OCTOBER 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
CASTOR OIL POMADE for classic styles NATURAL INGREDIENTS for NATURAL MEN
www.OkayPureNaturals.com
Meet the InPen smart insulin pen system TM
For people who take multiple daily injections (MDI). InPen empowers you and your patients with actionable data you've never had from your MDI patients, until now.
To learn more about smart insulin pen technology, register to attend a virtual medical education webinar today!
Scan to register!
Smart insulin pens connect to a mobile app to provide dosing calculations, reminders and CGM system integration. The Bluetooth® Wordmark and logos are owned by Bluetooth® SIG, Inc. App Store® and the App Store logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play™ and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC. Important Safety Information: InPen™ The InPen™ is a home-use reusable pen injector for single-patient use by people with diabetes under the supervision of an adult caregiver, or by a patient age 7 and older for the self-injection of a desired dose of insulin and for calculating an insulin dose or carbohydrate intake based on user entered data. A healthcare professional must assist in dosage programming of the device prior to use, based on various patient-specific criteria and targets. The InPen™ requires a prescription. For additional product and safety information, please consult the Instructions for Use and bit.ly/InPenSafety. © 2023 Medtronic. All rights reserved. Medtronic, Medtronic logo and Engineering the extraordinary are trademarks of Medtronic. Third party brands are trademarks of their respective owners. All other brands are trademarks of a Medtronic company. 1 year warranty. US-DBA-2100408 v2.0
OCTOBER 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
I N S I D E Hair care sales are booming. Brands told us why.
Page 34
STEPPING
UP
Pharmacists often go above and beyond their basic responsibilities to become heroes to their coworkers, their patients and their communities
Our Best Value il
I U o
l
-T
-C
ci O P s l oc o co s
T
o
/
i i l
Co i Pl s L ci
i
ll P loo l co O
To c O To /
c , o i s
O To ic
Us U
i P s
To c s S i s
lic c s
si lic
Pl s L lic Pl
ci
ic c s
i i l
o l . isco so o OTC/c s -o l c s sc o ili i i s c , o s i o i s . o s i c o li o c i l s ic .I o i s c co , o c oosi o c s is o s c il l o o i o ili o i s c , i cl i lo cos . T is isco isco i i . © 0 Li Sc IP ol i s, LLC. ll i s s . US-UTS- 0000
vx230246_06_PNT_OT_DSNmag_Ad_8x10-75_US-UTS-2300007_US-EN.indd 1
ici
i l, s c o si o o is o co
i o i s i
s o
o s -
c o
o
i
s o i s c o . T is o i o c s c s . isco sc
2023-09-27 5:04 PM
7 5:04 PM
Go beyond ordinary. Be exemplary. “Our team is continually seeking new ways
to improve patient care. Patient-Centered Pharmacy Home accreditation gives us the tools and assurance to be the best we can be. We are honored to be recognized by The Compliance Team as an Exemplary Provider.®” ™
— Erica Mahn, PharmD, BC-ADM, Executive Director, Community and Specialty Pharmacy Services Alps Pharmacy, Springfield, MO*
Accreditation Organization
Renewing DMEPOS? Contact us now. Be Bold. Be Exemplary. Choose TCT. TheComplianceTeam.org 215-654-9110 Scan for more information about becoming an accredited Exemplary Provider.® *Accredited for: Community Pharmacy/DMEPOS and Patient-Centered Pharmacy Home™
10.23 Vol. 45 No. 10
Facebook.com/DrugStoreNews linkedin.com/company/drug-store-news/ instagram.com/dsn_media
FEATURES NEW: EXPANDED BEAUTY CONTENT! 34 INSIDE BEAUTY:
Hair Care Sails
Mass market hair care sales are thriving. These brands told us why 39 INSIDE BEAUTY: BEAUTY TALK
Subtl Beauty
The brand is transforming the industry with its stackable cosmetics 40 PHARMACY: TECH AUTOMATION
Beyond the Bench
24 Stepping Up
Retail pharmacy and pharmacists routinely go above and beyond their mission to become heroes to their their patients and their communities
Meet the pharmacy technology and automation companies that enable pharmacists to expand their clinical roles
48 HEALTH: DIABETES DIAGNOSTICS
Tune in to Technology Consumers with diabetes appreciate modern diabetes-management tools that ease the stress and anxiety of their condition
54 CONSUMABLES: CANDY
Candy Land DEPARTMENTS
COLUMNS
8
EDITOR’S NOTE
18
10
INDUSTRY NEWS
GUEST COLUMN by Lemrey “Al” Carter & William Schimmel
16
PRODUCTS TO WATCH
26
20
WOMEN IN THE NEWS
GUEST COLUMN by Dave Wendland
Retailers should prepare for the holidays by making it easy to buy lots of candy
DSN (ISSN 0191-7587) is published monthly 12 times a year by EnsembleIQ, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Subscription rate in the United States: $125 one year; $230 two year; $14 single issue copy; Canada and Mexico: $150 one year; $270 two year; $16 single issue copy; Foreign: $170 one year; $325 two year; $16 single issue copy. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to DSN, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Vol. 45 No 7, July 2023. Copyright © 2023 by EnsembleIQ. All rights reserved.
6 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Anda - D
/
Let’s Go Mobile Designed for convenience, Anda Mobile meets the needs of your business and patients on the go.
Make restocking your inventory quick and efficient. Join the many pharmacies already using Anda Mobile! Scan UPC and bar codes Search for items and build your order
To download, scan the QR code or search for “andanet” in the app store. Sign in using your Anda online account.
Manage cart from the app to your desktop
1-800-331-ANDA (2632) |
Download today and earn savings after placing your first app order!
www.andanet.com | Follow us @andainc: A01-31330-100323
Anda - Drug Store News Ad - October 2023 - A01-31330-100323.indd 1
10/4/2023 3:51:46 PM
EDITOR’S NOTE
Helping Hands
Retail pharmacy has a track record of providing meaningful care to customers, as well as a legacy of charitable giving
WHETHER IT’S A LARGE RETAIL OUTLET, A GROCERY CHAIN OR A REGIONAL PLAYER, RETAILERS HAVE MADE CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH A MAJOR PART OF THEIR OPERATING MISSION.
Simply as a function of their mission, retail pharmacies have a long history of providing meaningful care and assistance to their customers. Whether it’s filling scripts, administering vaccines or helping patients with medication adherence, pharmacies help a lot of people on a daily basis. But there is another side to pharmacies: They hold free clinics, vaccine drives in low income communities, back to school giveaways, community improvement grants, assistance to nonprofits to help end food insecurity and donations to a myriad of groups for needy causes. Our cover story this month (page 24) shines a spotlight on the retailers making a difference in their communities, providing meaningful assistance to people and institutions they serve. Whether it’s a large retail outlet, a grocery chain or a regional player, retailers have made community outreach a major part of their operating mission. As CVS has said: “CVS Health is committed to helping Americans get the care they need. As part of this, we’re dedicated to providing financial support to the communities we serve through the CVS Health Foundation, in-kind donations, employee giving, fundraising and other community investments.” We also highlight pharmacists who went above and beyond to help their team and the people they serve. Our reporter found some inspirational stories, like CVS pharmacist Kathleen Kirkland, who donated a kidney to a patient who was in dire need of a transplant; Jennifer Jackson, a Walmart pharmacy manager and pharmacist, who supports women, children and families through a range of charitable activities; and Lee Anderson, a Walgreens store manager and pharmacy technician, who risked her life as a massive fire was engulfing her Lahaina, Hawaii, town to ensure that her staff was safe. As our story demonstrates, retail pharmacies should be commended for their community outreach, and they should be proud of their pharmacists for their after-hours philanthropic efforts and commitment to the communities and people they serve.
8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 200 Chicago, IL 60631 773.992.4450 Fax 773.992.4455 www.drugstorenews.com BRAND MANAGEMENT Senior Vice President & Publisher John Kenlon 516.650.2064 jkenlon@ensembleiq.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Director Nigel F. Maynard nigelmaynard@ensembleiq.com Managing Editor Julianne Mobilian jmobilian @ensembleiq.com Senior Editor Sandra Levy slevy@ensembleiq.com Online Editor Gisselle Gaitan ggaitan@ensembleiq.com ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS Northeast Manager Alex Tomas 212.756.5155 atomas@ensembleiq.com Regional Manager Steven Werner 312.961.7162 swerner@ensembleiq.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION/MARKETING Art Director Michael Escobedo mescobedo@ensembleiq.com Production Manager Jackie Batson jbatson@ensembleiq.com Marketing Manager Kathryn Abrahamsen kabrahamsen@ensembleiq.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES List Rental mbriganti@anteriad.com Subscription Questions contact@drugstorenews.com
CORPORATE OFFICERS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Litterick Chief Financial Officer Jane Volland Chief People Officer Ann Jadown Chief Strategy Officer Joe Territo Chief Operating Officer Derek Estey
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
8 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
John Beckner, NCPA Becky Dant, Costco J. Jeremy Faulks, Thrifty White Pharmacy Doug M. Long, IQVIA Nancy Lyons, Health Mart Pharmacy Katie Scanlon, Publix Super Markets Heidi Snyder, Drug World Pharmacies
iA_DSN
THIS
I S A M O V E M E N T.
GIVING PHARMACISTS TIME BACK TO NURTURE COMMUNITIES. At iA®, we are driving a Movement to accelerate the adoption of centralized pharmacy fulfillment. The centralization of repeatable fulfillment services can not only optimize community pharmacy operations, it can also elevate pharmacists to introduce a new era where they can play a more pivotal role in enhancing the well-being of our communities. Join the Movement! Visit iarx.com to connect with a Pharmacy Fulfillment Specialist.
iA_DSN_Movement_Oct23.indd 1
9/20/23 2:32 PM
INDUSTRY NEWS
Best Buy Health, Geisinger expand partnership Best Buy Health and Geisinger are expanding their partnership to bring a better level of care to more patients within the Geisinger network. Geisinger shared that since launching its ConnectedCare365 chronic care management platform in 2021, it has enrolled more than 1,100 patients in remote patient monitoring programs for chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and diabetes. Patients enrolled in these programs receive devices—including blood pressure cuffs, body weight scales, thermometers and glucose meters—to monitor their health at home and transmit data back to their Geisinger care team through Best Buy Health’s care at home platform, Current Health. Beginning in July 2022, Best Buy Health and Geisinger began deploying specially trained Geek Squad Agents to deliver, install and activate these remote care management devices in a program that now involves 300 Geisinger patients. While in the home, Agents educate patients on the technology in their care plan, answer questions about the devices, explain how to use them properly and ensure they are transmitting data back to the patient’s care team. Agents also remain on standby to help with troubleshooting as needed and to collect and process all devices once the patient is discharged from the program by their care team. “The results of our program show that when we combine what Best Buy is known for—technology support and expertise—with Geisinger’s bestin-class care teams and network of clinics and hospitals, we can make a meaningful difference in the patient and caregiver experience,” said Deborah Di Sanzo, president of Best Buy Health. “Geisinger has been incredible in this work and we’re very excited about our ability to scale these capabilities across the country to further Best Buy Health’s goal to enable care at home for everyone.”
10 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Which states vaccinate the most? WalletHub released its 2023’s States that Vaccinate the Most report, and Massachusetts claimed the top spot. Mississippi vaccinated the least. In order to find out which states vaccinate most, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 16 key metrics, including the share of vaccinated children, the share of people without health insurance and the flu vaccination rate among adults. Massachusetts has the highest influenza vaccination coverage for children, 77.7%, which is 2.1 times higher than in Wyoming, the state with the lowest at 37.8%. Minnesota has the highest share of adults with the tetanus vaccination, 82.6%, which is 1.5 times higher than in New Jersey, the state with the lowest at 53.5%. South Dakota has the highest share of adults aged 60 and older with the zoster vaccination, 55.1%, which is 2.1 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at 26%. Minnesota has the highest share of children 19 to 35 months old living in poverty with the combined 7-vaccine series, 84.3%, which is 1.7 times higher than in California, the state with the lowest at 50.7%.
