Connecting Pharmacy Owners with Industry Experts and Peers, McKesson ideaShare Provides Tangible Ideas to Improve Clinical and Financial Performance
NEW ORLEANS, July 13, 2017 – McKesson Corporation today kicked off McKesson ideaShare 2017, an interactive forum for independent pharmacists from across the U.S. to discover new solutions and technologies to successfully compete and grow their businesses. The annual conference and exhibition provides attendees with access to industry thought leaders, pharmacy programs and solutions, continuing education courses, and networking events all focused on providing pharmacy owners with the tools and expertise needed to improve their clinical, operational and financial performance.
“McKesson ideaShare is designed to help independent pharmacies evolve to meet industry challenges, improve their business performance and provide quality care for their patients. McKesson and Health Mart are pleased to drive innovation through continued investment in the business-building tools, clinical solutions, and technology being highlighted here,” said Mark Walchirk, president, McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical. “We encourage every independent pharmacist to maximize their time at McKesson ideaShare by putting these tangible ideas into action for immediate impact on their pharmacy.”
Health Mart® Helps Shape Independents’ Power to Drive Performance and Profits
With more than 4,800 stores nationwide, Health Mart® will host its Annual Meeting this week. “To remain competitive, independent pharmacies must run better businesses, which means they have to manage cash flow, improve efficiencies, expand margins, and attract more patients. We have invested heavily to help guide Health Mart members with education, tools and the implementation support they need to improve their pharmacy’s clinical and business performance,” said Steve Courtman, president, Health Mart. “This week, we’re introducing significant enhancements to the myHealthMart platform and a number of new tools designed to help drive improvements in performance and store profitability.”
According to Courtman, Health Mart’s growing national presence enabled it to win the national contract for McKesson’s Employee Flu Vaccination Program, which includes more than 100 on-site clinics at McKesson offices and distribution centers. In addition, participating Health Marts will provide flu vaccines to eligible McKesson employees and dependents across the U.S. This partnership provides opportunities for Health Mart pharmacies to build long-term patient relationships with McKesson employees and dependents. A successful program could lead to additional opportunities in the future.
myHealthMart Mobile App, DIR Estimator Help Pharmacies Manage Their Business
Since myHealthMart(SM) launched, more than 80 percent of Health Mart stores are using the platform to proactively manage their business. To date, 4,000 registered stores and more than 7,000 individual users are using myHealthMart to improve their clinical and business performance and profitability.
Designed to extend the user experience and ability to receive timely alerts, key updates to myHealthMart include an iOS Mobile App. The myHealthMart app enables users to customize key performance metrics, to view store performance and set goals for each measure. Users can also manage inbound patient online refills and send “Rx-Ready” notifications direct to patients. In addition to the new mobile app, new functionality includes a DIR Estimator, which enables users to identify, track and plan when direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee amounts are being withheld to prepare for collection “claw backs,” and License Expiration Alerts. Another new tool helps users optimize purchasing by reviewing customized promotions and discounts specific to each pharmacy, including generics, and flu vaccine pre-orders. Multi-Store Performance Scorecards provide a comprehensive multi-store view that gauges performance against benchmarks, totals and averages.
Helping independent pharmacies excel clinically and run a successful business is at the core of Health Mart’s strategy. The new Results Optimizer(SM) tool, embedded in myHealthMart, will recommend resources and tools pharmacies can use to make practical changes to their business. “The Results Optimizer differentiates Health Mart by providing access to the right tools at the right time for our stores. The tool is designed to help customers develop a step-by-step growth plan, recommending action modules and support they need to maximize profits. We will be launching the first module on DIR fees here at McKesson ideaShare, with more modules to follow over the coming months,” said Crystal Lennartz, Health Mart’s chief pharmacist.
Leveraging Med Sync to Expand Clinical Services
Health Mart continues to showcase its unparalleled educational resources and support designed to help pharmacies implement and maximize Med Sync. Med Sync allows independent pharmacies to improve efficiency and increase capacity without adding staff. With the ability to proactively manage their workflow, pharmacists have more time to uncover causes of patients’ non-adherence and address them with Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and provide other services, generating additional revenue and improve patient outcomes.
