Mac Prescription Shop Health Mart Receives McKesson’s 2017 Pharmacy of the Year Award

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE) — Mac Prescription Shop, a Health Mart pharmacy located in McMinnville, Oregon, has been named the 2017 Pharmacy of the Year by McKesson Corporation. McKesson’s Pharmacy of the Year award recognizes independent pharmacies that are driving the future success of independent pharmacy through the delivery of superior patient care.“As an independent pharmacy, we have the ability to offer extra services for our customers, and they really enjoy the fact that they can walk in and talk with a pharmacist and ask questions regarding their medications and their care.

Mac Prescription Shop has been a McKesson customer since 1970 and a member of Health Mart^® since April 2010 with pharmacy owner Nicole Winnen, who will be honored in a special awards ceremony during the Opening General Session at the McKesson ideaShare 2017 conference in New Orleans.

“Nicole Winnen of Mac Prescription Shop Health Mart is a shining example of how community pharmacies can thrive in today’s environment and why McKesson and Health Mart continue to invest in progressive strategies, innovative solutions and clinical services to support independent pharmacies,” said Mark Walchirk, president, McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical.

Founded in 1970, Winnen purchased Mac Prescription Shop from her father and his partner at the age of 24. With many loyal customers dating back to the early 1970s, Winnen regularly cares for parents, their children, and grandchildren. “Sometimes we have four generations at the same time. A lot of people appreciate being able to shop locally with a pharmacy that has deep ties to the community,” said Winnen. “As an independent pharmacy, we have the ability to offer extra services for our customers, and they really enjoy the fact that they can walk in and talk with a pharmacist and ask questions regarding their medications and their care.”

Mac Prescription Shop Health Mart provides their customers with exceptional customer service, and the pharmacy staff is active in their community. Pharmacy staff spends time at several nursing facilities talking about diabetes and how to properly use blood glucose meters. The pharmacy also provides immunizations throughout the community — both in the store and on location with several employers who provide flu shots to their employees to help reduce absenteeism. “We don’t wait for patients to come into the pharmacy, we are willing to go to them, to be there at 6am and 6pm during shift change to give vaccines. Not only do we earn their trust through relationships, it’s also been a great way to acquire new business,” added Winnen.

Proactively implementing a medication synchronization program, Mac Prescription Shop Health Mart now has more than 250 pharmacy patients enrolled to pick-up all of their medications on a scheduled basis — and more at the long-term care facilities where they have relationships. To help drive compliance, the pharmacy staff calls patients monthly to check whether they’ve remained adherent to their medication regimen. Winnen attributes the successful transition to an appointment-based model as helping to improve patient care, but the pharmacy also uses compliance packaging and engages in Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services with many customers to provide additional adherence support. The pharmacy is currently performing in the top 20% in all adherence measures.

Winnen opened a second pharmacy four years ago at the urging of a local physicians practice. She also operates a durable medical equipment (DME) business directly across the street from her Mac Prescription Shop location. Filling a niche in the community that might not be filled otherwise, Winnen operates a showroom of medical equipment, giving customers several choices when it comes to rolling walkers and other items designed to help them with their activities and daily living.

“Being part of Health Mart has helped us by giving us brand recognition and by providing some tools and training resources that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s nice that Health Mart respects the individuality of independent pharmacies and encourages each pharmacy to run its business the way it wants based on the unique needs of their community and patient base — that’s also appreciated,” added Winnen.

For more information on McKesson and Health Mart’s announcements from McKesson ideaShare 2017, please visit McKesson’s online newsroom at www.mckesson.com/newsroom or mckessonideashare.com.