BREAKING BARRIERS DEFYING WOUNDS CHANGING LIVES TOGETHER
Proud Participant of Better Choices for Life Program Be Smart Get Prepared® | besmartgetprepared.com sales@trikits.com | 1.888.771.7824
INDUSTRY NEWS
CVS Pharmacy, FARE partner for Teal Pumpkin Project Food Allergy Research & Education, a non-profit organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and largest private funder of food allergy research, and CVS Pharmacy have once again joined forces to promote food allergy inclusivity during major holidays and observances throughout the year. Starting with FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project this Halloween season, CVS Pharmacy is offering convenient and affordable food-allergy safe items in select stores and online. “We are thrilled to grow our partnership with CVS Pharmacy, a company that shares our dedication to inclusivity and safety,” said Sung Poblete, CEO of FARE. “Last year was such a great success and, this year, together, we will reach even more families across the nation, spreading awareness about food allergies and creating a sense of belonging during cherished celebrations. By combining our efforts, we will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the 85 million Americans who are affected by food
Walmart rolls out automatic deliveries Walmart is introducing a new mobile subscription service that allows users of its mobile app to subscribe to thousands of everyday essential products. The discounter is introducing a new mobile subscription service that allows users of its mobile app to subscribe to thousands of everyday essential products (pet food and supplements, diapers and paper towels) at regular prices. Walmart said the service, which has no fee, guarantees automatic scheduled delivery on a customer’s preferred cadence, such as every two weeks or every two months. Walmart is also expanding two other features on its app: the Virtual Garage and View in Your Home.
12 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
allergies and intolerances.” “We are proud to partner with FARE once again this Halloween season and into next year to make holidays safer by offering our shoppers even more food allergy-friendly options for their families,” said Brian Eason, vice president of general merchandise and consumables at CVS Health. “Our partnership with FARE has made it possible to accommodate the needs of every child and foster inclusive celebrations, while also bringing awareness to the important mission of FARE.” In the United States, one in every 13 children has a potentially lifethreatening food allergy. The Teal Pumpkin Project, a nationwide movement to raise awareness of food allergies during the trick-ortreat season, helps make Halloween safer and more inclusive for children
Virtual Garage Debuted in August 2023, the Virtual Garage feature on the Walmart site and app allows customers to store details about multiple vehicles. This connects with scheduling service appointments at Walmart Auto Care Centers. Customers can now schedule an oil change or tire installation right in the app. Rolling out midOctober 2023, Walmart+ subscription program members will get free road hazard warranty and flat tire repair when they purchase and install their tires at Walmart. View in Your Home The Walmart app features augmented reality (AR)-enabled technology designed to help customers better visualize how items might look in real life. A newly expanded View in Your Home feature allows customers to see how furniture and home décor will look in their home before purchasing, or how seasonal inflatables will look on their lawn. This story originally appeared on Chain Store Age, Drug Store News’ sister publication.
with food allergies by encouraging households to offer non-food treats alongside traditional candy. By displaying a teal-colored pumpkin on their doorstep, families signal that they are handing out non-food toys and trinkets in a separate bowl for trick or treaters. As the exclusive retail partner of the Teal Pumpkin Project for the second year in a row, CVS Pharmacy is providing an even wider assortment of 100+ non-food treats in over 7,000 stores nationwide and online this Halloween season, with many items under $5. As part of the partnership, CVS will communicate Teal Pumpkin offerings with customers through in-store signage to help shoppers identify food-allergy friendly items including non-food treats such as light up toys, glow sticks, games and trickor-treating supplies.
®
The partnership between FARE and CVS Pharmacy will extend beyond Halloween and into Valentine’s Day 2024, as well as the Spring season. CVS Pharmacy will continue to offer a wide assortment of convenient and affordable allergy-friendly and non-food options, making it even easier for families and children living with food allergies to celebrate the holidays safely.
Keep On Keeping On Delightful blends that support a healthy immune system.*
Say hello to OLLY: Sales@OLLY.com
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intvended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
DRUGSTORENEWS.COM April 2023
13
INDUSTRY NEWS
Kroger Health, Performance Kitchen partner on tailored meals Kroger Health, the healthcare division of Kroger, is collaborating with Performance Kitchen to offer medically tailored meals. This will be the first time Kroger Health is offering evidence-based, registered dietitian approved meals that will offer nutrition intervention for people who are living with various health conditions including diabetes and heart disease. MTMs are created to meet the specific needs of individuals and may significantly improve a person’s overall health and wellness while providing access to nutritious foods, the company said. “We believe in empowering people with resources to help them make healthy choices that will deliver the best outcomes for them,” said James Kirby, chief commercial officer at Kroger Health. “Offering MTMs allows us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to supporting individuals on their wellness journeys, while providing a personalized approach to help them transform their health. Through better options and access, we are assisting people in improving their quality of life, disease prevention and management.” A recent evidence review and national simulation modeling study by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University estimated that MTM programs could help prevent 1.6 million hospitalizations and save health insurers $13.6 billion across the country in one year after paying for the cost of food. Over 10 years, the healthcare costs savings from MTM program participants where they receive 10 MTMs per week for eight months were estimated to reach $185.1 billion, on top of the cost of the MTMs, Kroger noted. Performance Kitchen’s team of chefs, doctors and registered dietitians focuses on delivering nutritionally balanced meals by using proteins, full servings of vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and fiber, while limiting sodium and added sugar. The meals are frozen, single serve and ready to heat, making them convenient for people who are concerned about the amount of time it takes to prepare and cook a healthy meal.
14 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
All Performance Kitchen meals crafted for the collaboration are approved by Kroger Health registered dietitians. Taylor Newman, director of nutrition at Kroger Health, explained that the meals are one of the ways Kroger Health is encouraging people to make small, incremental changes that could support meaningful outcomes. “MTMs help us achieve our goal of making sure people have access to food that helps them feel their best and improve their health,” Newman said. “While the meals are personalized for an individual’s specific health condition, we’re also proud to offer a variety of culturally diverse recipes and flavors to make sure everyone’s needs are met.” “We’re excited to work with Kroger Health in our unified goal of empowering the country to live healthier lives through food,” said Mark Walker, Chairman and CEO of Performance Kitchen. “In a country where we spend $4.3 trillion on sick care annually, states and insurance companies that have begun offering millions of Americans these new meal benefits, along with organizations like Kroger Health who are making these benefits available, should be celebrated. Together, we are pioneering a new horizon of preventative care through nutritious food.”
M d t m W t c d p c l t s t p w u c
I a s t t i d
I b n i t v a a p d P
•
•
•
PET SPECIALTY
SUPPLIER PERSPECTIVES
For Domestic Violence Victims and Their Pets, We Aren’t Backing Down By Joe Toscano, Vice President, Trade & Industry Development at Purina More than 70 percent of women in domestic violence shelters report that their abuser used their pet(s) as a means of manipulation and control. When survivors are ready to make the terrifying choice to leave, many face a cruel reality that only 17 percent of domestic violence shelters accept pets, leaving them with an impossible choice – stay and endure abuse or leave their pet behind. It is no wonder that nearly half of domestic abuse survivors delay leaving these traumatic, dangerous situations to protect a beloved pet who may very well be their main source of unconditional love and companionship. It’s unacceptable. And several years ago, Purina committed to doing something about it. Our core belief that pets and people are better together isn’t simply a “feel-good” idea. In this instance, it can mean the difference between life and death. In 2019, the Purple Leash Project was born. We partnered with Red Rover, a national nonprofit focused on this issue, to raise awareness and increase the number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters in the United States, and we quickly got to work, advocating for survivors with pets and providing resources to make a difference. Since the Purple Leash Project was created, Purina has: • Helped 46 domestic violence shelters become pet-friendly • Donated more than $1.2 million to the Purple Leash Project fund, offering grants for shelter upgrades • Created the PAWS Act Coalition in support of the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act to advocate for federal resources
• Reached our initial goal of ensuring there is a pet-friendly domestic violence shelter in all 50 states But we aren’t stopping there. We’ve updated and extended our goal. By the end of 2025, we want to help ensure that at least 25 percent of domestic violence shelters offer pet-friendly services. Because we fiercely believe no survivor should have to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet, we want to continue to fundamentally change the landscape of domestic violence services for survivors with pets. We cannot create this fundamental change alone. It requires additional awareness, support and advocacy – all of which you can play a role in as a retailer. Want to keep it simple? Finish this article and immediately share information about this program with your social media communities, using #PurpleLeashProject; or visit PurpleLeashProject.com to sign up for ongoing updates and ways to become an advocate.
Interested in playing a bigger role? Drive attention and awareness with Purple Leash Project merchandising shipper units, available through your Purina sales rep. Your sales rep can also provide you with information on specially marked Purina products, donations, round-up programs and more. You can even explore if domestic violence shelters in your community are pet-friendly at DomesticShelters.org. Finally, to the many pet industry retail partners who have already embraced the Purple Leash Project, we extend our deepest thanks, especially as we mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October. You are part of how we can create meaningful, long-term change for domestic violence survivors and their pets.
Purina trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Any other marks are property of their respective owners.
P R O D U CTS TO WATCH
New & Noteworthy HRG’s five notable products from September
Product introductions saw a modest increase in September, after dropping significantly in August compared to July For the month of September, suppliers introduced 100 new products, which is six more items than the 94 they released in the previous month. Waukesha, Wis.-based HRG reviewed 34 products in the health category, 44 items in the wellness sector and 22 items in the beauty aisle to see which ones stood out as Products to Watch. Here is what they found:
3. Certain Dri Women’s Body Powder
1. Abreva Cold Sore Rapid Pain Relief Lip Protectant Formulated with 4% lidocaine and 20% glycerin, Abreva Cold Sore Rapid Pain Relief from Haleon offers a powerful-strength analgesic to numb nerves and cooling menthol to relieve burning and discomfort. Glycerin was added to the formulation to moisturize skin to prevent cracking. It comes in a .10-oz tube.
Haleon said it has expanded its Voltaren from topical pain relief to launch a line of joint supplements. The Voltaren Joint Comfort & Movement dietary supplement is formulated to promote mobility and flexibility for comfortable movement when taken daily. It’s designed to be easy to swallow and is made with boswellia and turmeric components. The product comes in a 30-ct. bottle.
2. NeilMed Smell Restore Smell Training Kit
5. Magnilife DB Nerve Relief Roll-On
NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said its all-natural Smell Restore Smell Kit restores the sense of smell due to viral infections, chronic nasal and sinus diseases, and/or surgeries, facial trauma, aging or certain drug therapies. The kit includes four essential oil inhalers in eucalyptus, lemon, rose and clove to assist in the process of olfactory training. One unit comes in a kit.
Magnilife, Inc. developed DB Nerve Relief Roll-On to minimize stabbing, tingling and nighttime pain due to reduced circulation. The product reduces nerve pain that can occur in feet, legs, hands and arms of patients with diabetes. Clear with a vanishing scent, the product is meant to increase blood flow. It leaves no residue on the skin, the brand said. It comes in a 3-oz. tube. dsn
16 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Bridges Consumer Healthcare’s Certain Dri Women’s Body Powder features a triple action formula in a light and fresh scent, the brand said. The powder is created to absorb sweat at the source, stop odor-causing bacteria and remove friction in areas prone to chafing. It comes in an 8-oz. bottle.
4. Voltaren Joint Comfort & Movement Capsules
GUEST COLUMN
Leading the Profession Pharmacy Technicians Step Up to Serve on State Boards By Lemrey “Al” Carter & William Schimmel
Lemrey “Al” Carter, PharmD, RPh, MS, executive director/ secretary of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and Chair of PTCB’s Certification Council, and William Schimmel, executive director and CEO of the PTCB
While the pharmacy profession is evolving to meet the needs of the industry, pharmacy teams are advancing just as rapidly. As an integral part of that team, pharmacy technicians are taking on more responsibilities in the workplace and stepping up as leaders in advocacy and regulatory bodies. Technicians now serve on 16 state boards of pharmacy. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board are focused on expanding technician representation on all 54 state boards and jurisdictions. At NABP’s annual meeting in May, two PTCB-certified technicians presented an engaging poster on a “Snapshot of Current Pharmacy Technician Practice” that highlighted the representation of technicians on state boards of pharmacy and technician registration/licensure requirements across the country. When voting on NABP resolutions, members passed a resolution stating that every state board of pharmacy should include at least one technician representative. NABP’s push for representation recognizes technicians’ critical role in the pharmacy profession and in patient and medication safety. Just recently in Maryland, PTCB helped pass a bill that was ultimately signed by Governor Wes Moore. It requires a technician voice on the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy, including technicians on the boards of state regulatory bodies and state pharmacy associations recognizing technicians as essential pharmacy team members. Pharmacy technicians have consistently demonstrated that they are willing and prepared to take on new opportunities to advance pharmacy. This became clear during the COVID19 pandemic when the Department of Health and Human Services invoked the Public Emergency and Preparedness Act— which authorized technicians to administer COVID and other vaccines. Later, flu vaccines for adults were added, as well as COVID therapeutics. From February 2020 to September 2022, pharmacists and technicians conducted more than 42
million COVID-19 tests, provided 270 million-plus COVID-19 vaccinations in community pharmacies and administered more than 50 million flu and other vaccinations annually. This was the first time the federal government formally acknowledged what NABP and PTCB have long known: pharmacy technicians are a vital part of the health care infrastructure. The value technicians bring to their teams goes beyond providing expanded services like immunizations. The technical proficiency and customer care shown by certified technicians help increase pharmacists’ ability to provide important clinical services. In one Iowa health system that trained a group of technicians to perform medication histories as part of the medication reconciliation process, the number of comprehensive histories taken doubled from 49% to 98%. This resulted in an estimated annual net savings of $1.6 million for the health system.
