A recent study by NCPA found that the primary predictor of successful medication adherence is a patient's connection with his or her pharmacist. The NCPA’s findings underscore the growing trend toward preventive healthcare.
The study stated that independent pharmacy staffs have the strongest relationships with patients, with nearly 90 percent of independent neighborhood pharmacy users reporting a strong sense of connection, compared to 67 percent among retail chain users and just 36 percent for mail-order users.
The pharmacists are considered as the center of the preventive healthcare renaissance for more than 200 million patients in United States. Local access, knowledge and position of trust make pharmacists a logical choice to help curb the epidemic of chronic disease, serving as Americans’ preventive healthcare coaches in their communities.
Emphasizing the role of pharmacists in the healthcare sector, Pete Crouch, PharmD, owner of Eden Drug Health Mart in Eden, N.C., said in a statement, “As pharmacists, we know how important our role can be in a patient’s treatment plan, especially when it comes to medication adherence. But with thousands of patients coming in each year and a small business to run, there simply isn’t enough time to build those relationships. I needed a new way to communicate with my patients and decided to team up with PrescribeWellness, whose patient engagement solution has already increased adherence among my customers.”
PrescribeWellness, a pharmacy-to-patient healthcare communications service, is designed to make it easier for retail pharmacies to help their patients improve medication adherence.
Al Babbington, CEO of PrescribeWellness, said, “Non-adherence is adding $300 billion to American’s healthcare costs every year. Pharmacists are leading the charge when it comes to preventive care and we’re proud to be making a direct impact on improving the lives of their patients.”
Edited by
Alisen Downey
