NCPA survey: Patients like med sync programs
A new survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association finds high satisfaction among patients enrolled in medication refill synchronization programs.
Retail News
Sales surge in September at Walgreens
A strong pharmacy performance hoisted same-store sales at Walgreen Co. in September. Walgreens said Friday that sales in comparable stores surged 7.9% in September, marking the drug chain’s largest monthly increase in calendar 2014. Comp-store sales had gained 3.7% in August.
First MinuteClinics open in Corpus Christi
MinuteClinic has opened its first walk-in medical clinics in the Corpus Christi, Texas, metropolitan area. Parent company CVS Health said Thursday that two new MinuteClinics have opened inside CVS/pharmacy stores in Corpus Christi and Portland, Texas.
Walgreens, WebMD team up to promote wellness
Walgreen Co. has partnered with WebMD Health Corp. to give customers direct access to the online health information provider’s virtual wellness coaching programs and educational content.
CVS Health sets target for boosting Rx adherence
By 2017, CVS Health aims to raise medication adherence among its millions of patients by 5% to 15% through new interventions. CVS outlined its goal Thursday with the release of a new Insights Report titled, "Adherence: Why It’s So Hard and What We Can Do About It." The report, by the CVS
Rite Aid posts its largest comp-store sales gain of 2014
Rite Aid Corp. turned its biggest monthly same-store sales gain of the calendar year in September. Rite Aid said Thursday that for the four weeks ended Sept. 27, comparable-store sales climbed 5.1% year over year. That topped the drug chain’s 3.
Sam’s Club to provide free women’s health screenings
This weekend, Sam’s Club plans to hold free women’s health screenings as a way to encourage women to take a more active role in monitoring and maintaining their health. The Walmart warehouse club chain said the free screenings will be available on Oct. 11 to both members and nonmembers at all 599
Walgreens, Duane Reade offer Western Union kiosks
Walgreens and Duane Reade drug stores nationwide are providing international and domestic money transfer services through a new stage-and-pay kiosk model from Western Union.
CVS Health extends kudos to its pharmacists
CVS Health is saying thanks to its 26,000 pharmacists during October’s American Pharmacists Month for their dedication to serving patients in the company’s retail pharmacies, mail service pharmacies and specialty pharmacies nationwide.
Express Scripts: Walgreens is preferred Part D pharmacy
Express Scripts announced that Walgreen Co. is participating as a preferred pharmacy provider in its two nationally available Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for 2015.
Rite Aid enables video voting for favorite pharmacists
For American Pharmacists Month in October, Rite Aid Corp. has added video voting for its national Vote for Your Favorite Pharmacy Team Member Contest. Rite Aid said Wednesday that through Oct. 31, customers can upload a video nomination at RiteAid.
HDMA elects Scherr as new board chairman
Ted Scherr, president and chief executive officer of pharmaceutical and health care products wholesaler Dakota Drug Inc., has been elected as chairman of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA).
Walgreens meets 4Q, full-year earnings estimates
Adjusted earnings at Walgreen Co. were in line with Wall Street’s forecast for the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter and full year, with the drug chain seeing robust sales gains in both periods.
Council of Ontario College of Pharmacists elects president
The Council of the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) has elected Mark Scanlon as president and Esmail Merani as vice president for the 2014-15 council year. Mark Scanlon OCP said Monday that Scanlon and Merani will each will serve a one-year term from September 2014 through to September 2015.
Viewpoint: CVS changes retail health care game
In a year crammed with major news stories, cataclysmic personnel shifts and stunning new strategies and directions, the No. 1 retailing story of 2014 increasingly appears to be the CVS decision to stop selling tobacco products in its 7,700 drug stores.
Diplomat Pharmacy begins IPO, names CIO
Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. has commenced an initial public offering and appointed a chief information officer.