“Pharmacy technicians have consistently demonstrated that they are willing and prepared to take on new opportunities to advance pharmacy.” Working with the Iowa Pharmacy Association, the Iowa State Board of Pharmacy studied the impacts of allowing technicians to perform the final verification on refill prescriptions. After an extensive pilot study, they found that accuracy rates on the final verification were indistinguishable between pharmacists and technicians. The pharmacists in the study reported that their time spent on dispensing activities went from 62% down to 14%. At the same time, their time on patient care activities went from 26% up to 59%. The Board then made the change permanent. Pharmacy is one of the few professions that touches the lives of 95% of the U.S. population, making it a critical healthcare access point for Americans. Technicians are crucial to meeting that need. Giving technicians a seat at the table on state boards gives them a voice, and utilizing technicians to their fullest capabilities is good for the pharmacy team, the bottom line and better patient care. dsn
18 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
1PD23
American Pharmacists Month As we celebrate American Pharmacists Month, we’d like to recognize your unwavering passion to serve the community and provide personalized care to patients every day. At Cardinal Health, we remain centered on support for independent pharmacies, so you have what you need to be successful today and in the future.
To learn more about our suite of pharmacy solutions, scan the QR code or visit cardinalhealth.com/pharmacists
© 2023 Cardinal Health. All Rights Reserved. CARDINAL HEALTH and the Cardinal Health LOGO are trademarks of Cardinal Health and may be registered in the US and/or in other countries. Lit. No. 1PD23-2599737 (09/2023)
1PD23-2599737_Drug_Store_News_October_PrintAd_8x10_75.indd 1
9/27/23 10:32 AM
WOMEN IN THE NEWS
Innovative inclusivity Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, shares the journey of her brand’s expansion into major retailers By Julianne Mobilian
Detroit-based beauty entrepreneur Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, has come a long way since her vegan lipstick was first pitched on the TV show “Shark Tank.” Every judge rejected her idea, but now, her brand is dotting major retailers’ shelves—with more growth on the horizon. Drug Store News caught up with Butler to discuss her plans for the future, and why offering pigmented shades for all complexions is at the heart of her brand. Drug Store News: Can you share the journey that led to expansion into CVS? Melissa Butler: My team and I first pitched to CVS in 2019, we started the conversations and decided it wasn’t the right time. And then, four years later, we’ve worked hard to see the partnership come into fruition. This has been a dream come true to launch with an endcap in 3,000 stores. DSN: Inclusivity is at the core of your brand. How does this expansion into a larger retailer align with your commitment to serving customers of all skin tones? MB: One of our reasons for working with Target on our big expansion earlier this year and being in
“For our customers that live in urban environments, it’s more often than not that you’re going into drug stores to get your everyday essentials. So, for us, working with CVS to make our products accessible to more customers was a no brainer.” – Melissa Butler, founder and CEO, The Lip Bar Walmart stores, has been about accessibility. However, I live in the heart of Detroit, where there aren’t a lot of big box stores. I launched The Lip Bar because I was passionate about creating vegan, cruelty-free, nontoxic, highlight quality products that were easy to use and complimentary for women of all complexions. In the same breath, we don’t want our customers to have to drive 30 minutes to find these products. For our customers that live in urban environments, it’s more often than not that you’re going into drug stores to get your everyday essentials. So, for us, working with CVS to make our products accessible to more customers was a no brainer. Especially as they’ve been investing in their beauty programs in the last several years. DSN: Could you highlight some of the key products that customers can now find in the big retailer’s stores? MB: All our best-selling lip products are available for $14.99, including; Bawse Lady, Rich Auntie, It Girl, Minimalist, Trophy Wife, Hot Mama, Prima Donna, Savage and Unimpressed. DSN: What sets your inclusive beauty products apart from others in the market, and how will this be emphasized in your presence within the larger retailer? MB: So I’m not actually a makeup girl, I’m really a self-esteem girl. I started The Lip Bar in my kitchen because I wanted women to see themselves
20 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
presents
BETTER Cards • BETTER Service • BETTER Programs • BETTER Margins
BRING CARD$MART INTO YOUR PHARMACY! CALL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STORE-IN-A-STORE AND DEPARTMENT SOLUTIONS.
800-654-6960 Use Code: DSN -OCT
www.cardsmartstoreinastore.com
WOMEN IN THE NEWS
and know that they were beautiful. I’ve always understood the power of makeup, as it relates to making women look good and feel good about themselves. When they feel confident, they can go out into the world as the best version of themselves. At TLB, every product we make and every marketing campaign is created to celebrate and empower women.
S Ea
DSN: Expanding into a big retailer often comes with challenges. What were some of the biggest hurdles you faced during this expansion process, and how did you overcome them? MB: Our biggest challenge was preparing for this on an inventory level. We implemented new inventory management systems and worked hard to streamline our operations processes to ensure we could service our new retailer, while also ensuring the launch wouldn’t impact our other retailers. It’s kept all of my teams very busy over the past year, and I’m extremely proud of all of our hard work. DSN: For customers who may be new to your brand, what should they expect when they explore your products within CVS? MB: Our products are vegan, cruelty-free, highly pigmented, easy to use and for women of all complexions. I would love for CVS customers being introduced to us the first time to explore our broad range of best selling lip shades. We have thousands of reviews from our customers that have found their love of finding their perfect nude, or their perfect red, so I encourage everyone to try it! I know we have something for you! DSN: In what ways will your brand continue to prioritize sustainability and ethical practices as it reaches a larger customer base through this retailer? MB: We will continue to be honest and transparent about our safe, high quality formulas at an affordable price! We believe high quality shouldn’t come at a high cost. We aim to provide accessibility at every level for every customer.
12 DSN: What are your plans for engaging with the community and maintaining the brand’s connection with your existing loyal customers after this expansion? MB: I think the most powerful thing that we can do to engage with consumers is let them in on the journey. Our customers have always been really proud of us. They remember watching me make lipsticks in my kitchen, they’ve seen us face public rejection and they’ve seen us grow in retail. We’ve always let them in on the journey and that’s not going to change. I shared the first time I walked into a CVS store and saw our endcap, and we’ll continue showing some sneak peeks of how we prepared for it because we know we couldn’t do it without them. DSN: With this expansion, what are your goals for the future of your brand, both in terms of product development and outreach? MB: With this expansion, we are hoping to increase our retail sales significantly this year. We are all about segmentation and making sure we are where our customer is. This launch is a semi-permanent endcap from September until the end of December, and after that fourmonth test with our best sellers, we’ll determine which CVS stores we should launch in. I always think it’s better to start small and grow, so we can continue to drive the accessibility of nontoxic, inclusive makeup. dsn
22 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
N
Pro
www.cleanseright.com
Safe and Effective At-home Ear Irrigation
12 million Americans visit the doctor's office every year due to Ear Wax Impactions.1 Patent Pending Safety Tips protect sensitive ears from over-insertion
Now there's a safe and affordable Made in the USA Solution from an ISO 13485 certified, American Manufacturer. Proudly Made in the USA
Contact: Ed Wagner
503-789-7843 ed@cleanseright.com
Highest Ear Care Category Margins
Smallest Private Shelf Size For Labeling Planogram Avaliable
Buyer's Choice Award
WINNER
Learn about all our innovative ear wax removal and daily ear cleaning products at CleanseRight.com
Healthcare Program
1: Clinical practice guideline: cerumen impaction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18707628/
2022
COVER STORY
STEPPING
UP
Pharmacists often go above and beyond their basic responsibilities to become heroes to their coworkers, their patients and their communities BY MARK HAMSTRA
M
any pharmacists choose their profession at least in part because it provides opportunities to help others. Sometimes, however, they rise above their day-to-day obligations and give even more of themselves to their patients, their coworkers and to others in their communities. Some give of themselves quite literally, such as Kathleen Kirkland, a Kernersville, N.C. CVS staff pharmacist who donated a kidney to a patient in dire need of a transplant. Others step up in times of medical emergencies, such as David Kaiser, who administered CPR to a man who had passed out in his HomeTown Pharmacy parking lot in Hart, Mich., ensuring he stayed alive until paramedics arrived. Many become heroes in times of natural disaster, such as Lee Anderson, store manager and pharmacy technician at a Walgreens in Lahaina, Hawaii, who risked her life as a massive fire was engulfing her town to ensure that her staff was safe, and Joe Shunnarah of Joe’s Pharmacy in Harvest, Ala., whose spirit of community service helped people in his area survive a destructive tornado. Still others use their position and training
24 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
to help others around the country and around the world, such as Jennifer Jackson, a pharmacy manager and pharmacist at a Walmart in Tyler, Tex., who also is a speaker, author and philanthropist who supports women, children and families through a range of charitable activities.
LEE ANDERSON Leads Her Team Amid a Devastating Fire When a massive fire destroyed the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in August, Lee Anderson, a store manager and pharmacy technician at Walgreens, narrowly escaped the flames after spending the whole day making sure her coworkers were safe. Anderson, who has worked for Walgreens for 38 years, went to the store on the day of the fire knowing that there were power outages and at least one small fire in the area, but as the day went on, conditions deteriorated. The winds became more intense, knocking down trees and power lines. Although many people in the area were without cell phone service, Anderson’s provider remained online, which allowed her to monitor the increasingly dangerous conditions. By mid-afternoon, she had sent the crew home but stayed at the store and continued to try to reach the evening crew to alert them not to come in. “I did not want them to get involved in trying to get through that wind and the fires that were spreading, so I was trying to call or text and do everything I could to get ahold of them, and let them know the store was closed, and don’t come to work,” said Anderson. Patrick Tacderan, a pharmacist at the store, came by and told her she should leave, but she decided to wait until a little after 4 p.m., when the afternoon shift was scheduled to arrive, to make sure none of them showed
COVER STORY
RETAIL PHARMACIES GIVING BACK
Retailers are on the front line of community outreach efforts
Large chains, such as CVS, Walmart, RiteAid and Walgreens, or well-known outlets like Albertsons, Publix, Kroger, or important but smaller regional brands like Fruth Pharmacy, Thrifty White and Weis Markets play a vital role in servicing their communities, but they also give back via hunger programs, back-to-school donations, free clinics and other programs. For example, Giant recently partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to award $300,000 in grant money for projects that address food waste prevention. Albertsons (and the Albertsons Companies Foundation) awarded $9 million to nonprofits that are spearheading innovative programs to address food insecurity. And the Walmart Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation launched a new $1.5 million grant program to expand access to healthy, affordable food in under-resourced communities. The list goes on and on. “CVS Health is committed to helping Americans get the care they need,” the retailer writes on its website. “As part of this, we’re dedicated to providing financial support to the communities we serve through the CVS Health Foundation, in-kind donations, employee giving, fundraising and other community investments.” For its part, Walmart said community outreach is an essential part of how it interacts with customers and the neighborhoods it serves. “We aim to create value for communities in many ways including through local grant programs, providing access to safer, healthier food and products, disaster preparedness and relief and supporting veterans and military families.”
26 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
up to work. That’s when the most harrowing part of her day began. Attempting to drive out of town turned into a nightmare. As the fire raged ever closer, black smoke filled the air and the roads were clogged with cars full of people the small seaside town. Seeking an escape route, she ended up in a line of traffic in a narrow alley. “All I could see was black smoke everywhere, and I could hear explosion after explosion as the fire got closer and closer,” she said. Three hours later, she made it home, and soon learned that everyone on her staff, and their families, were safe, although eight of the store’s workers lost their homes in the blaze. Anderson quickly went to work in the following days helping out at the other Walgreens and at some pop-up facilities the retailer opened in partnership with other local health care providers. “We all realized we needed to get out in the community and help,” she said. “All of the team members were anxious to get out there and help and do whatever they could.”
JENNIFER JACKSON Uplifts and Inspires Others Jennifer Jackson, pharmacy manager and pharmacist at a Walmart in Tyler, Texas, decided to become a pharmacist after seeing first-hand the ability that pharmacists have to save lives. While she was a pre-med major in college, her father became very ill with diabetic mellitus but recovered with the right medication therapy. That inspired her to switch to studying pharmacy instead, and she went on to get her Ph.D. and lead an active life of community service for women, children and families in her community and around the world. “I hold the idea true that no one operates as an island,” said Jackson. “We all impact the next, and I have been the recipient of grace beyond measure, mercy and love.
