. This alliance will play a key role in helping community pharmacies expand the services they offer far beyond dispensing and ties directly into McKesson’s strategy of enabling pharmacies to maximize operational and clinical performance. This innovative collaboration will stimulate

After reading about Retail Health Clinics, I find that I love the idea. It makes healthcare more accessible to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to see a doctor or visit a clinic. The article from Rand.org states that medical costs are being driven up because of the health clinics and their availablility to give people the medical attention they may have otherwise ignored or waited out on, copays on insurance are just the same as a regular doctor visit, though so that doesn’t really save anyone money on insurance visits. Without major medical equipment, limited diagnosis and treatments, visits are cheaper, but with more people going, more prescriptions and more availability, medical costs overall have been on the rise. That being said though

One of my long-term goals is to start an outreach program or help an existing one where I can educate my community on the importance of drug regulation, interaction, and always updating their physicians and pharmacists on what drugs they’re using and how they respond to those drugs. I feel like patient care should go further then what a job description says, and we should be helping educate our community outside of the workplace when given the opportunity.