Specialty Pharmacy in Retail

The times are changing rapidly in specialty pharmacy. With Specialty Pharmacy Times and our daily news on SpecialtyPharmacy .com, we’re keeping you abreast of the news you need to know and the more seismic changes that are affecting the whole industry of pharmacy. The move by major retailers into the specialty space is one of those massive changes that will have repercussions for years to come. Specialty services in retail are taking hold—and patients who need specialty services will have more options and tools at their disposal than ever before.

The CVS/Caremark Specialty Services website, for example, offers the following promise from the pharmacist to the patient: “It’s not enough to say we understand what you’re going through. We offer the knowledge and dedication to deliver the right care for you.” With a care team dedicated to the myriad of diseases that fall into the domain of specialty care, the company promises dedication and service, noting, “Your condition is complicated. Managing it doesn’t have to be.”

At Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, the promise to deliver specialized care to specialty patients is clear when the company states: “We do more than fill your specialty prescriptions. We offer a complete range of specialized care, therapies, and medications to make it easier to manage your condition.” With help in the delivery of medications and with insurance questions, financial assistance, and ongoing specialized support, Walgreens has committed itself to the care of patients who cope with chronic and challenging health conditions.

What does this mean for specialty pharmacy practice? Our editor-in-chief Dan Steiber, RPh, discusses the role of the community pharmacist in specialty in his article, “Community Specialty Pharmacy: The Time is Now!” and points to the practical and professional changes pharmacists need to make in order to work effectively in this space. A practicing specialty pharmacist, Nick Calla, RPh, JD, offers insights into personalized care and patient management in “Specialty Pharmacy in Retail: A Face-to-Face Patient Experience,” beginning on page 22.

We’ll keep a close eye on developments in retail practice and important clinical and pipeline news as well. We’re proud of the fact that the Specialty Pharmacy Times audience follows our coverage in print, online, in eNewsletters, and on mobile devices, and we invite you to share our articles, news, and commentaries with your colleagues in the profession. SPT

Thank you for reading!

Mike HennessyChairman and CEO