“I hold the idea true that no one operates as an island. We all impact the next.” – Jennifer Jackson, pharmacy manager/pharmacist, Walmart
I desire to grant the same for others who need to see it actually does exist, and afford them the opportunity to live well and resiliently.” Jackson, known as “Dr. J,” is editor-in-chief for The Blooming Digital Magazine SitiGirl Houston, and has co-authored more than 15 books under the She Is The Ish Brand. She recently published her first book with several other women under her Be Her Now brand. She also hosts the Be Her Now Conference in Tyler yearly on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. After graduating from pharmacy school, Jackson began giving back through The Tiffany’s Breakfast Initiative, through which she gives needed supplies and funds to outstanding students she meets. She has also served as an adjunct professor/instructor at Texas College, and continues to stay connected with the college by mentoring young women
Never. Stop. Smiling.
At Edgewell, we strive to add joy to the everyday by infusing the perfect blend of passion, innovation and individuality into all of our personal care brands. We’re committed making extraordinary products that are not only fun to use, but also better for both our customers and our planet.
We make useful things joyful.
COVER STORY
and through other activities. Her career at Walmart actually began in 1998 when she became a stocker, who coincidentally was assigned to work in the pharmacy. The pharmacy manager remembered her and later wrote one of her recommendation letters for pharmacy school. She remained connected to Walmart throughout college, first as an intern, then as a graduate intern, and eventually as a staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager. “Being a pharmacist at Walmart has afforded me a platform to see the concept of pharmaceutical care truly has an impact,” said Jackson. While in pharmacy school, Jackson had envisioned pharmacy as a source of income while she pursued work in ministry. “I didn’t know that it would be so much more than that,” she said. “Walmart has granted that I can now afford other people the same opportunity I was blessed with in pharmacy, and fulfilling my mission of seeing people well.”
DAVID KAISER Saves a Life in His Store Parking Lot According to David Kaiser, a pharmacist at the HomeTown Pharmacy in Hart, Mich., he was just a guy in the right place at the right time when a man fell unconscious in his store parking lot. Kaiser put his CPR training to work, administering chest compressions and a few rescue breaths, in an effort to keep the man alive until paramedics arrived about five minutes later. “I do not consider myself to be a hero,” said Kaiser. “While people bestow accolades on me, it’s nice, and it’s appreciated, but at the end of the day, it’s the paramedics that deserve those accolades.” It was the second time that Kaiser, a former hospital pharmacy director, used his CPR training. The first time was a few years prior when he found his wife’s sister unconscious, and successfully resuscitated her using the CPR training required of most pharmacists. The patient who passed out at the store last October—who had apparently just used a breath inhaler for his asthma, fell unconscious and hit his head—recovered quickly, although Kaiser did not learn of the outcome until later that evening. Kaiser said that in the hours after the incident, he was filled with doubts about whether he had done the right things to save the man’s life.
28 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
“When I ended up leaving that night, I honestly thought the guy was dead,” said Kaiser. “I was second guessing myself – what could I have done differently, and where did I go wrong?” He said the man’s face was turning purple when Kaiser arrived in the parking lot. He cleared the crowd that had gathered and directed a pharmacy technician to call the paramedics. Kaiser began administering CPR, and the man drifted in and out of consciousness, his pulse fluttering. When the paramedics arrived, the man, who Kaiser estimated to be in his late 40s, was still drifting in and out of consciousness, and Kaiser assumed he was not going to survive. “I honestly thought I had just given CPR to a corpse,” he said. Kaiser said his CPR training, which he has kept current through online courses, kicked in when he needed it. “When something like that happens, you fall back on your training, become dispassionate about it, and just focus on what you have to do,” he said. “At the time it was just a lot of adrenaline.” He and the other two pharmacists at the HomeTown Pharmacy in Hart—part of a small network of independently owned and operated pharmacies—keep current on their CPR training. “With CPR, one thing we have learned is that we need to be in action, rather than be frozen by inaction,” said Kaiser. “The most important thing is to have someone there who can begin rescue efforts until paramedics get to the scene.”
KATHLEEN KIRKLAND Donates a Kidney to Save a Patient Pharmacists have often been known to go out of their way to help their customers, but it’s safe to say that few have gone as far as Kathleen Kirkland, a pharmacist at a CVS in Kernersville, N.C. When one of her regular patients, Donnie Pickeral, told her he was on the waiting list to receive a kidney transplant, she didn’t hesitate. “He’d always been so sweet, and I had known he had kidney disease, and so we’d talk about different medicines, because he was always concerned about his blood pressure and how it was affecting his kidneys,” said Kirkland. Eventually Pickeral, who had suffered with kidney disease most of his adult life, told her he did not have much kidney function left, and
“I’m just the kind of person that tries to help other people if I can.” – Kathleen Kirkland, staff pharmacist, CVS
*T Th
80% of Americans Aren’t Getting Enough Omega-3s Murphy RA, et al. BMJ Open, 2021
Get ultimate support for heart, brain, immune health, and more.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
COVER STORY
FORCES FOR GOOD
Kroger and CVS shine a light on causes that can help the communities at the local and national level At the retail level, many companies are giving back to local and national causes. Whether it’s eliminating hunger or raising awareness for health conditions, retailers are helping to do their part and enrich their communities.
Kroger Through the retailer’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue program, the company has given 3 billion meals to its communities, recovered more than 582 pounds of surplus fresh food from its facilities and directed $1.3 billion to help end hunger. Customers are invited to join Kroger’s mission to reduce hunger and round up the register and donate to The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation – the retailer’s public non-profit charity – that is designed to create a more equitable, waste-free food system through collective action and innovation. Round-up dollars support local organizations in communities across the country who are aligned with our mission to create communities free of hunger and waste. At the national level, Kroger partners with Feeding America, No Kid Hungry and World Wildlife Fund. At the local level, the retailer collaborates with non-profit organizations dedicated to improving food security and reducing food waste. On the health care side, Kroger Health has collaborated with Cardinal Health since 2018 to host drug take back events across the U.S. To date, they have collected more than 145,000 pounds of unused and unwanted medication for safe disposal during drug take back events and served nearly 66,500 visitors.
CVS Drug Store News spoke with Sheryl Burke, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer, CVS Health, to learn more about the retailer’s mission of giving back.
30 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
was approved to receive a transplant. After a brief conversation about the requirements of being a donor—such as not having hypertension issues or a family history of diabetes—Kirkland said she’d get tested to see if they were a match. Pickeral, a pastor at a local church, had planned to ask his congregation if anyone could donate a kidney, but Kirkland did in fact turn out to be a suitable donor, and in May of 2020, doctors removed one of her kidneys and transplanted it into Pickeral. “I’m just the kind of person who tries to help other people if I can,” said Kirkland. “So I felt like it was meant to be. If I was a match for him, then that was like God telling me that this is what I should do.” Although Kirkland said she had no reservations at all about donating one of her kidneys, she did have to convince her husband. Among his concerns was that one of their four daughters might someday need a kidney, but she convinced him that other family members could be viable donors. Pickeral and Kirkland are since doing fine, and the two stay in frequent contact, referring to his new kidney as “our kidney.” Although she had only known Pickeral as a patient in her pharmacy, which is located in a Target store, Kirkland said she felt he was the kind of person who would make the most of the opportunity to live a healthy life. “I knew he wanted to be healthy and take good care of himself, so I knew that he would take care of our kidney, and it would not be a waste,” Kirkland said..”I felt like he was truly deserving of another chance at life.”
3
I
JOE SHUNNARAH Provides Shelter and More in a Storm Joe Shunnarah, owner of Joe’s Pharmacy in Harvest, Ala., has a knack for prevailing in extremely challenging circumstances. He’s not only a two-time cancer survivor, but he also leveraged his survival skills to shelter several members of his community in his store during when they were trapped by a tornado. And when rescue workers showed up, unable to get to their station for supplies, he walked up and down the aisles with them to provide everything they needed, from bandages to slings and crutches. “Don’t ask me why, but when I built the store, I built a huge natural gas generator into the foundation,” said Shunnarah. “So we had lights, all the major appliances we needed, all the computers, the doors, everything.” As severe weather engulfed the area in June 2021, a tornado formed, one of several deadly twisters that plagued the Southeast that year. More lives might have been lost if Shunnarah had not welcomed stranded passers-by into his store. “It was just too dangerous for them to take their families down
C
C b m n to in
A t s c
R
3 FULL DAYS OF INNOVATION + INSIGHT + INSPIRATION
Center Aisle Takes Center Stage Customers may come into your store for quick trip incidentals, but they are also looking to their local convenience stores for more than pharmaceutical and paper products to keep the number of trips to a minimum. Adding high-margin housewares to your shelves can exponentially increase the profitability of an individual sale and help your store stand out from the competition. Attend The Inspired Home Show¨ 2024 to discover new, trend-forward home + housewares products that will set your store apart from the competition, surprise and delight your customers, and inspire return visits.
Register today at TheInspiredHomeShow.com
MARCH 17-19, 19 19, SUNDAY • MONDAY • TUESDAY
© 2023 International Housewares Association. All Rights Reserved.
COVER STORY
Drug Store News: At the retail level, how is CVS giving back to the community? Sheryl Burke: We live and work alongside the 100 million consumers we serve, giving us deeper insights into the needs of our communities. Our colleagues enable us to make a positive and lasting impact in these communities because they touch the lives of our customers every day. They also donate their money, time and talents through our Dollars for Doers program and Matching Gifts program to support the causes that mean the most to them. Each program is offered to all colleagues throughout our company and this year, we raised our CVS Health Foundation Matching Gifts donation dollar for dollar up to $5,000 annually. When disaster strikes, we step in to help people get back on their feet, no matter the event. We remain committed to being on the ground to support first responders within 48 hours of a disaster. Most recently, we have committed $425,000 to support organizations in Maui, including The Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund to support relief efforts, the Red Cross’ immediate recovery efforts, and World Central Kitchen, which began serving meals to the hardest hit areas the first day after the fires. Additionally, our CVS Pharmacy and Longs Drugs customers have contributed over $2 million to our in-store fundraising campaign to support those impacted by the wildfires. The funds raised by our customers will be distributed equally between The Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund and the Maui United Way. DSN: How can customers (or even suppliers) get involved or contribute to these initiatives? SB: Every year, we host in-store fundraising campaigns at our CVS Pharmacy locations where our customers can support the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association and Feeding America. For example, every February, we host an in-store fundraising campaign where our customers can contribute to the American Heart Association’s ongoing work to combat the number 1 killer of women and support their Go Red for Women Campaign. Our work with the AHA doesn’t just stop after the in-store campaign is closed. Throughout the year, we support other various programming and most recently, we announced the CVS Health Foundation awarded the American Heart Association $1 million over two years to help address hypertension, which is a key risk factor in the most common killer of new mothers.
32 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Joe Shunnarah (center, holding check) of Joe’s Pharmacy in Harvest, Ala., receives the Community Leadership Award at this year’s Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference. It included a donation to the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, where Shunnarah received his PharmD in 1989.
the road,” he said. “There were trees down, electrical wiring down, and you couldn’t see anything when you were driving down the road.” He ended up with about 20 people, including his wife and two young children, along with some dogs and cats, huddled in his office as the twister ripped down the street, directly across from the store. When the EMTs arrived, Shunnarah said he helped them find everything they needed, including first aid supplies, bottled water and other items. Although he did not ask for payment, he said the community and the volunteer EMTs raised money to repay him, and he received a check a few months later. The power in the area remained out for several days after the storm, but Joe’s Pharmacy stayed open and helped people fill their prescriptions. “The only thing I couldn’t do was bill insurance,” said Shunnarah, who has had his own pharmacy for about 15 years, and was a pharmacist with Eckerd and then Rite Aid for about 15 years before that. “People would just bring in the filthy bottles from their homes that were destroyed, so I started collecting receipts and rebilled them after the power came back on. Would you believe every one of them came back and paid their copay except one woman who was from out of town? To be honest with you, with all the things going on in her life, that was one thing I wasn’t worried about.” Shunnarah’s actions during and after the storm, as well as his ongoing support for his community, helped him earn the Community Leadership Award from Cardinal Health. Among his other community activities, Shunnarah supports local schools and youth sports in the area with donations and fundraisers. dsn
Do
ct or
In ve n
te d
!
is the Ear Wax Warrior!
