Flip the Pharmacy Program off to an Amazing Start
from Randy McDonough
“A dream doesn’t become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” Colin Powell
As many of you have heard me say, Flip the Pharmacy is not an evolution of community-based pharmacy, but rather a revolution. I say this because evolution is a gradual change whereas revolution is defined as a forcible overthrow for an entirely new system—it is drastic, disruptive, far-reaching, and momentous change. Flip the Pharmacy is hard work and is disruptive and all of us who have been transforming our pharmacies know that the work is hard, challenging and even frustrating at times.
We also know that it can become the most meaningful work of our careers.
I sometimes have to take a step back from my practice to appreciate how far we have come. It is far too easy for me to get focused on the day-to-day struggles of our practice such as increasing DIR fees, reduction in product reimbursement, and increased and intense competition from new competitors to the marketplace.
By taking the step back, I can see the impact we are having on our patients by providing clinical services including follow up and monitoring.
We continue to make approximately 2,000 clinical interventions monthly between our two pharmacies. These clinical interventions are helping our patients optimize their mediations, achieve therapeutic outcomes, and helping them become informed consumers of their own health care. This has led to new collaborative working relationships with other providers and being part of the health care team.
It has also led to new revenue streams related to our patient care, clinical services, and value-based payments. So much so that it is now what keeps our pharmacy profitable year after year.
The work that has been achieved with Flip the Pharmacy in 2019 is nothing more than phenomenal. We cannot rest on our laurels as there is so much more to achieve. It can seem daunting at times—even impossible—but,
every day that I step into the pharmacy is another day for me to help my practice move forward. It’s about having positive attitude, a vision for the future, and a willingness, drive, and determination to make is possible.
I look forward to the success of Flip the Pharmacy in 2020. The revolution of community-based pharmacy has taken hold!! We can no longer look back!!!
