Article

Multi-Store Pharmacy Owner Named Medicine Shoppe International's Franchisee of the Year

In recognition of his patient-oriented service, John Balch, RPh, has been named Medicine Shoppe International's 2015 Franchisee of the Year.

PRESS RELEASE

LAS VEGAS — July 23, 2015 — Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., announced that John Balch, RPh, was named 2015 Franchisee of the Year, in recognition of his patient-oriented service and his ability to meet the unique needs of the diverse communities his pharmacies serve.

The award, which each year honors a pharmacy that serves as a role model for other franchisees to emulate, was presented at a meeting of Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchisees, held at the Cardinal Health

Retail Business Conference

(RBC) in Las Vegas. In honor of Balch’s receipt of this award, Medicine Shoppe International will donate $5,000 to the non-profit organization of his choice.

“As a pharmacist, president and chief executive officer of the

PharmaCare Network

, a member of the Medicine Shoppe family, John’s commitment to patient-oriented pharmacy is reflected in the passion he has for the mission of the Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchise systems, and especially his unwavering support of franchise’s new

co-branding option

,” said John Fiacco, vice president of Medicine Shoppe International (MSI).

Balch operates three fully-branded Medicine Shoppe pharmacies and recently co-branded his remaining four pharmacies as “members of the Medicine Shoppe family.”

Fiacco continued, “John’s focus on patient service really fueled the growth of his first independent pharmacy in 1977 into the fully integrated health care organizations he manages today - each of which deliver unique, customized services to a diverse population of communities.”

Each of Balch’s pharmacies offer unique services that reflect the needs of the unique populations in the areas they serve, including a college town, a farming community, urban environments and even a local medical center. His pharmacies offer health education and adherence programs to help ensure patients are compliant with their medications, and medication therapy management (MTM) services for patients who require them. At one of his pharmacies, Balch also initiated a patient discharge program in partnership with the regional medical center to better serve patients, encourage medication compliance and help reduce hospital readmission rates. The PharmaCare Network also provides care to patients with acute and chronic conditions, including home infusion combined with specialty pharmacy services.

Balch has demonstrated his commitment to the pharmacy profession by serving a number of pharmacy and community organizations. He is actively involved in his church, and was appointed president of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland. Balch also previously served multiple terms on the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy, culminating as the board’s president.

Other Medicine Shoppe awards announced at this year’s RBC include:

  • The Medicine Shoppe International Professional Achievement award, presented to John Forbes, RPh, of Urbandale, Iowa, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the pharmacy profession; and
  • The Medicine Shoppe International Operational Excellence award presented to Devin Trone, PharmD, of Meridian, Idaho; Bobbie Barbrey, RPh, CCN of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Al Patel RPh, CCP and Dr. Roshni Patel, PharmD, CCP, of Whiting, New Jersey for their support and commitment to delivering the kind of differentiated care that defines the Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy experience.

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