#1 Selling Bra
nd
Spray Ear Wa
sher
Category Expander 1st OTC product that removes even stubborn ear wax impaction
#3 In FDM Sales Ear Treatments And Growing! 52 Weeks Ending 1/8/23
WATCH IT WORK! www.WaxRx.video
Source IRI
$3 Million Annually
Used more than
in national & regional advertising—cable, radio, digital, & social media spend
times in the clinical setting
Four-Time Winner of the Retail Excellence Award
50 Million
Contact: Sterling Price | 904-579-4498 sprice@doctor-easy.com | waxrx.com
I NS I D E
Hair Care Sails Mass market hair care sales are thriving. These brands told us why.
Americans are spending lofty sums to shampoo, grow, remove, style and strengthen their tresses. Hair care sales expanded 8% for the first half of 2023, according to Circana data. The most promising news for mass merchants is that almost all segments are on the rise, including stylers, which had been flat over the past three years. The only downside to the category’s bouncy business outlook is that prestige retailers are growing their sales faster than mass, but drug, food and supermarkets still control the lion’s share of sales. Some key areas are driving an uptick in sales: the ongoing emphasis on scalp care, textured hair products, formulas that help hair grow and a bevy of new items hitting mass market shelves. One of the buzziest is the debut hair color brand Madison Reed in Walmart. “Madison Reed is deeply rooted in the belief that prestige, salon-quality hair color made without harsh ingredients should be accessible,” said Amy Errett, founder and CEO of Madison Reed, in a release announcing
34 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
While not the sexiest new brand in the market, our triedand-true Dippity Do Styling Gel still performs at the highest levels. –Christine Tran, vice president of innovation, product development and marketing, Pacific World Corporation
the Walmart distribution. “To us this means empowering our guests to choose where and when they purchase our products and color their hair, so they have the freedom to enjoy gorgeous results on their own terms.” Sales of Madison Reed soared during the pandemic when consumers scurried to find hair color products beyond the box formulas. Many shoppers have stuck with the brand. Target also sells Function of Beauty, a personalized hair care brand that launched DTC before creating a self-service option. Drug chains, including CVS and Walgreens, have also stepped up their hair care assortments with the addition of lines such as HIMS and HERS, Native Hair Care and a wider array of items for textured tresses. With hair care delivering some of the biggest gains in beauty aisles, DSN asked brands that are standouts in the four biggest segments—shampoos/conditioners, stylers, hair growth and tools—to pinpoint their best sellers, why those items are trending up and what they predict for the category in the year to come.
I NS I D E
Stylers Awaken: After years of little growth, the styling segment is growing double digits, per Circana. Gels and mousse are part of today’s hairstyles, and retailers are reaping the benefits. An iconic brand from the past, Dippity Do, is back and finding a new audience. Brand: Pacific World Dippity Do Best Seller: Dippity Do Styling Gel “While not the sexiest new brand in the market, our tried-and-true Dippity Do Styling Gel still performs at the highest levels,” said Christine Tran, vice president of innovation, product development and marketing at Pacific World Corporation. Pacific World acquired the 50-year-oldplus Dippity Do earlier this year. The brand has been in distribution in Canada, and Pacific World is reestablishing it in the U.S. “The latest Nielsen report shows in Canada, Dippity Do as the number in units and number three in sales dollars, outpacing the category in growth— an increase of 9% for Dippity Do versus 3% category,” said Tran “We are the best north of the border and perform successfully in Mexico. Our opportunity lies in bringing this winning story to the US.” Tran said the brand performs because it brings high performance to the growing textured hair category at a low price. “Certainly, the economic landscape for the past year continues to tighten shopper’s wallets, and the value segment has proven to be more important not only for the customer but also our retail partners. Having a brand that thrives in this area, as well as actually performs above its punching weight compared to the big brands in textured hair, are the reasons we are seeing Dippity Do outpacing the industry,” she said. For the future, she’s seeing a demand for multitasking products and a return of retro styles that work well with gels. “The beauty of gel is in its flexible application to support any style and works with most hair types as well. People are starting to embrace their natural texture, whatever that might be, and are looking for products that amplify their style and help them feel their best. Hair is such a big part of people’s identity and personality so looking for products that they can use for multiple looks but also being their most authentic self is very important.”
Younger consumers are rediscovering brands from the past, often on social media. The iconic Dippity Do is finding new shoppers for its 50-year-old brand.
36 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
OKAY Pure Naturals is known for its Black Jamaican Castor Oil Shampoos and Conditioners. The company was one of the first to bring it to mass market retailers.
Natural Continues to Clean Up in Shampoos and Conditioners Shampoo and conditioner sales in the mass market are approaching 10% growth, especially as consumers trade up to more expensive brands and healthier ingredients. Brand: OKAY Pure Naturals Top-Seller: Black Jamaican Castor Oil Shampoo/ Conditioner/Leave-in “Over a decade ago, we were one of the first in the market offering a natural hair care solution for all hair types. Throughout independent beauty stores in this country, our reputation grew for quality ingredients and affordable prices,” said Chris Lopez, marketing director for OKAY Pure Naturals. The Black Jamaican Castor Oil hair care set is available at Walmart, Dollar General, Sally Beauty and independent beauty stores. Lopez forecasts a bigger demand for benefit-driven hair care products and timeless ingredientsThe specific issues he sees on the radar are products to prepare long damaged hair, scalp care, wave revival and volumizing mousses. The tried-and-true ingredients he expects to become popular (again) are argan oil, tea tree and biotin, along with others that are a counteraction to the constant churn of trends posted on social media. “This time they’re showing up not just as one ingredient but a medley like argan plus tea tree plus biotin and coconut oils,” he said. Keeping with the demand for specific needs, Lopez said a Natural Scalp Collection is in the works.
I NS I D E
Tool Time Appliance sales are just starting to perk up, especially as more consumers pull back on spending at salons. Conair is and remains the leading brand, followed by Helen of Troy and Remington, according to Circana. Brand: Conair Best Seller: Conair Double Ceramic 1¼-Inch Curling Iron Reviews really move the needle and the Conair Double Ceramic 1 1/4 -Inch Curling Iron has over 78,000 reviews and was voted the best curling iron by Cosmopolitan Readers in the 2023 Cosmopolitan Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards, according to Michelle Stearns, sr. director of marketing for hair fashion appliances at Conair. The curling iron is designed to create flowy, loose curls and beachy waves. The higher ceramic content of the iron offers even heat and gorgeous, long-lasting styles with less frizz, according to Stearns. The versatility of the iron with 30 heat settings, and instant heat up to 400 degrees, makes it suitable for all hair types. Looking into the future, Stearns expects to see a heightened emphasis on hair care tools designed to safeguard hair from damage and make-at-home styling easier. “The world of curling on your own can be quite intimidating. However, after a decade, Conair’s Curl Secret is making a return, reclaiming its position at the forefront of trends,” Stearns said. “It’s redefining the art of curling by seamlessly incorporating cutting-edge technology like preset curl types and customizable curl directions plus ceramic coating and even heat distribution, to ensure not only less heat damage but also the promise of a magical new styling experience.”
One of Conair’s hero products is the Double Ceramic 1-1/4 inch curling iron. With appliance sales booming, the company is bringing back Curl Secret, a fan favorite.
Once someone with a hair thinning issue uses the products, they actually see the difference and become loyal customers. –David Horwitz, vice president of Pura D’Or
38 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Whether from age or stress, Americans report they are losing their hair. Pura D’Or’s shampoos and conditioners are helping many shoppers strengthen their strands.
Stronger Strands Whether from stress, pregnancy, aging or other reasons, Americans say their hair is thinning. Consumers are snapping up supplements and searching for products that help stem loss and build stronger strands. Brand: Pura D’Or Best-Seller: Hair Thinning Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner/Advanced Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner. The Pura D’Or shampoos and conditioners are tested and proven to reduce thinning, according to company David Horwitz, vice president of Pura D’Or. “Once someone with a hair thinning issue uses the products, they actually see the difference and become loyal customers,” he added. Thinning tresses, he added, is something experienced by all, not just older consumers. “It’s not just people that have hair medical issues that have their hair thin due to side effects and medication but there is genetic hair loss, hormonal hair loss, hair loss as we age, etc. And people don’t want to wait until their hair starts thinning—they want preventative products to help maintain,” he said. “The trends that we are seeing continue to be overall hair and scalp health. No matter what the trends are in the style, if you have a clean scalp and healthy hair, the cuts will perform as they were intended,” Horwitz explained. dsn
I NS I D E
Subtl Difference
Subtl Beauty is working to transform the industry with stackable cosmetics that are designed to free up space in any vanity or purse By Gisselle Gaitan
DSN spoke with Rachel Reid, founder and CEO of the brand, about its origins and what’s coming next. DSN: Can you tell us a bit about the origins of Subtl? RR: The origins of Subtl trace back to my journey in 2017 when I began working on it from my basement. It all began with a spark of inspiration that had ignited the year before. At that time, I underwent a series of life-changing events where I was consistently on the go that forced me to reevaluate my priorities and approach to cosmetics. I knew that I needed something other than tossing five to seven bulky products in my bag and avoiding powder spills, digging for 10 minutes and caps coming off. I also wanted what I created to be of high quality with sustainability at its core. DSN: What inspired the Subtl Stak? RR: The inspiration for the Subtl Stak directly resulted from my personal experiences and pain points. At the time, I found myself frequently traveling for work, often living out of a carry-on bag. Even when I was back home in Pittsburgh, I led a fast-paced life that required constant mobility. It was incredibly frustrating how bulky and heavy my traditional makeup bag was, not to mention the space it occupied. This frustration drove me to question my friends about their makeup experiences on the go and from their replies I envisioned something more portable, convenient and streamlined, ultimately leading to the creation of our stackable makeup solution. Hence Subtl and the Subtl Staks were born. We now offer a range of high-quality products that are clean by Sephora standards, vegan and cruelty-free. They cater to women on-the-go who value convenience without compromising their love for makeup. I have to say, our products are so easy to use, so easy to travel with on the go, and though I’m biased as the owner, I do very much stand by the fact that the quality of makeup is phenomenal. DSN: How does Subtl Stak fill the void of being an on-the-go lifestyle essential in the cosmetics space? RR: Within the cosmetic space the Subtl Stak is an innovative approach to makeup. Our staks transcend traditional beauty
essentials industry norms by truly catering to the modern woman. Our makeup system is designed to provide a compact, convenient and personalized solution, making it ideal for individuals who often find themselves applying makeup in unconventional settings, whether in the car or at work. We have all been there. It’s not fun, but it can be if you have the right tools. Makeup should always be fun to apply, fun to wear and fun to carry around. Subtl is the go-to brand for those who prioritize both beauty and practicality, ensuring that looking and feeling your best is effortless, regardless of your location. DSN: What does the future look like for Subtl? RR: The future of Subtl is incredibly exciting and promising. We’ve been diligently working on several exciting developments over the past two years, one of which we recently unveiled in early August—our new packaging. This innovative packaging isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic move that sets the stage for us to diversify our product offerings. In the coming months, you can expect a range of new and carefully curated beauty solutions from Subtl that will cater to every aspect of the daily beauty routine. We can’t wait to share these exciting developments with all our supporters! DSN: Does the brand have any new innovations in the works? RR: Absolutely, innovation is at the core of Subtl’s DNA! While we recently introduced our new packaging in August, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Our focus has been on creating a transformative experience for our customers, starting with the packaging, which is now more functional and sustainable. Looking ahead, we’re actively working on a lineup of groundbreaking beauty innovations that go beyond packaging. These new offerings will redefine how you approach your beauty regimen, making it even more convenient and personalized. Stay tuned for what’s to come! dsn
DRUGSTORENEWS.COM October 2023
39
PHARMACY: TECH AUTOMATION
Beyond the Bench Meet the pharmacy technology and automation companies that enable pharmacists to expand their clinical roles By Sandra Levy
Never have pharmacists had to juggle so many clinical responsibilities. From filling an increased volume of prescriptions to counseling patients, the role of pharmacies has never been more crucial. With only so many hours in the day, pharmacies are relying on automation and technology companies to lighten pharmacists’ workload and boost efficiencies so they can meet patients’ needs. Drug Store News asked executives from pharmacy technology and automation companies what innovative solutions they are offering to help pharmacies successfully multitask. Their answers demonstrate their unstoppable verve in providing new solutions.
