Table of Contents
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Smith Drug Co. is providing independent pharmacies access to specialty pharmacy services under a new partnership with Diplomat Pharmacy Inc.
Brian Purscell
Smith Drug said Friday that through the Diplomat Retail Specialty Network, the drug distributor’s community pharmacy customers have 24/7 access to specialty pharmacists and technicians and services that can improve medication adherence and reduce patient costs.
In addition, the arrangement allows participating independent pharmacies to brand the specialty medication services with their name. That enables patients to stay with the pharmacy team they know and trust while still being able to leverage the range of specialty services offered by Diplomat, Smith Drug noted.
“Our customer pharmacies are very often the first source of health care services for their patients,” Brian Purscell, senior vice president of pharmacy solutions at Smith Drug, said in a statement. “These pharmacists can now offer specialty pharmacy services for chronic conditions, including cancer, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis and other serious, long-term conditions, with the support of a national organization renowned for patient care. Our agreement with Diplomat means expanded services for our customers and better patient care overall.”
According to Smith Drug, the agreement is unique to the independent retail pharmacy market in that community pharmacies can now offer comprehensive care and clinical expertise for specialty prescriptions for patients with complex chronic diseases.
“Smith Drug Co. is committed to doing what is best for the patient, and we believe offering our customers the opportunity to expand their pharmacy services into specialty care through Diplomat is just that: what is best for the patient,” stated Smith Drug president Jeff Foreman. “As an organization led by pharmacists, we understand the challenges in today’s pharmacy market, and our agreement with Diplomat helps our customers not only meet those challenges, but excel.”
A division of J M Smith Corp., Smith Drug serves independent pharmacies in 22 states in the South and Midwest through its three distribution centers.
