We are honored as we strive to make an impact on patient health
Rochester, NY (PRWEB) May 18, 2017
PharmaSmart International Inc., a Rochester, N.Y. based, “Inc. 5000” company, and Chain Drug Review, the leading publication in the retail pharmacy sector, recently concluded a yearlong initiative to improve patient blood pressure control.
In February 2016, the PharmaSmart and Chain Drug Review kicked off the “Lower My Blood Pressure” challenge, which featured a yearlong competition to determine which pharmacies could a) enroll the most patients into PharmaSmart’s Smart Card tracking program, and b) demonstrate the greatest improvement in average blood pressure rates among enrolled patients. Participating pharmacists enrolled into the contest through Chain Drug Review’s website (http://www.chaindrugreview.com) or PharmaSmart (http://www.PharmaSmart.com).
Apple Discount Drugs on Fruitland Blvd in Salisbury, MD, was the Grand Prize Winner, earning them an all-expense paid trip for two to Miami, FL. Apple Discount Drugs saw the greatest overall improvement in blood pressure control, with an average reduction of 16 mmHg systolic, and 6 mmHg diastolic. “We are honored as we strive to make an impact on patient health,” said Jeff Sherr, Apple Discount Drugs.
Further analysis by PS DataSmart®, (PharmaSmart’s health data resource center generating more than one million new readings per month), determined the following winners based on strong patient enrollment into the PharmaSmart clinical program: Brookshire Grocery Co.’s Pharmacy #90 in Robinson TX, earned 1st place, followed by Brookshire’s Pharmacy #34 in Monroe LA, and Brookshire’s Pharmacy #62 in Ashdown AR, respectively. Brookshire’s is a leading regional grocer across Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas “We are thrilled that our pharmacy staff from each winning location volunteered to enter into the ‘Lower My Blood Pressure’ contest. PharmaSmart is a company exclusively focused on helping pharmacists target uncontrolled cases of hypertension. Kudos to both companies for driving such a critical initiative nationwide,” said Jim Cousineau, SVP Operations, Brookshire Grocery Co..
“PharmaSmart® offers pharmacists a credible, accessible, low-cost solution for controlling blood pressure that is backed by evidence and trusted by both physicians and payer networks,” said Ashton S. Maaraba, PharmaSmart Chief Operations Officer, “Because of this strong clinical positioning, pharmacists can coordinate hypertension care with local physicians, and they can confidently recommend the program to their patients.”
Fred W. Sarkis, PharmaSmart President and CEO added, “PharmaSmart is focused on building the clinical credibility of our retail clients. That process starts with building trust. For example, a pharmacist can’t rely upon an unverified blood pressure kiosk to deliver clinically actionable data, especially when the issue of unverified kiosks has been called out in multiple professional guidelines, and published editorials. Doing so is a breach of trust between the pharmacist and the prescribing physician and can be dangerous to their patients. Clinical program success depends on the delivery of trustworthy data, within standard workflow, at the pharmacy point of care. Program success also depends on delivering patient outcome metrics that show long-term value. This is what differentiates PharmaSmart. We are proud to see so many pharmacists embracing the challenge of hypertension control, and taking this big step toward an expanded scope of practice.”
Jeffrey Woldt, vice president and editorial director of Racher Press Inc., the publisher of Chain Drug Review, commented, “We were very excited to have partnered with PharmaSmart on such a unique collaboration and look forward to continuing our part in generating awareness across community pharmacy about the importance of controlling hypertension.”
About PharmaSmart®
PharmaSmart®, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., currently serves more than 6,500 locations, including such retail pharmacies as, Giant Eagle, Brookshire Grocery Company. (BGC), Kinney Drugs, Coborn, Bartell Drugs, Sav-MorRx/Sav-On Drugs, Nash Finch, Roundy’s/Mariano’s, Associated Food Stores, Leader, McKesson Health Mart, Good Neighbor, Astrup Drug, Winn Dixie, Big Y Foods, Harmons Grocery, Wal-Mart Canada, Safeway Canada, Price Chopper, Loblaw’s, Le Groupe Jean Coutu, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall/Katz Group, Sobeys/Lawtons. PharmaSmart® also serves major worksites, military bases, university schools pharmacy, hospitals and medical clinics. PharmaSmart’s PS DataSmart® Health IT database currently holds more than 40 million targeted patient blood pressure readings. PharmaSmart® biometric screening technology and Health IT Systems will serve as the driver for generating and streaming patient readings to a secure, HIPPA-compliant data center. Qualified clinicians will assess confidential data throughout the one-year duration of the program.
For more information visit the company's website at http://www.PharmaSmart.com.
About Chain Drug Review
Published by Racher Press Inc., Chain Drug Review is the leading newspaper reporting on the retail pharmacy industry and the companies that interact with it, including prescription pharmaceutical makers, front-end suppliers, drug distributors and technology vendors.
For more information visit the publication’s website at http://www.chaindrugreview.com.