Cardinal Health

SEATTLE — Call it the conference BEFORE the conference.

Even before the official start of the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference, Medicine Shoppe International and Medicap Pharmacy franchisees came together, here, Wednesday at the 2013 MSI National Meeting to explore future opportunities — both as franchisees and independent owners — and to learn how Cardinal Health can help their individual pharmacy businesses succeed.

SEATTLE — By now, even a quick look at drug companies' product pipelines and patient demographics should make it clear that specialty drugs are where it's at.

According to pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, the market for drugs used to treat complex, rare and serious conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, autoimmune disorders and rare genetic diseases is set to grow by 67% by the end of 2015.

SEATTLE — Seattle is about to get its “healthy” on.

Thousands of independent pharmacists will converge upon the Emerald City for Cardinal Health’s annual Retail Business Conference from Aug. 7 to 10, and this year’s event will showcase the broad array of solutions Cardinal Health provides that help community pharmacies diversify revenue, expand market share, improve their overall business operations and improve patient care.

SEATTLE — Cardinal Health has created a special mobile app to help put everything attendees of its annual Retail Business Conference need to know about this year’s event in the palm of their hands — and then some.

SEATTLE — Attendees of this year’s Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference will choose 1-of-3 finalists of a special best practice competition to determine the most innovative independent pharmacy program among Cardinal Health customers.

SEATTLE — As Cardinal Health has grown into the healthcare services powerhouse it is today — No. 19 on the Fortune 500 list, with annual sales topping $108 billion, and an integral linchpin of the nation’s healthcare supply chain — the company has maintained a strong focus on serving and expanding its reach among independent pharmacy operators.

With the 2013 Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference approaching, Drug Store News sat down with George Barrett, chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health, to discuss the company’s commitment to independent pharmacy.

DSN: What do you see as the most significant challenges facing independent pharmacies today?

SEATTLE — Healthcare policy wizard Mark McClellan, M.P.A., M.D., PhD., will deliver the industry session on Friday, Aug. 9 at Cardinal Health's annual Retail Business Conference.