DrFirst Rockville, Md.-based DrFirst’s intelligent medication management solutions have been a mainstay in health care, including community pharmacy and hospitals for more than 20 years. “Today, our primary solution for pharmacy is clinical-grade artificial intelligence that safely infers missing data and translates between systems, saving pharmacy staff time and reducing the chance of errors,” said David Sellars, principal of product innovations at DrFirst. “Our patented AI, serving as a clinical co-pilot, improves the quality of more than 24 million medication records across the United States and Canada every day.” DrFirst’s SmartPharmacy solutions can optimize clinical data for pharmacy systems to improve efficiency and safety by ensuring more complete e-prescriptions by translating more than 90% of free-text sigs into dose, dose unit, route and frequency values; converting NDCs in prescriptions
to the drugs on your shelves; and integrating nearly all free-text allergy information from prescribers’ EHRs as coded allergies in your system. Noting that DrFirst’s SmartPharmacy serves as augmented intelligence to improve workflow efficiency and accuracy in partnership with clinicians, who review and confirm the data, Sellars said, “With augmented intelligence, people are always the final part of the equation.” In the future, Sellars expects to see more impact from AI on interoperability and new approaches to sharing clinical information, especially among physicians and pharmacists. “Many patients assume that their pharmacist can access their diagnosis and full medication history or that doctors always see if patients pick up their prescriptions” Sellars explained. “It is past time that pharmacists and doctors can exchange clinical data in ways that allow them to make more informed care decisions. Patients also would benefit from technology that makes it smoother to enroll in programs for drugs in specialty or REMS programs. This would help patients start their therapy and relieve pharmacies from making calls to help facilitate it.”
EnlivenHealth Jason Ausili, head of pharmacy transformation at Fort Worth, Texas-based EnlivenHealth, said that as a pharmacy software solution provider, it is transforming the business and practice of pharmacy. “A key part of that transformation is clinical service expansion. Using solutions from EnlivenHealth, a pharmacy can free up both the time and the resources needed to be a clinical care powerhouse for their communities,” Ausili said. To that end, Amplicare Clinical Solution from EnlivenHealth automates and streamlines many of the administrative tasks associated with clinical care, which leaves more time for pharmacists to focus on their patients. “It allows you to grow in a scalable fashion, driving a seamless, end-toend clinical workflow that begins with identifying patient opportunities
40 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Knapp D
Demand less. Expect more. Rethink everything.
KNAPP is on a mission to transform pharmacy by automating virtually every aspect of prescription filling and pickup.
LESS COMPLE XITY
MORE TIME
Automated putaway, DSCSA scanning, stock bottle management, and Will Call order packing enable low-touch, high-throughput dispensing — with no additional staff. Automatic indoor kiosks and 24/7 outdoor terminals facilitate low-touch “Fast Lane” pick up.
1 Pharmacies can reduce operating costs while increasing revenue streams and freeing space for new services 2 Pharmacists and technicians can spend more time with patients and improve care outcomes 3 Patients can conveniently pick up prescriptions when, where and how they want
Making complexity simple
Knapp DSN 2023 Full-page Ad-0516.indd 1
5/16/23 10:53 AM
PHARMACY: TECH AUTOMATION
and provides automated campaigning and outreach that culminates in a personalized scheduling experience,” Ausili said. “Once the patient comes in for their appointment, the solution guides the clinical documentation, medical billing and vaccine registry reporting processes. Amplicare Clinical Solution allows you to start small and drive scalable clinical revenue growth at the pace of your business.” Another innovation is EnlivenHealth’s Personalized IVR, which takes automated phone answering to the next level by recognizing patients’ phone numbers when they call and offering tailored options, including refilling prescriptions without needing to locate or remember prescription numbers. It also prevents distractions from inbound calls that contribute to medication errors. Ausili also explained that when you batch together all of a patient’s refills and dispense them on the same day each month, you can optimize the time your staff spends filling those prescriptions and better prioritize their workflows. Medication synchronization streamlines your dispensing workflow and makes the prescription center of your pharmacy as efficient as it can be. “That level of predictability also allows you to do things like verify insurance coverage, inventory and active refills, long before the patient is standing at the counter waiting,” Ausili said. If that weren’t enough, EnlivenHealth offers: • Digital Medication Information Delivery, which transforms the paper-based drug monograph into a digital patient experience; • MyDataMart, which reviews your pharmacy data and provides actionable insights to help you boost pharmacy profits, improve medication adherence and increase pharmacy efficiency; and • Econcile, which provides pharmacists with two options for automating their reconciliation efforts.
FLAVORx FLAVORx, based in Columbia, Md., specializes in helping pharmacies provide optimal pediatric patient care. Stuart Amos, CEO of FLAVORx, pointed out that letting children choose the taste of their medicine is one of the best ways pharmacists can improve pediatric outcomes. “Nearly 40,000
42 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
pharmacies carry the FLAVORx program,” Amos said. “Collectively those pharmacies have flavored an estimated 250 million children’s medications since we first came to market 28 years ago.” The FLAVORx Auto makes the process of flavoring effortless by adding precise amounts of flavor automatically during reconstitution. “This totally eliminates the time it takes to personalize the taste of children’s liquid medicine, which gives the pharmacy team the confidence to offer the service no matter their workload,” Amos said. FLAVORx Auto also automates water dispensing for reconstitution. “With our machines, scan the barcode, select the flavor, press dispense and in 15 seconds that medication is reconstituted, flavored and ready to go out the door,” Amos said. “Because we are able to communicate with the machines remotely, we can send critical updates in real-time,” said Amos. “If a new NDC gets added to our reconstitution and flavoring database, it is instantly available to dispense and flavor with the Auto.” Amos predicts that in the future retailers will be able to build flavor selection into their own apps or POS terminals, so the pharmacy staff doesn’t have to wait on a flavor decision at the counter.
iA Reed Richardson, senior vice president of marketing at iA said that the Johnson City, N.Y.-based company has more than 30 years of experience providing an integrated platform of capabilities to support centralized and community pharmacy fulfillment. “iA provides a comprehensive platform that enables scalable centralized and community pharmacy fulfillment solutions through our advanced
Stress-Free Dispensing
Stress-Free Medicine-Time Fully Automated Reconstitution and Medication Flavoring Visit flavorxauto.com to learn more. info@flavorx.com
|
800-884-5771
PHARMACY: TECH AUTOMATION
robotics and leading-edge, enterprise software, NEXiA,” said Richardson, adding, “Our platform helps run the prescription fulfillment process from prescription acceptance to delivery, supporting dynamic design flexibility to service pharmacies in a variety of volumes and settings. Our solutions improve workflow and increase efficiency while enabling more time for pharmacists to focus on their patients.” Lastly, Richardson is optimistic about the future. “Innovation isn’t just a concept for us— it’s a mindset that drives us to venture into the unknown and challenge the status quo. We’re a technology-driven company, passionate about moving the industry forward at an accelerated pace. That extends to our partners in technology, packaging and systems who spark innovation and inspire us to bring new ideas for accelerating all aspects of pharmacy fulfillment.”
KNAPP Brian Sullivan, principal-pharmacy solutions North America, said that Kennesaw, Ga.-based KNAPP provides solutions that free up the pharmacists for greater patient care in two main ways: KNAPP’s centralized pharmacies take the task of filling and verifying prescriptions out of the retail pharmacy, leaving valuable time for the pharmacist and the technician to improve patient care, while KNAPP’s in-store pharmacy automation systems reduce the steps required to handle incoming inventory, address will call orders, and manage stock bottles, RTS and expired medications. “This reduces the cost to fill and more importantly opens up time for the technicians to improve patient care. The systems also take up less space in the pharmacy, opening up additional space for consultation rooms,” Sullivan said. Additionally, KNAPP’s fully automated 24-7 prescription dispensing system with Telepharmacy, Meth Check and automated labeling is expanding the ability of the pharmacy to meet patient needs with less resources. It also provides support for more remote populations for immediate care.
44 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
“At KNAPP, we see the glass more than half full. This is a very dynamic time that is being driven, in some cases by negative forces,” Sullivan said. “That said, the end result looks really fantastic to us: Greater patient care, more valuable use of pharmacist and pharmacy technician time, a better patient experience and lower cost to dispense are all part of the future that we are playing in. It is a bit bumpy right now, but the end result really looks like a better pharmacy experience for everyone.”
OmniSYS, XiFin Pharmacy Solutions OmniSYS, XiFin Pharmacy Solutions in Dallas specializes in providing pharmacies with purpose-built solutions that enhance patient access and engagement while streamlining clinical encounters, simplifying claim processing and maximizing reimbursement. “Designed by pharmacists for pharmacists, OmniSYS’s clinical workflow and documentation solution is the industry’s premier cloudbased electronic health record for pharmacy, bringing together key clinical, medical and health information into a longitudinal patient record,” said David Pope, chief pharmacy officer at XiFin. Powered by an intelligent data engine and a set of callable services, it alerts pharmacists to clinical opportunities, such as immunizations and other services that can improve patient health outcomes. Built on a scalable and interoperable technology platform, the OmniSYS EHR guides pharmacists through workflows and documentation for every aspect of clinical encounters and automates billing through its medical billing module. Connected to Medicare, Medicaid and hundreds of commercial payors, OmniSYS’s medical billing provides a real-time eligibility check to ensure pharmacies get reimbursed for payor-compliant claims properly and quickly. “With daily reimbursement tracking, robust analytics reporting, denial management and audit support, this billing solution helps provide collection rates of up to 99%,” Pope said. “As pharmacies embrace the delivery of clinical services, claim processing and reimbursement become more complex, we see forward-thinking pharmacy leaders investing in end-to-end revenue cycle management solutions and services.” OmniSYS also empowers pharmacies to provide the convenient, personalized care expected from consumers. By using its modern patient
-1 1
G,sureCost Analytics Overview
$2.4m
a
P!rplca,I_......,
CycleCovnts
O!'de. lmpons
Receive PO
-
QsureCost $35.4k
$350k
$26.lk
F«nua,yNan-Compliance
Vendor Purchasing
Recent Purchase Orders II:::::-
0
FIITransfe,1
SureCost is getting a new look. Don't miss out on the Smarter Purchasing Solution™ - with even more features and functionality on the way.
ONE PLATFORM, ALL PURCHASING PROCESSES, NO DISRUPTIONS.
Harness a single platform for submitting and tracking purchase orders including any external purchase orders initiated outside the solution.
MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE. Manage items by product group for easy transition between "comparables" - like drug equivalents in different strengths or package sizes or from different vendors.
GOODBYE, PAPER CHASE. Eliminate paper and manual invoice
verification processes through easy integration with your current pharmacy management and accounts payable systems.
With SureCost, you get your True Cost. SureCost gives you complete control over your purchasing with rebate modeling, vendor and DSCSA compliance and pharmacy system integration. Get complete control over your purchasing environment and full visibility into all of your options. Save more, stay compliant and work smarter with SureCost.
•
. • . • • SureCost pharmacies
experience 2% to 5%+ savings on cost of goods
•.
• •
BOOKAFREE CONSULTATION
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION
1 1-
PHARMACY: TECH AUTOMATION
engagement solution, OmniSYS leverages prescribed therapy insights to target patients with messages to increase medication adherence improve health and enhance loyalty. “The software allows pharmacies to personalize patient messages to promote greater engagement. Integrated with more than 50 pharmacy management systems, our patient engagement software provides a high level of personalization and relevance resulting in messages being better received, patients becoming more engaged and therefore more likely to take positive steps toward better health,” Pope said.
SureCost St. Conway, N.H.-based SureCost specializes in helping pharmacists free up time and money to provide optimal patient care through its Purchasing and Inventory Management Software. “With the pharmacy’s ability to control vendor relationships, they can choose not only their primary vendor but also secondary vendors, expanding their visibility of better prices in the market,” said Nathan Taylor, vice president of sales and business development. SureCost’s product groups provide a consolidated view of all purchasing options for each item, making it easier for pharmacies to compare therapeutic equivalent options. This customizable feature factors in accurate costs, including monthly rebates, ensuring transparency in pricing. In addition, SureCost Purchase Manager recommends purchasing options based on the pharmacy’s goals, purchasing volume and rules, aligning purchasing with the pharmacy’s vendor compliance and financial objectives. SureCost’s Inventory Manager is another tool to optimize pharmacy operations and allocate more resources to patient care. “Pharmacies have the potential in reducing their inventory by 10-20% through improved forecasting and the elimination of excessive stock,” Taylor said. This is achieved through perpetual inventory management, which takes into account physical stock, customer orders, inventory transfers and purchase orders. SureCost also automates replenishment orders based on data and pharmacy-specific rules. The system sets min/max inventory values based on usage and days-supply requirements, reducing excess inventory. Additionally, SureCost’s mobile app adds convenience by capturing DSCSA mandated data when scanning 2D barcodes during product receipt, immediately flagging any discrepancies
46 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
for quarantine. The software also promotes accountability, allowing pharmacies to manage DSCSA data from all vendors and providing a single interface for all required product data and reports.
