Pharmacy Crossroads

Bill and Will Lockwood -- The American Society For Automation In Pharmacy (ASAP) | Pharmacy Crossroads

The American Society For Automation In Pharmacy – or ASAP – could be the pharmacy organization that most directly effects the daily practice of pharmacy. And, it is very likely that you, as a practicing pharmacist, have never heard of this important organization. In this episode of PharmacyCrossRoads we talk with Bill Lockwood, founder and Executive Director ASAP. Joining in the program is Will Lockwood, Assistant Director of ASAP and Bill’s son. These two industry experts explain how the standard settings services ASAP provides make it possible for your pharmacy system to provide a variety of services, without which, modern day pharmacy practice would not be possible. You’ll learn how ASAP brings industry competitors together, in a carefully coordinated and legal manner, to address issues that make it possible for Prescription Drug Monitoring programs to work, for interfaces between various pharmacy systems and services to work. And, how the organization works with the FDA, CMS and other government agencies to insure you can fill scripts quickly and accurate and that all your systems “play nice” with one another. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Deborah Bowers, PharmD, Owner Yorkville Pharmacy | Pharmacy Crossroads

Deborah Bowers, PharmD, Owner Yorkville Pharmacy, York, SC Will consumers pay cash for medication advice? Deborah Bowers, PharmD proves that they will. As you know pharmacy owners are all being told to find ways to diversify their practice. Deborah Bowers is one owner who has taken that advice to heart and set up a cash-pay medication consulting and health coaching business. In this episode of PharmacyCrossRoads she shares the frustrations she had with people, many not even her customers, who would drop in and ask questions about their medications. Bowers says she always tried to help until one day she had an ah-ha moment and decided to be practice and set-up a formal on-line registration and pre-payment system. Now, when people ask for help, she invites them to go to the web site, review the menu of services and book an appointment. You can check out her on-line system at www.yorkvillerx.com on the top menu bar select – SERVICE – and then select ASK Dr. Deborah. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Community Leader Colton Marcum, PharmD | Pharmacy Crossroads

Colton Marcum, PharmD, took over ownership of Marcum’s Pharmacy, from his father, about 10 years ago. Marcum’s is a high-volume pharmacy and has a proud tradition of service to the residents of Kingsport, TN, since 1962. Still, as Marcum tells us on this episode of PharmacyCrossRoads the pharmacy’s work environment was hectic and constant reductions in reimbursement and DIR fees were taking a big chunk out of his profits. Joining Marcum on this podcast is Kris Rhea, now a representative of BIOLYTE, but formally Marcum’s wholesaler representative. The two of them go into some detail on how Marcum saw a need for improved workflow and how, by working with Rhea they made some remarkable changes. Marcum tells how implementing a medication synchronization program improved workflow, reduced inventory and improved relationships with prescribers in the community. To help with a total transformation of the pharmacy Rhea prepared a 12-step plan they used to turn the pharmacy around. First on the list, recognize that pharmacy is changing and the old way of doing things no longer works. One other big thing Marcum and Rhea did was schedule time to visit other successful pharmacies in the area and arrange an onsite visit. A list of the 12 Steps to Revamp and Re-energize Your Pharmacy, is available by emailing Bruce Kneeland at; BFKneeland@gmail.com Marcum says that in addition to improving work flow, pharmacies should also find ways to provide services and sell products that genuinely help people, are unique to them and generate an attractive profit margin. He has had success with nutritional and says one product that has performed well for him is Biolyte. This episode is sponsored by: BIOLYTE, a nutritional drink, sub titled IV in a bottle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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NCPA 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award | Pharmacy Crossroads

Nasir Mahmood is a remarkable pharmacy owner. Indeed, so remarkable that the NCPA named him the winner of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. And the list of honors and service he has provided to the profession and to his community justifies this high honor. In this podcast Nasir and his son, Rehan, Mahmood share with Kneeland the PharmacyCrossRoads listeners several of the personal philosophy and business practices that allow Pine Plains Pharmacy, in Pine Plains, New York to be such an important part of this small community halfway between New York City and Albany, NY. Nasir, who also earned an MBA shared his view that knowing people, calling them by name and finding ways for the pharmacy to stock the special or unique items they want is one critical success factor. While the pharmacy is small, just under 2000 sq. feet, he says they find ways to fit items into the pharmacy. Adding to that idea is a robust special-order program where he says find his willingness to orders items an important customer service. Rehan tells how he worked with suppliers, the city’s fire department and created an appointment system that allowed them to provide this small town with a successful, and ongoing, COVID vaccination program. One heartfelt aspect of Nasir’s philosophy is giving back, thus he has served President and Chairman of the Pharmacist Society of the State of New York, winner of the Bowl of Hygiea Award, serves on the State Board of Pharmacy and is active in both NCPA and APhA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Proven Ways to Market Your Pharmacy | Pharmacy Crossroads

