Pharmacy reform isn’t for the faint of heart. For years, individuals and organizations have fought for the industry’s most important issues, including everything from PBMs to provider status. We’ve gained momentum, but now, we have to keep it going. Brandon Cooper, Pharmacist at Soo’s Drug Store, explains how to make reform work: not only in your community and across your state, but throughout the world of independent pharmacy It’s an uphill battle to create change, but pharmacists — standing al...
Apr 27, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Rannon Ching is one of the most innovative pharmacists in the industry, and it isn’t by accident. For Rannon, Pharmacist-in-Charge at Tarrytown Pharmacy, innovation starts with the desire to do better and be better — to “level up” your pharmacy. “Leveling up” means identifying obstacles, embracing change, and taking the right steps to innovate. Rannon joins Will to show you those steps. As Rannon explains it, there are plenty of roadblocks along the way, but innovation is ultimately what keeps y...
Apr 20, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 27
It’s been a year and a half since the RedSail/PioneerRx acquisition, and change has happened fast. But is that change for better or for worse? NCPA CEO Doug Hoey returns to the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast to ask RedSail CEO, Kraig McEwen, and PioneerRx Executives, Jeff Key and Marsha Bivins, the hard-hitting questions. Check in on the acquisition, hear feedback from real users, and find out what the future holds for PioneerRx pharmacies. No question is off-limits. Hosted By: Doug Hoey, CEO of NCPA...
Apr 13, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Fresh out of pharmacy school, Tory Grooms and Abigail Scott are taking the world by storm. As Moose Pharmacy’s newest PGY1 Residents, Tory and Abi are new to the scene, but they’re already proving their value as pharmacy professionals. From implementing new programs to working with providers, Tory and Abigail show just how capable students really are. They may be young, but they’re ready to face new challenges and find new opportunities for future pharmacists. Hosted By: Mark Bivins, VP of Sales...
Apr 06, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Camille Schrier knows how to balance a white coat and a diamond-crusted crown. She started off as a Pharmacy Student, then made her way to the stage and swept up the coveted Miss America title in 2020. Since then, she’s advocated for women in STEM and continued to work towards her own Pharm.D. degree. Whether she’s speaking to crowds or sharpening her clinical skills, Camille proves that you can have the best of both worlds — and that women in pharmacy can really do it all. Hosted By: Jeff Key, ...
Mar 30, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Phil Cowley went from struggling business owner to social media sensation, and he’s here to show you how. Phil, better known as @philismypharmacist on TikTok, has amassed nearly 1 million followers and over 4 million likes in less than 6 months — and he’s showing no signs of stopping. On TikTok, Phil posts patient-centric content that’s not only earned him a reputation online but boosted his real-life business. By taking a chance on social media, Phil has turned his pharmacy around, and he wants...
Mar 23, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 61
There’s a difference between being a pharmacist with a business, and being a businessperson with a pharmacy — and if you want to be successful, Joe McKamey suggests you do the latter. An entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for people, Joe uses his business skills to keep Marcrom’s Pharmacy on top. Joe joined us to discuss all things innovation, entrepreneurship, and the power of putting people first. Beyond the Scripts - Episode 26 Hosted By: Will Tuft, Director of Education at PioneerRx Guest...
Mar 16, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Amid staff shortages and steadily rising DIR fees, independent pharmacies are fighting to stay in business. Richard Brook, a Pharmacy Consultant with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, knows a thing or two about staying afloat: and he can help your pharmacy navigate the waters. Richard joins Jeff and Marsha to talk all things ownership, innovation, and the hidden power of reinventing yourself, time and time again. Hosted By: Jeff Key, President of PioneerRx | Marsha Bivins, Director ...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 60
In independent pharmacy, it’s not enough to do one thing well. You have to do everything well. That’s why Erich Cushey, a Multi-Location Owner at Curtis Pharmacy, works to stay as well-rounded as possible: specializing in filling, billing, and ehnahced services. Erich knows that no one niche will drive his success, so he stays up-to-date on all of them. By geting the little things right and acting as a one-stop-shop designed to meet every need, Erich keeps his patients coming back. Beyond the Sc...
Mar 02, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 25
When opportunity comes knocking, you can wait for something to happen or you can make something happen. Hannah Mitchell chose to do the latter. A Pharmacist and CPESN Community Pharmacy Fellow, Hannah has learned to anticipate change and stay on top of her services. Whether she’s investing in education or kicking off a new med sync program, Hannah shows us how you can shift your mindset and start taking control over your pharmacy’s success. Hosted By: Jeff Key, President of PioneerRx | Marsha Bi...