Surescripts Arlington, Va.-based Surescripts E-Prescribing revolutionized how care clinicians shared information more than two decades ago—making prescribing safer, faster and connecting pharmacists with prescribers like never before. “Now, around 60,000 pharmacies are connected to the Surescripts network with more than 2.34 billion e-prescriptions filled using this technology in 2022 alone,” said Meg Murphy, pharmacy and regulatory affairs manager. Among the company’s innovations: Surescripts RealTime Prescription Benefit technology is helping to address prescription cost challenges by connecting pharmacists to patient-specific prescription cost and prior authorization information. Surescripts Specialty Medications Gateway is connecting pharmacists and their staff with the patient information they need from the Electronic Health Record automatically, saving time and helping patients start their medication therapy sooner.
Staywell Pharmacy’s Sanjay Sheshadri, shared that before using the Surecripts technology, it might take 10-15 minutes on each drug trying to identify a more affordable alternative but “we would only learn how much a medication was going to cost after a prior authorization was approved. A patient would have to wait three to four business days only to find out a particular medication wasn’t going to work. Now with the use of Real-Time Prescription Benefit we know right away.” “Surescripts’ technology is simplifying clinical information sharing, bringing pharmacists the information they need within their existing workflows and eliminating timeconsuming phone calls and faxes, so they can focus on caring for their patients,” Murphy said, adding, “Creating efficiencies and connecting pharmacists with physicians to strengthen patient care teams is becoming ever-more critical and tools like Surescripts Clinical Direct Messaging will help bridge gaps in care by allowing clinicians to reliably send and receive information—such as immunization records— across multiple care collaboration scenarios within their existing workflows.” dsn
HEALTH: DIABETES DIAGNOSTICS
Tune in to Technology Consumers with diabetes appreciate modern diabetes-management tools that ease the stress and anxiety of their condition By Kathie Canning
When it comes to chronic diseases, diabetes ranks among the most prevalent. According to the Washington-based Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine, the disorder impacts approximately 37.3 million people in the United States alone. Although diabetes can be divided into two different diseases—type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), type 2 is far more common. It accounts for 90% to 95% of cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated. If not managed carefully, however, both types of diabetes can lead to other serious conditions. In fact, diabetes increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease and more, ADLM noted.
The MiniMed 780G system incorporates Meal Detection technology, providing automatic adjustments and corrections to sugar levels every five minutes.
A Long Wish List It’s critical, therefore, that people with diabetes have access to effective tools for monitoring and managing their blood glucose levels. And their collective wish list of attributes making up that “effectiveness equation” is quite long. “Surveys we’ve conducted and our dayto-day work show that people with diabetes value ease of use, accuracy, reliability, support for tracking the data they need every day to stay on top of their management—carbs, blood glucose, HbA1c, etc.—affordability, access [and] help that’s there when you need it,” said Matt Jewett, senior vice president and general manager for Indianapolis-based Roche Diabetes Care, U.S., which offers the Accu-Chek diabetes-care lineup. Diabetics tend to live busy lives, just like everyone else, he noted. That reality is driving many of those wants and needs. Although they need to manage their condition on a daily basis,
48 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
“They want practical and intuitive tools that are flexible, easy to use and compatible with other aspects of their life and health care.” — Rudy Thoms, senior vice president, continuous glucose monitoring commercial, Ascensia Diabetes Care U.S.
people with diabetes “don’t want to think about it all day.” They appreciate anything that can ease the stress and anxiety associated with their condition and everyday life. Rudy Thoms, senior vice president, continuous glucose monitoring commercial for Parsippany, N.J.-based Ascensia Diabetes Care U.S., agreed. “They want practical and intuitive tools that are flexible, easy to use and compatible with other aspects of their life and health care,” he said. People with diabetes also want solutions to the issues they have with current diabetes management tools. For example, studies have shown that many diabetics end up with contamination or other issues when handling glucose strips, said Mike Tomasco, senior director of clinical affairs for Intuity Medical
Pen Needles
SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNIFINE PEN NEEDLES!
Commercial plan block? Try Unifine® From conventional pen needles to unique technologies, Unifine makes taking care of your patients easier with products that are available in a broad range of sizes and covered across almost every commercial plan. As one of the most trusted pen needle brands in the U.S., we put the patient first with innovative features that help enhance quality of life and drive adherence. We make patient access a priority by investing in programs that improve accessibility and affordability for all commercially covered patients. Doing the right thing for your patients shouldn’t be difficult. Unifine® makes it simple.
For more information, visit owenmumford.com/us. PLANBLOCKAD/OMI/0323/1/US
HEALTH: DIABETES DIAGNOSTICS
Consider Education Drug stores and the pharmacies within them certainly are well situated to help their diabetic consumers better manage their chronic condition. But becoming a partner for diabetes management—one that is able to dispense relevant information and insights—often is easier said than done. Recognizing that reality, TRC Healthcare, Denver, recently introduced a training program for pharmacists. Titled “RxAdvanced: Diabetes Monitoring & Management,” the program offers six hours of ACPE-accredited continuing education that aims to give pharmacists the skills they need to advise patients on how to use technology and pattern management to achieve improved glycemic control. According to TRC Healthcare, the online 12-course curriculum includes education from experts at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It focuses on innovative technology-driven techniques in diabetes treatment. Topics covered include selfmonitoring of blood glucose technologies, differentiation of continuous glucose-monitoring (CGM), a comparison of insulin pump types and exploration of CGM integration for better outcomes, and more. “It is vital for pharmacists to stay updated on the latest therapies,” said Wes Crews, CEO of TRC Healthcare. “With this training program, we are committed to enhancing competency and driving better patient care.”
Inc., Fremont, Calif. And traditional blood glucose monitors are lifestyle disruptors for many people. “Although newer options such as continuous glucose monitoring [CGM] address some of these barriers, not everyone is interested in CGM or has access to it. Consequently, fewer than 16% of people with diabetes use CGM,” Tomasco noted, citing U.S. diabetes statistics from the 2022 Seagrove Diabetes Blue Book. In line with trends that go across the health-care spectrum, digitalization and personalization also loom large on diabetics’ wish list. “We live in an increasingly digital world, and people want insightful information immediately at their fingertips that can inform decisions about their individual health,” said Thoms.
Creating the Right Solutions People with diabetes have spoken. And health care suppliers have listened, introducing new diabetes-management tools that address their wants, needs and frustrations. One such new tool is the OneTouch Ultra Plus Flex meter from LifeScan. According to Katherine Voyten, head of marketing and e-commerce for the Malvern, Pa.-based company, the meter features LifeScan’s ColorSure technology to indicate high, low or in-range results.
The Patterns for POGO Automatic app can teach people with diabetes how their food choices and exercise impact their blood sugar.
The Eversense E3 boasts 12 times the lifespan of a traditional CGM.
It also connects with an app to allow diabetics to track patterns and share information with their medical teams. “OneTouch Ultra Plus Flex is available without a prescription online or at retail because there is a growing demand of patients who are purchasing their products without a script,” Voyten noted. “The meter is priced under $25, and a month’s supply of strips is less than $20.” And Ascensia recently added the Eversense E3 CGM system. Developed by the company’s partner, Senseonics, the system is designed “to overcome key fundamental technical barriers present in traditional CGM,” Thoms said. For example, it boasts 12 times the lifespan of a standard CGM. “In addition to the consumer only needing to worry about replacing it every six months instead of every couple of weeks, the Eversense E3 also addresses the concern of unplanned replacements required when the CGM is knocked off,” Thoms explained. “The Eversense E3 makes this possible by replacing the wired connection between the sensor and the body-worn device used in traditional CGMs with wireless communication, allowing the sensor to remain undamaged in the event of a knock-off.” Speaking of modern CGM systems, Abbott introduced the FreeStyle Libre 3 system last year. According to
50 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
MM78
The MiniMed™ 780G system
Designed ™ for real life
QR Code
First and only system that auto corrects every five minutes with Meal Detection™ technology*
∆
Approved sensor insertion locations vary by age. See user guide. ∆ Smart devices sold separately. For a list of compatible devices, refer to user guide. * Taking a bolus 15 – 20 minutes before a meal helps to keep blood sugar levels under control after eating. Important safety information: MiniMed™ 780G system with SmartGuard™ technology with Guardian™ 4 sensor MiniMed™ 780G System is for type 1 ages 7 and over. Prescription required. WARNING: Do not use SmartGuard™ feature for people who require less than 8 units or more than 250 units of insulin/day. For details, please visit https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/support/download-library/user-guides and www.medtronicdiabetes. com/ importantsafetyinformation for complete details. Important safety information: Extended infusion set Rx Only. Subcut admin of insulin only. NOT for IV or blood products. Infection/irritation risk possible. Follow directions and replace as indicated. See https://bit.ly/infusionsetsafety. US-IPT-2300801 © 2023 Medtronic. All rights reserved. Medtronic, Medtronic logo and Engineering the extraordinary are trademarks of Medtronic. Third party brands are trademarks of their respective owners. All other brands are trademarks of a Medtronic company.
MM780G HCP ad for an publication.indd 1
9/29/2023 12:04:51 PM
HEALTH: DIABETES DIAGNOSTICS
Sara Giaimo, PharmD, a pharmacist in Abbott’s Alameda, Calif.-based U.S. Diabetes Care business, it is “the first and only CGM system to demonstrate a sub -8%” mean absolute relative difference, a reflection of its high accuracy. And Abbott is investing in additional innovation on the diabetes front. “To that end, we’re developing a first-of-its-kind system for people with diabetes that will combine both glucoseand ketones-sensing capabilities into a single sensor,” Giaimo noted. “It will be a breakthrough for people with diabetes, especially those with type 1 diabetes who are at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious and sometimes fatal complication.” For its part, Intuity Medical debuted what Tomasco calls “an entirely new blood glucose-testing category.” Called POGO Automatic, it’s an FDA-cleared blood glucose-monitoring system that features 10-test cartridge technology, which eliminates the requirement for separate lancets and glucose strips. “With the POGO Automatic monitor and cartridges, all patients have to do is click the cartridge door open, pop the multi-test cartridge into the monitor and close the cartridge door,” he explained.
The POGO Automatic blood glucosemonitoring system features 10-test cartridge technology, eliminating the need for separate lancets and glucose strips.
52 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
“Patients can put their POGO Automatic in their purse, pocket or whatever they choose and easily take it with them when they are out with friends, at work or running errands.” Modern technology is improving insulin delivery, too. The new MiniMed 780G system from Medtronic is designed “to bring back the enjoyment of mealtimes” by eliminating the stress and other negatives associated with carb counting, blousing and more, noted Ali Dianaty, senior vice president of product innovation and operations for Medtronic Diabetes, Northridge, Calif. The system features Meal Detection technology, which provides automatic adjustments and corrections to sugar levels every five minutes. “This gets ahead of highs and lows so individuals experience less interruptions throughout their day,” Dianaty explained, “getting them closer to how a healthy pancreas functions and pushing diabetes further into the background.”
“It’s important that the pharmacists understand their patient’s lifestyle needs while being knowledgeable of the available products to make mindful recommendations.”
Be a Diabetes Advocate
— Mike Tomasco, senior director of clinical affairs, Intuity Medical Inc.
Effective technology that meets the wants and needs of today’s diabetics is critical. But drug stores also can play an important role in helping people with diabetes manage their chronic condition. Their pharmacies, for example, could be “a gateway to better information and tools” tied to diabetes management, Tomasco noted. “To educate their patients, pharmacists should be knowledgeable of the latest innovations and be willing to learn about what products in the marketplace are backed by clinical data, for example, improving ease-of-use issues,” he said. “It’s important that the pharmacist understands their patient’s lifestyle needs while being knowledgeable of the available products to make mindful recommendations.” Visibility counts, too, when it comes to diabetes-care options. As Thoms pointed out, people become accustomed to certain technologies and might not have heard
about more modern options that could be better tools in the diabetes arsenal. “By making the breadth of options out there apparent, drug stores can also help to drive conversations around choice so that consumers can optimize their health care options,” he added. Drug stores could encourage the use of digital tools, too, that could help empower consumers in understanding and managing their condition, Jewett said. “This is especially important considering that part of the burden for people with diabetes is keeping track of all the data that is necessary to inform therapy decisions,” Jewett said. “Connecting a blood glucose meter to apps such as mySugr that automatically tracks the measured glucose values can relieve the patient burden of collecting and analyzing daily data points while also contributing to improved diabetes management.” dsn
The OneTouch Ultra Plus Flex meter features ColorSure technology to indicate high, low or in-range results.