Ask any pharmacy owner what the best form of advertising is and they’ll immediately reply, “Word of Mouth.” In this episode of PharmacyCrossRoads Bruce Kneeland shares several real live examples of what a pharmacy can do to dramatically increase the number of referrals patients provide. He also cautions that unless a pharmacy takes an active role in boosting word-of-mouth the natural tendency of people is to talk more about bad experience than good. The good news is, effectively handling things that go wrong can be one of the best ways to generate positive word of mouth.  Kneeland is interviewed by Robyn Amberg, a well-respected account manager for PrescribeWellness, a Tabula Rasa Healthcare company who introduces herself as Robyn Kneeland Amberg. She is Bruce’s oldest daughter and has garnered a well-deserved reputation as an industry expert in her own right. The podcast covers a variety of topics intended to help pharmacy owners generate more positive word-of-mouth referrals. Kneeland and Amberg share ideas and examples of things they have seen pharmacies do. They also discuss the importance of getting pharmacy staff engaged in the mission of the pharmacy and talk about the importance of having a noble cause and the owner being able to create a culture of caring and commitment among the pharmacy employees. Kneeland indicates he has digital copies of articles he has written and samples of customer referral card programs he is willing to share with listeners that request them via email: BFKneeland@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jason Dykstra Chino Valley Pharmacy | Pharmacy CrossRoads

In the summer of 2016, Jason Dykstra, PharmD. took the leap of faith and left his long-time position with a major grocery store pharmacy chain and opened his own independent pharmacy. In this episode Dykstra talks about how he made this decision and shares several tips on what he has done to become successful so quickly. In this 30-minute podcast Dykstra talks about how he and his wife worked together to create a pharmacy that was both functional and appealing. The décor, layout and front-end product selection were all done with an eye towards making the pharmacy appealing and to provide items not easily sold by his chain competition. This even included a special children’s play area.   Dykstra discusses the importance of carefully monitoring inventory. He also talks about how he often works with prescribers to help patients get a comparable medication at a lower co-pay; while, also often improving his margin. Dykstra points out that pharmacy is both a business and a profession and emphasizes that, as an owner, “If you can’t keep the doors open then the people you care for won’t benefit from the care you provide.” Included are comments on a specific vendor he uses to search for better prices from a variety of suppliers. He also talks about how important it is to know who your “key” customers are and coaching the staff on how to make sure these people are well taken care of as they not only purchase more, and more profitable items but they are the people who tell others about how great your pharmacy is. Jason’s success with his first independent pharmacy has gone so well that in Dec. 2020 he opened a second location about 20 miles away in another rural community and has already started the process of getting permits to refurbish a building in a third town with hopes of opening a pharmacy there late in 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Pharmacy Tech Giants Working Together to help Pharmacies Succeed |Pharmacy CrossRoads

In December of 2020 PioneerRx was acquired by RedSail Technologies. RedSail is a new company that has emerged as an industry powerhouse via its acquisition n in 2019 of QS1, one of the industries oldest and most well know pharmacy technology companies and now, PioneerRx.   In this podcast Jeff Key, President of PioneerRx chats with Kraig McEwen, CEO of RedSail. During the interview together they outline the reasons the two companies have joined together and provide some insight into how they plan to work together to provide pharmacy owners with the tools, resources and information they need to succeed. One key thing they discuss is that they do not plan to merge QS1 and PioneerRx but allow them both to operate separately. McEwen outlines his professional background and assures current and potential PioneerRx users that Jeff Key and the PioneerRx management team, and philosophy, will remain unchanged. Jeff Key explains that PioneerRx hasd known for a year or more that in order to grow and improve that more resources would be needed and so PioneerRx and their parent company, Morris and Dickson Wholesale Drug, agreed to look for a business partner that could provide those resources. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Pharmacy CrossRoads | Pharmacy Owner Richard Ost RPh

Today's special guest is Pharmacy owner & Community Champion Mr. Rich Ost, R.Ph., owner of Philadelphia Pharmacy located in Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia Pharmacy is a well-known and respected establishment in downtown Philadelphia. It has been located on the corner of N. Front St. and E. Leigh for nearly 40 years and is owned by Richard Ost, RPh. In a city famous for buildings painted with colorful mural, the pharmacy boasts one of the city’s most notable. The corner locations is wrapped in a 3 story tall mural, on both the store front and side of the building that colorfully represents the evolution of medicine from botanicals to modern day prescriptions.   In this episode of Pharmacy CrossRoads Ost tells Bruce Kneeland how, on Oct. 27, 2020, social unrest and rioting resulted in the looting of his pharmacy and several others in the City. Ost tells how, with the help of his staff, the community and suppliers the pharmacy was completely put back together and in a matter of days was once again serving the community. Ost also provides some words of advice for pharmacy owners on how they can prepare for this type of thing. Ost also share some tips on how he and his team, over the past years have worked to earn the trust, support and patronage of the community. He says it takes time, creativity and building relationships of trust best earned by treating people with respect, adjusting to ethnic needs and simply providing people with top notch care.  Thank you to CPA the Compliant Pharmacy Alliance Cooperative for sponsoring the Pharmacy CrossRoads Podcast. CPA is proud to serve independent pharmacy owners. For over 25 years, we have made your business, our business. With over 2,000+ member pharmacies, CPA leverages an exceptional membership and our expertise to obtain market leading economics, services, and support. Being a 100% member-owned cooperative, there are no conflicts of interest. Learn more: https://members.compliantrx.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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