Anderson Declares NACDS Total Store Expo a Chance to "Study the Core" of NACDS

PRESS RELEASE

August 11, 2013, Las Vegas, Nev. - National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, today urged NACDS Total Store Expo attendees to “look into the eyes of NACDS, to study its core, and to assess its drive and direction and the value it adds” to retailers and supplier partners alike.

Anderson described “an exciting period of change” at NACDS over the past six-plus years, which have culminated with the launch of the inaugural NACDS Total Store Expo.

“We set out to focus like a laser on the issues that have the greatest impact,” Anderson said of innovations at NACDS that have focused on the members’ priorities of advocacy, communications and effective meetings. “You could say that we have achieved simplicity of design.”

Noting that NACDS is celebrating its 80^th Anniversary in 2013, Anderson likened the energy and determination of NACDS to its earliest days. He noted a proposed slogan for NACDS that was suggested by George Gales, the first volunteer president of NACDS: “This organization has no past.”

“It was, after all, the first year,” Anderson said. “But George Gales did not just state the obvious. He stated the opportunity, with great clarity…Today, this group has the advantage of eight decades of experience. Yet it runs on the same verve and vision of the Association’s first days.”

Anderson described the renewed focus of NACDS’ advocacy and communications as: “shouting from the rooftops about pharmacies as the face of neighborhood healthcare, and connecting with the media, opinion leaders and patients groups; advancing a pro-patient and pro-pharmacy policy agenda; claiming the political arena as our battleground; backing policies — and candidates – that support pharmacy’s value and defend its viability; owning the issue of medication adherence and helping medication therapy management (MTM) save lives, and make healthcare more affordable; proving our points with authoritative research; advocating for health and wellness, and its relevance throughout the entire store; and repelling challenges from adversaries.”

Anderson provided recent examples of NACDS’ execution in these areas, including:

• a recent report on MTM research that was co-authored by NACDS and published by Health Affairs
• the bipartisan co-sponsorship by 20 percent of the U.S. Congress of the NACDS-endorsed Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act
• NACDS’ advancement of community pharmacy through the healthcare reform debate and through the implementation of Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement policy
• Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call’s publishing of an NACDS op-ed on prescription drug abuse
• NACDS members’ hosting of more than 100 Congressional pharmacy tours and other in-district and in-state events for U.S. Senators and Representatives
• Engagement in the current focus on prescription drug supply chain legislation, and
• Public opinion research that has helped to shape NACDS’ advocacy communications.

Separately, Anderson noted the public-health focus of the NACDS Foundation. He described a request-for-proposals issued recently by the NACDS Foundation and Cardinal Health Foundation to study medication management and hospital readmission rates. Anderson also noted the presence at the NACDS Total Store Expo of the second class of NACDS Foundation Faculty Scholars, who are benefiting from additional education in the design, implementation and publishing of community-pharmacy based research on patient care.

Describing the advancement of NACDS since its founding in 1933, Anderson said, “Today this organization has a past. I prefer to call it a legacy. Whether you have been engaged with NACDS for decades or for days, you are part of it.”

Anderson delivered his remarks during the Sunday Business Program, which also included remarks by NACDS Chairman of the Board and Thrifty White Pharmacy President and CEO Bob Narveson, and author and business consultant Jim Collins.

Photos of Anderson’s remarks will be available on the NACDS Flickr website.