Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast

Jordan Ballou plays an important role in shaping the next generation of pharmacists while still keeping one foot grounded in the “real world” of pharmacy. As a practicing clinical pharmacist, she can add a new layer of insights to her course curriculum as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. She is passionate about educating her students on the wide range of clinical services that...

Always say “yes” - then make it happen. Pharmacy owner Eric Larson is not one to sit behind the bench and just run his pharmacy the same every day. He knows that the key to success is getting out into the community and finding new opportunities to grow his business. Whether it’s participating in a new pilot program, administering Covid-19 vaccines, or even stepping up to teach a ‘90s hip-hop dance...

On this Catalyst crossover episode, we are joined by Richard Waithe, host of the Rx Radio podcast. Waithe, who is also the president of VUCA Health, talks about the growth of virtual medication counseling, his secrets to increasing personal productivity, and tips for closing the gap on customer satisfaction. He is also the author of the book First Time Pharmacist, a guide for new pharmacists and s...

MTM - Medication Therapy Management. It’s a buzzword in the pharmacy world, but what opportunities lie behind this term? Pharmacists have the clinical expertise to improve patient health outcomes and prevent hospitalizations - you just have to be able to prove it to others. If you know how to communicate and sell your value, you can generate demand for your services and build collaborative relatio...

Kathy Campbell believes that health is foundational to living a great life. As a clinical pharmacist, she uses her training to take a scientific approach to improving her patients’ quality of life. She is working to shift the idea that people only go to their pharmacist when they are sick. Through her 12-week lifestyle and weight loss program, she empowers patients to take control of their life an...

When we used to think of the future, we’d picture the rise of flying cars and other extravagantly futuristic technologies. But as we have entered the 2020s, innovations in technology have been a little more practical. As we continue to fight this pandemic, our host Will Tuft chats with Laura Schwartzwald, owner of GuidePoint Pharmacy, about the latest trends in technology and how pharmacies have b...

Pharmacy automation enables you to take control of managing your business - instead of letting it control you. Streamlining your med sync process with automated adherence packaging allows you to fill your prescriptions ahead of time instead of working on a day-to-day basis. By automating mundane tasks like filling prescriptions, your staff can focus on growing your pharmacy’s clinical services. Ma...

Whether it be a new medication, an additional supplement, or a clinical service, pharmacists have to be able to increase their patients’ perceived value. The more informed and on-board a patient is with their health regimen, the more adherent and receptive they will be to the products or services you are offering. Your patients become your best salesman by advocating to their physician on your beh...

“It’s not rebels that make trouble, but trouble that makes rebels.” -Ruth Messinger When you break away from the traditional way of doing things, you face unique problems - and unique problems require creative solutions. Phillip Baker opened Good Shepherd Pharmacy with the goal to help his patients save money on their prescriptions. Good Shepherd operates on a membership model that gives patients...

Technology allows us to be digitally connected, and this is especially important in the world of healthcare. Pharmacists collect valuable data that needs to be recorded in a way that makes it easily accessible and shareable amongst other healthcare professionals. Shelly Spiro, Executive Director of the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative, joins us to explain the power of leveraging technology to share clin...

What’s the use of being perfectly adherent to a poor medication regimen? Before measuring adherence, it should first be confirmed that a patient is taking the right medications, at the right dose, at the right time. Factors like family genetics and drug interactions can affect the way a patient responds to their medications, and evaluating these factors is a valuable service that pharmacists can p...

Setting goals is the easy part. But how can you make sure you actually follow through with them? Vicki Einhellig leads her pharmacies with the 4 Disciplines of Execution, a strategy that increases motivation within her team and ensures that their goals are actually attainable. She explains how 2020 became their strongest year in sales yet, as they successfully reached the goal they set for themsel...

For pharmacies everywhere, there are things you can and should be doing to help your community, especially during this time. As Staci Hubert explains, as long as you put your mind to it and surround yourself with a team of bright people, you can get it done. You don’t need to be an expert - just by being a pharmacist, you are already more than capable. As a CPESN luminary, Hubert has helped build...

