DEPARTMENTS | COMMUNITY-RX
health, emphasizing preventive care and personal- ized services. Grocers like Kroger and Hy-Vee are using automa- tion to streamline pharmacy operations, allowing pharmacists to focus more on patient care. Initiatives to combat pharmacist burnout and enhance job sat- isfaction are also in place. Additionally, partnerships with health plans and programs like food-as-med- icine are being used to drive healthier choices among customers. The evolving pharmacy landscape presents chal- lenges such as competition, lower reimbursement rates for prescriptions, and higher operational costs. Yet, by viewing pharmacies as integral to broader health and wellness goals, grocers can maintain their relevance and profitability in the modern market. Creating a differentiated experience for customers, such as offering dietitian consultations and mobile health units, is key to long-term success in this sector. Tolearnmore:https://www.grocerydive.com/news/ grocers-pharmacies-prescription-sales/720916/
GROCERY CHAINS ENHANCE PHARMACY SERVICES Grocery chains like Hy-Vee and Kroger are enhancing their in-store pharmacies by expanding healthcare services beyond prescription sales. These expansions include offering immunizations, health screenings, and consultations. The pandemic under- scored the essential role of pharmacists, leading to PHARMACY CLOSURES HIT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES HARD The closure of pharmacies in the United States is significantly impacting access to healthcare, par - ticularly in Western states and neighborhoods with predominantly Black and Latino populations. Pharmacy chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are reducing their physical footprints due to declining prescription reimbursements, rising oper- ational costs, and persistent theft. This trend has left many communities without convenient access to essential healthcare services that pharmacies provide, such as medication counseling and chronic disease management. An Associated Press analysis revealed that predomi- nantly Black and Latino neighborhoods have fewer pharmacies per capita compared to predominantly white areas. This disparity creates "pharmacy des- erts," which exacerbate healthcare inequities. The
closures are not limited to urban areas; rural regions also suffer as pharmacies often serve multiple roles, including primary health counseling and disease management, making them vital to these communities. Experts like Omolola Adepoju from the University of Houston emphasize the irreplaceable trust and accessibility that local pharmacies offer. Pharmacies often serve as the first point of contact for health - care needs, especially in areas where hospital access is limited. The reduction in pharmacy locations means fewer opportunities for face-to-face interactions with healthcare providers, which is crucial for effective patient care. To learn more: https://apnews.com/arti- cle/pharmacy-closure-drugstore-cvs-wal- greens-rite-aid-91967f18c0c059415b98fcf67ad- 0f84e a shift towards integrating pharmacies with grocery offerings to promote wellness and nutrition. Despite increasing complexities and costs, some grocers are outsourcing their pharmacy operations or closing them. However, many are finding inno - vative ways to leverage their pharmacies as valu- able assets for customer retention and community store pharmacies has been declining. The 2024 U.S. Pharmacy Study highlights that mail-order phar- macies are gaining favor due to their convenience, reliability, and ability to improve medication adher- ence by delivering prescriptions directly to patients' homes. This trend is contrasted by the challenges faced by retail pharmacies, which include long wait times, decreased trust in pharmacists, and difficul - ties in prescription retrieval. The report emphasizes that the key advantage for brick-and-mortar pharmacies remains the personal connection and trust customers have with their pharmacists. However, as awareness and accep- tance of digital pharmacies like Amazon Pharmacy grow, traditional pharmacies risk losing market share unless they adapt to meet evolving consumer
expectations. From 2023 to 2024, retail pharmacies saw a 10-point drop in customer satisfaction on a 1000-point scale, while mail-order pharmacies increased by 6 points. The study also notes that while mail-order pharma- cies provide significant convenience, retail pharma - cies still lead in the number of locations and total prescriptions filled. To stay competitive, retail phar - macies need to leverage their unique strengths, such as face-to-face interactions and personalized service, to retain customer loyalty amidst the rising popular- ity of mail-order options. To learn more: https://www.drugtopics.com/ view/patient-satisfaction-with-mail-order-pharma- cies-increases-but-shrinks-for-chain-stores
RETAIL PHARMACIES FACE DECLINING SATISFACTION RATES
According to a recent report by J.D. Power, patient satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies has been steadily increasing, while satisfaction with chain
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