CVS/pharmacy promotes importance of a 'pharmacy home'

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is looking to help pharmacy customers on their path to better health through improved medication adherence as guidance gained from the company’s extensive health policy research points to the importance of a single “pharmacy home.”

"These research-based facts are important for all patients taking medications to understand so they not only feel better, but also save money," stated Papatya Tankut, VP professional pharmacy services at CVS/pharmacy. "This is especially true for older patients who take two to three times as many prescription medications as those under 65. With the first baby boomers turning 65 — and 10,000 people in the United States turning 65 every day for the next eight years — this group is growing."

The guidance is gained from CVS Caremark's health policy research with Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Having a "pharmacy home" for all of their prescriptions helps patients guard against potential drug interactions. It also encourages the development of a relationship with their pharmacist, who can counsel on the role of medications in treating their health conditions and the importance of staying on prescription therapies to improve their health and reduce their overall healthcare costs, according to CVS Caremark.

"A pharmacist in a face-to-face setting is the most effective healthcare professional at encouraging patients to take medications as prescribed," Tankut added. "When patients fill all of their prescriptions at CVS/pharmacy, our pharmacists are in a better position to help them on their path to better health."



CVS/pharmacy is inviting patients to share their stories of how CVS pharmacists have helped them stay healthy and save money. Now available at Facebook.com/CVS, myCVS Pharmacist Story features comments from patients sharing experiences involving their own care, that of their children or others for whom they are serving as caregivers.