Growing your pharmacy doesn’t always have to mean adding new services or hiring new employees. Sometimes, all it takes is looking at your existing operations and finding areas to maximize your potential. Brad White is the VP of a group of independent pharmacies in the Ohio area, and it’s not by accident that they are all running smoothly. White shares his advice on minimizing gaps on your team, ma...

A silver lining of the pandemic has been the creation of new opportunities for some independent pharmacies, and the common thread between these stores is their preparation and planning. Kavanaugh Pharmacy has been busy with distributing, storing, and administering the Covid vaccine as well as performing thousands of Covid tests for their community. According to Scott Pace, it’s all about doing you...

In this episode we are joined by Scott Pace, one of the major figures contributing to the creation of Act 900. He served as the COO of the Arkansas Pharmacy Association during this time and was integral to the unanimous success of independent pharmacy in Rutledge v. PCMA. Listen as he tells the story behind winning the case and the obstacles in lobbying against PBMS. Pace is a pharmacy owner with...

What factors make a pharmacy ‘successful’? What if we could boil it down to quantitative measurements and be able to prove a pharmacy’s potential for success? These are the kind of questions Lisa Hines thinks about in her role as VP of Performance Measurement for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA). Join Hines and our hosts Mark and Josh as they take a deep dive into the process behind developing...

Get inspired to trigger your pharmacy’s success - both figuratively and literally. It starts with an idea, something you are passionate about and can turn into a new initiative at your pharmacy. But how can this idea become a successful reality? For Chris Cornelison, it involves building a strong company culture and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you. He explains how to grow a succes...

It’s a new year with new resolutions. Putting your pharmacy on a ‘diet’ can tighten up your business to help it run lean and clean. With ownership in 23 different pharmacy locations, Jeff Harrell has learned a thing or two about running a successful business. He shares his technique of focusing on the small details and plugging the holes that you may not even realize are leaking money out of your...

Many people find change daunting, but as we know, it is the only thing in this world that is constant. CPESN Executive Director Troy Trygstad joins the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast to discuss disruptions in pharmacy from technology, patient behavior, and COVID-19. Independent pharmacies are not in competition with one another. In fact, Troy argues that community pharmacies need to be seen as a collec...

How did the Covid testing program at Tarrytown Pharmacy skyrocket so fast? Some might call it luck, but Rannon Ching says it’s all about being prepared. They were already familiar with the process since they had other POC testing services already in place. When it comes to the Covid vaccine, they’re already one step ahead with an ultra-cold freezer ready to go. Tarrytown is all about constant grow...

With enough hard work and a little imagination, you can do anything you set your mind to. This is Joe Williams’ personal mantra, as he is always seeking out new business opportunities in the most unlikely places. He encourages pharmacists to move past the traditional pharmacy model and challenge themselves to not be complacent.  Listen as he recounts inspirational stories of the ways he and h...

Following the announcement of PioneerRx Pharmacy Software’s acquisition by RedSail Technologies, we bring you an exclusive episode highlighting the key factors behind this decision and exciting plans for the future of independent pharmacy. NCPA CEO Doug Hoey steps in as our special guest host to interview PioneerRx President Jeff Key and RedSail CEO Kraig McEwen. Doug asks the pressing questions t...

What does your front-end say about your pharmacy? Is it attracting customers or is it steering them away? Especially during this holiday season, it’s time to take advantage of some great opportunities for boosting your OTC and retail sales. NCPA’s Senior Director of Marketing shares tried-and-true tips on promoting front-end products in your pharmacy and designing your store layout with a focus on...

If you work at an independent pharmacy, it’s likely that you depend on a PSAO for your contracting. At Jolley’s Compounding Pharmacy, however, pharmacist Ben Jolley acts as their own ‘in-house PSAO.’ After looking at their numbers and seeing a high amount of true-ups, he decided to direct-contract on his own. Jolley breaks down the process and explains the pros and cons of deciding to opt-out of a...