Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 - (Page 36)

36 DRUG TOPICS JUNE 16, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Chains and Business How supermarket pharmacies can leverage their health and food Sandra Levy upermarket pharmacies are in a unique position because they can blend the health and nutritional aspects of a supermarket with the pharmacy offering. So said Cathy Polley, R.Ph., VP, pharmacy services, of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Speaking to a packed audience at FMI’s Supermarket Pharmacy Conference, held recently in Las Vegas, Polley, who joined FMI in September 2007, went on to outline how she and FMI’s pharmacy services department intend to help attendees capitalize on their unique attributes. Dubbing the pharmacy services department a “home for pharmacy within their ‘home’ association, Polley outlined the following priorities: • To promote the unique value of supermarket pharmacy offerings— bringing health care to the consumer. “What do we do here in this pharmacy department Speaking to FMI Supermarket Pharmacy that is not necConference attendees, Cathy Polley essarily being emphasizes the association’s new initiatives including tackling obesity. done elsewhere in the industry because of that unique location of where pharmacies are? I don’t think there’s a better location for a pharmacy to be today,” said Polley. • Unify and strengthen the voice of supermarket and mass-merchant pharmacy to the federal government. • Educate state grocer/food associations on pharmacy issues. • Effectively partner with other pharmacy and healthfocused organizations. • Provide unique forums for FMI retail members to interact with their supermarket pharmacy peers, suppliers, and business partners. • Connect retailers/wholesalers with manufacturers/ suppliers in highly focused meetings centered around blending the health and nutrition aspects of a supermarket with the pharmacy offering. • Provide services as identified by FMI members to advance the goals of supermarket pharmacy. “How do we do a better job of making sure we are leveraging that pharmacy in the store? We provide food, pharmacy, OTCs, and nutrition. That allows us to sell S to new customers, new patients, current customers, and elevate that level of pharmacist within the supermarket pharmacy and the industry,” said Polley. Leveraging pharmacy in the store In order to help create value and be relevant to its members, Polley said the pharmacy services department will increase its collaboration with key private and public sector organizations on key health and wellness issues. “Having come from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores world, this is something that is very natural for me,” asserted Polley. Polley said FMI also plans to educate lawmakers and policy makers about pharmacy’s role. “We will communicate our positions routinely—not only to retail members, but to the supplier community too to make sure they know what is of importance and what is going to impact us in our stores,” Polley insisted. Emphasizing that pharmacy services will identify any unmet research opportunities that center around blending the food, nutrition, and pharmacy aspect that is unique to supermarket pharmacies, Polley said that initiatives will be developed that promote the value of pharmaceuticals, pharmacies, and pharmacists and that educate CEOs and senior management on key issues. New initiatives Yet another goal Polley revealed has to do with developing programs that promote the health and well being of our nation’s families. “There is an initiative in our public affairs and industry relations committee called Family Meals. We know from the pharmacy side that generally if parents and children sit down together for family meals, it’s a way of communicating. I will be involved with those initiatives as they move forward,” she said. An initiative to tackling the problem of obesity has also been identified. ”We need to have an initiative to make a dent in this crisis that is affecting our children as they move into adult ages. I’ll get involved in this,” Polley said. Finally, Polley announced that FMI plans to hold a conference in September in Baltimore that will feature strategic business appointments connecting food, nutrition, and pharmaceutical suppliers with top-level executive teams from the supermarket industry. http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters Latebreakers in Depth Pharmacists Lose in Final ESRD Rule New Drug Helps Palliative Patients on Opioids Take Care of Business Oral Treatment Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Flare-ups Beware of Inflammatory Masses From Implantable Infusion Systems Safer Therapeutic Options Emerging for Atrial Fibrillation Congressional Committee Chair Calls for Action Against Hospital Infections This Software System Helps Hospitals Manage Anticoagulation Therapy Rx Care Community Practice JP at Large Self-Care Cover Story Long-Term Care Chains and Business Technology Technology Update Continuing Education New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - June 16, 2008

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