PHARMACY PROFILE

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NACDS Regional Chain Conference

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) held its 2008 Regional Chain Conference February 3-6 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Fla. The event was attended by over 450 retail executives. This conference is designed to address the challenges faced by members who operate up to 250 chain drug stores.

Over the course of the four days, attendees gained industry updates, learned of new trends and forecasts in the pharmaceutical and front-end markets, exchanged ideas on the challenges and opportunities affecting regional chains, and interacted in valuable one-on-one meetings between regional chain operators and some of the industry’s largest suppliers. 

Kicking off the conference, Dave Bernauer, NACDS board chairman and retired chairman and CEO of Walgreen Co., offered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of being proactive on the pharmacy and front-end issues that impact the industry.

“It is important that we anticipate changes and prepare to react to them,” he said during his remarks. “We need to be proactive to help change the face of pharmacy and improve the quality of life [for our patients].”

NACDS president and CEO Steven C. Anderson also set an exciting tone early for this year’s conference when he launched a major advertising campaign in the Washington, D.C. area to communicate to lawmakers and opinion leaders the value of pharmacy as a critical component of the overall health care debate.

“We are announcing a major campaign to tell our story like never before,” said Anderson during his “State of the Association” address at the conference. “We are turning up the volume on this central message: Pharmacies are essential to healthcare.” 

Anderson also highlighted the victories that NACDS achieved in the last year and looked at the challenges that lie ahead for the industry.

This year’s conference aimed high in helping companies meet the challenges of the health care and retail market through a comprehensive lineup of education sessions, outstanding speakers, and executive development programs. 

During the conference, NACDS staff offered an update on Medicare and Medicaid and the challenges the industry faces with pending reimbursement cuts and significant budget reductions.

Attendees heard about successes and challenges of medication therapy management (MTM) during a panel discussion offered by Ditina Desai, PharmD, with XLHealth Corporation; Jennifer James, PharmD, with Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care; and Daniel Rodriguez, RPh, with Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. 

A presentation by Doug Long with IMS HEALTH offered attendees the latest in pharmaceutical trends, issues and forecasts. In addition, Mary Kate Scott with Scott & Co., shared a poignant presentation about the future growth of retail health clinics, and offered business strategies as this trend continues to grow and provide opportunities for retailers.

Presentations were also offered by Heidi Snyder with Drug World Pharmacies on disaster preparedness; and on best practices in retailing by Jeffery Joyner with J. Joyner Group, and Todd Kwait with Product Quest Manufacturing Inc.

NACDS chain and associate members also had an opportunity to conduct one-on-one business meetings to discuss new products and services during the conference.

Three awards were also presented over the course of the four days, including the AstraZeneca Award given to NACDS board of directors chairman Dave Bernauer; the Novo Nordisk Award to Tony Civello with Kerr Drug Inc. and NACDS immediate past chairman; and an IMS HEALTH award to the 2009 Regional Chain Conference chairman Bill Earnest with Kopp Drug Inc.

Next year’s Regional Chain Conference is set for February 1-4 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, Ariz..

NACDS President & CEO Steven Anderson addresses attendees at the 2008 Regional Chain Conference, launching an advertising campaign to promote the value of pharmacy in the health care debate to lawmakers and opinion leaders. Photo courtesy NACDS.

New Ads Showcased at the Regional Conference

 "Pharmacies: The face of neighborhood healthcare" Debuts

NACDS president and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, unveiled a new ad campaign during the NACDS Regional Chain Conference. The ads feature the tagline: “Pharmacies: The face of neighborhood healthcare.” They support that theme with messages about pharmacies and pharmacists, including convenience, accessibility, expertise, prevention of drug interactions, and counseling patients to take their medications as prescribed.

A coordinated advertising and public relations plan will target Capitol Hill, the executive branch, the media, and opinion leaders “inside the Beltway” of Washington, D.C. The ads began appearing in March in local publications, in transit settings with high commuter visibility, on drive time radio and online.

“Today, we are announcing a major campaign to tell our story like never before,” Anderson said. “We are turning up the volume on this central message: Pharmacies are essential to healthcare.”

While pharmacists and pharmacies already enjoy a positive image, Anderson said this goodwill does not translate consistently into appropriate treatment in health care policy. He said pharmacy could be utilized more effectively to address issues of concern, including the estimated $177 billion in annual direct and indirect costs that result from failure to take prescription drugs as prescribed.

Anderson continued, “I believe we are even better equipped, and better focused, to tell the true story of this industry, and to turn this testament into results for your businesses, for the patients and consumers you serve, and for the good of the nation.”

The association felt that the Regional Chain Conference presented a unique opportunity to launch the campaign. Regional chain drug stores are a critical component of NACDS’ membership, which includes traditional chain drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants, as well as associate members.

In addition to the launch of the image campaign, Anderson discussed NACDS’ accomplishments of 2007, as well as goals and challenges for this year. Pharmacy achieved a series of victories in 2007, and the industry made significant progress on key issues. But, as Anderson noted, many more challenges lay ahead.

The remarks about the association’s progress in 2007 and bold approach for 2008 and beyond came at a pivotal time — the same day that the White House released its 2009 budget proposal and one day before the Super Tuesday presidential primaries and caucuses. Anderson noted this timing is symbolic of NACDS’ commitment to advocate now and into the future for adequate compensation for pharmacy services and for opportunities to help enhance patient-centric healthcare.

Concluding his remarks, Anderson thanked attendees for their grassroots advocacy on several issues in 2007, including efforts to block pending Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cuts that would reimburse pharmacies at less than cost for generic drugs. He called on attendees to play an increasingly active role as advocates on issues that impact the industry.

“We will need your participation to achieve success on your behalf in Washington. As we tell the story of the face of neighborhood health care, you are the face that matters most to your elected officials.”; 

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