T H E S H E R ATON GR AND CHI CAGO R I VERWAL K
Join us in Chicago to celebrate the honorees!
TOP WOMEN 2023 AGENDA Tuesday, Nov 14th •
Welcome Cocktail & Networking Reception
•
Top Women Awards Dinner
Wednesday, Nov 15th •
Keynote: Resilience with Dr. G Resilience Expert, Author and Consultant, Dr. Deb Gilboa, will share her insights on how to identify the mindset and strategies to turn stress to an advantage.
•
Step Up & Rise The WE Group discusses the power of community and how to harness collective strength to build confidence for the next step in your career.
•
Fierce Conversations with Wendy Hanson Co-Founder & Chief of Culture and Community for Better Manager, Wendy Hanson, will provide best practices and tips to achieve greater success in strategizing and planning for difficult conversations in the workplace.
•
Hard Conversations Retailers and suppliers provide insights and practical examples of negotiating deals and your career, the best way to deliver and receive bad news, telling the truth and how to prepare, react and move forward.
•
Youth Is Served: The Future of Health, Wellness & Beauty Retailer & Supplier Next-Gens discuss their aspirations, what they’re passionate about and how to recruit more talent to the industry.
•
Get Media Ready! Learn how to stand out from the crowd, enhance credentials, build your brand and interact with the media on behalf or your company and yourself.
CONTACT JOHN KENLON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit Our Website for More Information, jkenlon@ensembleiq.com | 212-756-5238 www.dsntopwomen.com
Agenda is subject to change
CONSUMABLES: CANDY
Candy Land Retailers should prepare for the holidays by making it easy to buy lots of candy By Nora Caley
With the holiday season approaching, consumers are looking for inexpensive gifts and treats. Retailers have an opportunity to offer an assortment of candy and chocolate that can serve as a fun gift, and provide relief for the harried shopper. According to a December 2022 report from the National Confectioners Association, more than half of U.S. consumers surveyed said they planned to celebrate the winter holidays by gifting chocolate and candy. Also according to NCA, 93% of Americans said chocolate and candy “make the winter holidays sweeter.” People bought candy and candy-related novelty items as gifts, in an effort to spend less money and still feel festive. “When you look at 2022 numbers, there was a pretty sizable increase in units and dollars for $10 to $20 gifting,” said Jeff Greenwald, marketing manager for CandyRific. “It’s attributed to the state of the economy. People are cutting back.” Last holiday season, CandyRific saw healthy sales of its M&M’S dispensers, which retail for $10 to $20. Retailers also ordered a wider variety of items, as consumers bought many different products for people on their gift lists. “People are picking up impulse gifts more than they have in the past,” Greenwald said. “I don’t think that’s going to change.”
54 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
“Starting in November,
82%
of consumers begin looking for holiday treats and
63%
will put out a holiday candy dish.” – Mike Gilroy, vice president of trade development and sponsorship, Mars Wrigley
Sweet Gifts Consumers shop early for holiday candy, and they buy treats for various purposes. “Starting in November, 82% of consumers begin looking for holiday treats and 63% will put out a holiday candy dish,” said Mike Gilroy, vice president of trade development and sponsorship at Mars Wrigley. “Throughout December, we see consumers taking part in holiday rituals, with 80% taking part in holiday baking and 73% buying and giving stocking stuffers.” Gilroy said Mars makes sure retailers have a range of products on shelves early. The company also redesigned product display boxes to maximize shelf space and save labor, with the goal of improving product sell-through. Another way to improve product turnover is to offer a variety of items that reflect current trends. Global flavors are popular right now, so Jelly Belly launched Boba Milk Tea-inspired jelly bean flavors including Mango Milk Tea, Taro Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea and Thai Milk Tea. “With more international flavors sweeping people’s palettes, Jelly Belly is keeping a close eye on those that rise to the top so our flavor innovators can hit the ground running,”
CONSUMABLES: CANDY
said Robert Swaigen, vice president of global marketing for Jelly Belly. Retailers can hit the ground running by merchandising a variety of flavors and pack types to suit various occasions.. “Holiday gatherings and travel are expected to be very strong,” Swaigen said. “Consumers will need that perfect sweet for holiday gifting, travel, stocking stuffers and more.” Drug stores have an advantage in holiday candy sales. “Holiday shopper satisfaction is high among drug retailers,” said Mark Pestana, senior director, team lead drug customers for The Hershey Company. “There is a channel opportunity to convert more everyday shoppers to shop the holiday assortment.” Citing Hershey research, Pestana said drug retailers get credit for convenience, deals and selection as top reasons for being favored among shoppers. Drug retailers can merchandise candy for holidays, for treat-yourself moments and to play a role in bringing people together during social events. Hershey research also indicated that even as consumers are tightening their wallets in light of inflation, they are spending more on groceries and cutting back on dining out. Pestana noted that chocolate ranks as the second most resilient treat, with 44% of consumers claiming to eat it as a treat at least once a week. Gummies are also popular, especially among younger shoppers. “Gen Z is loving gummies that aren’t traditional,” said Molly Jacobson, director of business development at Frankford Candy. “They want innovation that’s going to excite them.” Among the company’s products are Gummy Lunchables and the Krabby Patties Combo Meal. Manufacturers and retailers will pay close attention to holiday sales. “All eyes will be on sell throughs this holiday season in hopes that product assortments, pricing and timing has been planned accordingly to successfully meet consumers’ reaction to inflationary pressures,” Jacobson said. dsn
56 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
PRODUCT PICKS Mars Wrigley
M&M’S Toasty Vanilla is a limitededition flavor twist featuring a mix of white chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla, wrapped in seasonally colored candy shells.
DOVE Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Reindeer features a creamy peanut butter filling in a reindeer shape milk chocolate coating.
Jelly Belly Popcorn has two new offerings: Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Pouch Bag, a movie theater-inspired pouch bag, and Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Cart Bean Machine & Bank, which has a handle to dispense a handful of Buttered Popcorn jelly beans.
Frankford Candy
Frankford Hot Chocolate BOMB with Chocolate Chips The brand’s bestselling Hot Chocolate BOMB now includes chocolate chips inside for a creamier hot chocolate drink.
CandyRific
Disney100 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Candy Character Cases Available as Disney Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse characters, these candy cases are approximately 4” tall and come as a two pack, complete with 0.70 oz. of assorted fruit flavored dextrose candies (natural flavors and colors). With special metallic accents and matching silver boxes, these two-pack gift sets are a perfect gift. There is also a loop on the top to hang the character case from a chain or string.
Ferrara Candy Company
Wonka Magic Hat Gummies Ahead of the Warner Bros. Pictures movie Wonka hitting theaters this December, the Wonka Candy brand is making its debut with a fun treat. Each pack of Wonka Magic Hat Gummies includes an assortment of tasty, top hat-shaped gummies in four fruity flavors: Strawberry Watermelon, Raspberry Grape, Orange Strawberry, and Magic Berries. Every Magic Hat Gummi includes a sweet surprise with each bite. The fruity gummies come in 4 oz and 6 oz bags.
NACDS 90th Anniversary Ptintable Version_Layout 1 7/20/23 2:05 PM Page 1
Save money. Live better.
LAST WORD
Lost in Space Retailers must adapt to address the demands of shoppers as well as the new business landscape By Dave Wendland
Let me harken back for a moment to the 1960s television show, “Lost in Space,” and its infamous one-liner, “Danger, Will Robinson!” As brick-and-mortar retailers adjust their operations to meet the demands of today’s shopper, there is a risk of becoming lost, and a real danger of falling victim to irrelevance. Standing still and failing to adjust fixture arrangements, assortment strategies, or addressing consumer expectations could lead a number of retailers to suffer irreparable damage. Make no mistake, virtually every retail footprint must adapt to address factors affecting physical layout such as self-checkout, in-store fulfillment, emerging category trends, digital integration and theft reduction, to name a few. Let’s start with automated checkout. The growing appeal of self-checkout among retailers—and consumers—has provided quicker checkout and reduced labor. But it has also created a threefold challenge: 1. How do you replace the traditional staffed checkout lanes with this technology-driven approach? 2. What configuration will be most beneficial for shoppers and for theft deterrence? and 3. Where will impulse-generating displays and other fixtures fit within the floor plan? Another area of attention revolves around the creation of an efficient store-based fulfillment operation within a retail setting to enhance rapid delivery and increase customer satisfaction. However, transforming storefronts into omnichannel locations presents the risk of interfering with in-store shoppers. There is also the question of space. Will fastmoving items be relocated to a specific area for quicker fulfillment and where will displaced items or equipment go? And how will in-store pick areas or micro-fulfillment areas be staffed and managed? Besides the resulting logistical and
58 October 2023 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
Dave Wendland is the vice president of Strategic Relations at Hamacher Resource Group, Inc.
“Retail stores continue to face competition from online purveyors, while digitalfirst companies are opening their own physical stores that combine online and offline attributes. ”
staffing nightmares, turning a store into a makeshift warehouse isn’t going to impress customers. While recent economic pressure has caused consumers to shop more intentionally, making room for emerging categories to meet trending shopper needs becomes a third challenge. Rightsizing traditional departments and rearranging floor space to accommodate new product groups requires a strong dose of science and a fair amount of art. There must be continuity across the store layout that is logical to shoppers and encourages purchase behavior. However, there is a delicate balance between productivity and aisle allocation in a finite amount of space. Pressures in space allocation can also arise from digital integration. Retail stores continue to face competition from online purveyors, while digitalfirst companies are opening their own physical stores that combine online and offline attributes. To stay competitive, traditional retailers are considering how digital technologies can be used to remove friction from traditional retail operations to produce advantages. Unfortunately, this typically leads to significant space challenges. Frictionless stores have become a north star across the retail landscape. Customers today demand the same speed, convenience, flexibility and immersive shopping in person that they get online. Finally, retail stores must consider how they are managing their space to reduce theft and thwart mounting shrink. Some have embraced putting physical barriers around products, while others have invested in sophisticated technology to protect their most expensive items. The sum of all these challenges is squarely focused on space utilization. So, before retailers become lost within their four walls and find themselves in grave danger, consideration must be given to the three most important productivity levers: space, inventory and people. dsn
From Walls to Rooms
We Do It All!
Modular and High Density For over 50 years, Uniweb, Inc. has been manufactured domestically allowing for delivery of durable products in weeks - not months. Designed with fewer components and engineered with tight tolerances, Uniweb products will not rip or tear and exceed stringent U.L. standards.
PreWired Rooms and Counter runs:
UL Listed pre-engineered and factory built ... All connecting cables provided. Electrical outlets per your specification; regular, utility, ISO, clean, dedicated.
Future Ready Need more space or a
change in operations layout, you’re not locked into your original design. Room sizes, counter run configurations, and accessories are unlimited!
Corona CA American Made since1970
uniwebinc.com 800.486.4932
BD N noTM 2n Gen Pen Nee les hel en s el ver he r nsul n orre ly BD NanoTM 2nd Gen Pen Needles have a unique ontoured ase to help compensate for too much injection force, a common challenge for patients injecting insulin.1*
POSTED
CONTOURED
Conventional 4mm pen needle
BD NanoTM 2nd Gen Pen Needle
VS Skin
Skin
Fat (target zone)
Fat (target zone)
Muscle
Muscle
BD NanoTM 2nd Gen Pen Needles are estimated to educe nt muscul nject n sk y 8x vs 4mm posted base pen needles.2† Intramuscular injections have been shown to lead to nc e sed p n nd e te sk yp lycem .3
Cons er s ens ng BD N noTM 2n Gen Pen Nee les. Experience the difference of a contoured needle base. NDC: 08290-3205-50
go.embecta.com/pharmacypartner *N=230 patients with diabetes across Canada. Participants answered a survey as part of the cross-sectional observational behavioral study. BD helped fund this study. † The study used in-silico probability model of needle penetration depth for posted-hub 4mm pen needles and average human tissue thickness measurements across a range of injection forces and recommended sites, pooled across gender and BMI. REFERENCES 1. Bari B, Corbeil MA, Farooqui H, et al. Insulin injection practices in a population of Canadians with diabetes: an observational study. Diabetes Ther. 2020;11(11):2595-2609. . Rini C, Roberts BC, Morel D, et al. Evaluating the impact of human factors and pen needle design on insulin pen injection. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2019;13(3):533-545. 3. Frid AH, Kreugel G, Grassi G, et al. New insulin delivery recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1231-1255. embecta, formerly part of BD. BD is the manufacturer of the advertised products. embecta and the embecta logo are trademarks of Embecta Corp. BD and the BD Logo are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2023 Embecta Corp. All rights reserved. BD-85393