Building on its popular physician-signed Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) program to cover immunizations, Health Mart has expanded to include customizable CPA templates which enable additional service delivery in the pharmacy and/or in local provider offices, as well as facilitating payment terms for collaborative drug therapy management services. Pharmacist CPA services templates are now available for all 50 states through myHealthMart, which pharmacies can customize and work with local providers to sign.
Health Mart is also showcasing new capabilities for the Physician Outreach Program, with new data within the online tool. New drug category information will enable pharmacies to see the top drug categories prescribed by local prescribers improving their ability to target physicians based on the type of patients they see and the drugs they prescribe. New data also enables pharmacies to better identify other facilities the physician may be associated with and includes script data for veterinarians, podiatrists, and dentists. The new capabilities will be available in the Fall.
At the meeting, Health Mart is launching several new digital marketing solutions, including a Digital Listings and Reputation Management program, to help Health Mart pharmacies improve their online presence. Health Mart is offering free consultations with a digital expert from the Marketing Hub to review the health of the pharmacy’s online presence. The goal is to provide insights on how to make improvements to the pharmacy’s website, social media, and ability to be found online.
McKesson Continues to Invest in Independent Pharmacy
McKesson continues to support Health Mart and independent pharmacies in gaining access to preferred networks, improving their bottom line and planning for their future:
- AccessHealth®: As a market leader in managed care solutions and support for independent pharmacies, McKesson AccessHealth is focused on offering tools and solutions pharmacies need to achieve improved performance scores and reduced DIR collection amounts. In the exhibit hall, AccessHealth experts will be on hand to discuss performance opportunities and action plans recommended by the myHealthMart and myMcKesson tools, including profitability reports and the DIR Estimator tool. AccessHealth experts are presenting in peer-to-peer workshops, highlighting pharmacies successfully achieving improved performance scores and reimbursement.
- McKesson’s RxOwnership® is launching the Women in Pharmacy Own It Program, focusing on four key areas: ownership, mentorship, leadership and work/life balance for women. Creating a community of women helping women succeed, the program includes matching pharmacy students with owners and empowering pharmacy ownership. McKesson will host the annual Ownership Transfer Luncheon, featuring a panel of industry experts experienced in buying, selling, and starting pharmacies. In the past year, McKesson has assisted over 400 owners start new pharmacies and has helped more than 4,000 pharmacies through the ownership-transfer process since 2008.
- McKesson Connect NextGen Ordering has been updated to further improve customer ordering efficiency and effectiveness with fewer screens and a clearer returns process and workflows. The new purchasing portal will also have real-time ordering suggestions and discount opportunities. There will also be new capabilities to find and search items faster.
- McKesson Pharmacy Technology and Services (MPTS) will present offerings from McKesson Pharmacy Systems (MPS), Macro Helix and Supplylogix. MPS is introducing Med Sync and Mobile Delivery across its portfolio of pharmacy management systems. Supplylogix will showcase its suite of inventory management solutions for independent owners. Macro Helix, the 2017 Best in KLAS Category Leader for 340B Management Systems, provides innovative software solutions to help covered entities and contract pharmacies navigate the 340B environment. The team will be conducting live podcasts with new and existing customers that will be broadcast on Pharmacy Podcast during and after the conference.
About Health Mart
Ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Chain Drug Store Pharmacies” in the J.D. Power 2016 Pharmacy Satisfaction StudySM, Health Mart is America’s fastest-growing independent pharmacy franchise with more than 4,800 locally-owned community pharmacies across all 50 states. Health Mart pharmacists provide personalized care and take the time to help patients understand their prescription-drug coverage, how to safely manage multiple medications, and how to take advantage of lower-cost medication options. As an important member of the healthcare team, Health Mart pharmacists possess strong clinical knowledge and partner with their patients, and their patients’ other healthcare providers, to help them manage and improve patients’ health. The Health Mart franchise is owned by Health Mart Systems, Inc., which is an affiliate of McKesson Corporation. Pharmacists interested in learning more about joining Health Mart can explore becomeahealthmart.com. Consumers can find a locally-owned Health Mart pharmacy by visiting healthmart.com, where you will also find comprehensive online health and wellness information.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 5th on the FORTUNE 500, is a global leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. McKesson partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies, governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively. United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and partners more successful — all for the better health of patients. McKesson has been named the “Most Admired Company” in the healthcare wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a “Best Place to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by Military Friendly. For more information, visit McKesson.com.