Feb 23, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 59
It’s a simple concept: you perform services and you get paid. In reality, though, it isn’t ever that easy. Enter the never-ending, ever-confusing world of PBMs. With long documents, tricky rules, and countless hoops to jump through, PBMs are hard to understand. Benjamin Jolley says that’s not by accident. Benjamin, a multi-generational pharmacist in Salt Lake City, UT, has made a name for himself as a resident PBM expert. He’s done the digging and discovered the secret: if PBMs make things confu...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 24
If you ask most business owners how they measure success, they’ll point you to a number. If you ask OrderInsite CEO and Co-Founder George Lazenby, though, he’ll point you to happy customers. George built OrderInsite — a cloud-based supply chain management system that helps pharmacies optimize inventory — from the ground up, but on his way to the top, he never failed to keep pharmacists first. George joins the podcast to discuss all things tech, travel, and the untapped potential of putting peopl...
Feb 09, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 58
February 17 is right around the bend, bringing dreams of PDS’s 2022 Super-Conference. Get excited about all that’s to come this month with two of PDS’s leading voices, CEO Chip Phillips and Chief Pharmacist Officer Elaine Ladd. Chip and Elaine give us a sneak-peak of the conference as we discuss top pharmacy trends, travel tips, and wine recommendations (cabarnet, anyone?). Get ready to find your “RxFactor” at the 2022 Super-Conference. We’ll see you in Orlando! Hosted By: Jeff Key, President of...
Feb 02, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Independent pharmacy owners like Bruno Tching know that focusing resources on clinical services is important for sustainable success. One of the very first members of CPESN California, Tching has shifted his mindset to prioritize collaboration instead of a solely individualistic view. Through their participation in CPESN and an MCO pilot program, Tching’s pharmacy is big on clinical care. With so many tasks to juggle, they find ways to simplify repetitive tasks in order to save time and be more ...
Jan 26, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Beyond the Scripts - Episode 23 Hosted By: Will Tuft, Director of Education at PioneerRx Guest: Josh Rimany, Pharmacy Owner and Functional Pharmacist Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit www.pioneerrx.com
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 23
When it comes to ordering anything during the pandemic, it can be easy to catch yourself “panic buying” to avoid shortages and supply chain issues. But there’s a smarter way to do it. We are joined by Theresa Rodriguez, VP of Strategy & Business Development at Pharmacy Automation Supplies, and she shares tips on how to be prepared and make sure you play your cards right. She also highlights some opportunities to market your pharmacy through adherence packaging and deliver the best care to yo...
Jan 12, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 55
One of the very first commercial buildings in its neighborhood, Hayes Barton Pharmacy has been around for almost 100 years. Found at the middle of a 5-point intersection, this small store has made a big impact on its community. So how have they been able to do this? One of the main reasons is that the staff takes ownership of what they do. Pharmacy owner Brent Talley explains how his team has experienced increased employee job satisfaction and retention even during the pandemic, as well as grown...
Jan 05, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Victoria and her Community Pharmacy team are a well-oiled machine when it comes to vaccinations. Some have even dubbed them the “Chick-Fil-A of Vaccines.” But despite all of this, sometimes your community might expand further than you realize. Victoria Hennessey explains the unique challenges her team faces with their local demographic, including language barriers and vaccine hesitancy. Listen in to learn how they are adapting to these obstacles in order to protect their community. Hosted By: Ma...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 54
If you work in the independent pharmacy space, you’ve probably heard of Amina Abubakar. Amina’s friendly disposition and unwavering positivity make it easy to see how she’s become successful and made an impact on so many lives. Listen as Amina shares her game-changing secret for approaching providers, tells an unbelievable story of how she started her first pharmacy, and describes the unique psychology behind her new store’s layout. Amina is known for adding the human touch to healthcare, and he...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 21
If there’s one thing you learn from pharmacy owner and CPESN luminary Ed Hudon, it’s to get out there and use your voice. Ed has learned that it's important to invest in yourself and invest in your community - because it always comes back full circle. Using the Art of Conversation, you can have valuable interactions with your patients and with other connections in your community. Ed Hudon shares his recommendations for building your network and getting the tools and resources you need to run a s...
Dec 15, 2021•58 min•Season 53Ep. 2
Taking a page out of his father’s book, Barry Klein keeps the family pharmacy going with a forward-thinking mindset. His work in the pharmacy has moved from using typewriters and diskettes to high-tech software and automation - but one thing remains the same. The goal of Klein’s Pharmacy is to always put the patient first and do everything they can to help them. Barry Klein talks about his team’s passion for serving the mentally ill and developmentally disabled population in their area. As we en...
Dec 08, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Jeff Harrell is the ultimate entrepreneur - with everything from pharmacies to bakeries to arcades under his belt. When it comes to the pharmacy space, he has a lot of experience with helping hopeful entrepreneurs get matched with the perfect business location. A real Pharmacy Matchmaker, Jeff Harrell tells heartwarming, life-changing stories and shares his advice for current and aspiring business owners. Harrell currently owns or co-owns 26 pharmacies in the northwest, so he’s got a lot of inno...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Megan Smith had a very specific dream job, one that she never thought would actually come true. Yet she found her passion in being an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Director of the Community-Based Residency Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She gets to work with a variety of people every day to share her knowledge and passion for pharmacy. Megan sees her role as “telling the story of community pharmacy,” and you can feel the excitement in her voice ...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Dan Benamoz learned from the most expensive business school on the planet - the “Trial-and-Error Business School.” Now, he helps other entrepreneurs run a successful business through the company he founded - PDS (Pharmacy Development Services). Owning a business and being a pharmacist are two completely separate and distinct full-time jobs, and you don’t necessarily learn both in pharmacy school. Benamoz talks about how to change your perspective and change your reality by taking control of your...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 50
🎧 What is a day in the life of a pharmacy owner and CPESN Lead Luminary like? To find out, we talked to Alison Haas. Get an inside look at how she took the leap to pharmacy ownership, and how CPESN and Flip the Pharmacy are helping businesses like hers thrive. Based in Ohio, Haas also talks about provider status and other progressive legislation in her home state and how that has opened opportunities for her business. By having pharmacy students working at her pharmacy, she is able to keep a fr...
Nov 10, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 19
🎧 This week, we check back in with licensed attorney and pharmacy owner, Scott Pace. Since we last talked on Episode 21 of the Catalyst Podcast, there have been some updates on pharmacy’s role in the pandemic as well as shifts in the workforce. Scott Pace joins Josh and Mark to talk about covid booster shots, pharmacist burnout, monoclonal antibody treatment, and more. Throughout all of this, one saying continues to hold true - “Necessity is the mother of invention.” 🎙 Hosted By: Mark Bivins, ...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Whether you’re already offering enhanced services in your pharmacy or looking to get into the game, this comprehensive episode covers it all. Our host Will Tuft is joined by Cody Clifton, Director of Practice Transformation and Clinical Programs at CPESN. The two discuss how enhanced services are developing, and even become essential to running a pharmacy. Get tips on how to get started and see how you can get paid for your services. Clifton explains how joining programs like CPESN and Flip the ...
Oct 27, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 18
In pharmacy school, you learn about caring for patients and the clinical aspects of running a pharmacy. But what about the business side? Melanie Maxwell, president of AlignRx, believes that your PSAO should act as a business partner that helps you with operating your community pharmacy. Maxwell’s extensive background in pharmacy shines through as she speaks with our hosts Jeff and Marsha about healthcare structure and how pharmacy fits into the pie. Hosted By: Jeff Key, President of PioneerRx |...
Oct 20, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 48
🎧The small team at Germ’s Pharmacy in Louisiana proves that with the right people in the right place, you can accomplish more than you think. With only 2 employees - and a new pharmacist starting soon - this team may be small, but it’s also mighty. Owner Germaine Robinson explains how they make time to optimize their quality metrics and star ratings, leading to healthier patients and higher reimbursements for the pharmacy. No more saying “I’ll deal with that later” - it’s time to do it now. 🎙B...
Oct 13, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Welcome to Blueberry Pharmacy - a unique kind of pharmacy where there’s no insurance accepted. Owner Kyle McCormick paints a picture of his membership-based business model that operates on transparent, uninflated pricing. His patients are both surprised and delighted to see just how much money they can save on their prescriptions, despite not using their health insurance. Listen in on the conversation to see how McCormick is bringing value to his business, his patients, and the health system as ...
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 47
