GNP broadens patient-care menu

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. —One of retail pharmacy’s most effective battles against diabetes is being waged by a group of independent drug stores.

Together, those stores comprise one of the industry’s largest drug store banners: the Good Neighbor Pharmacy network. As demonstrated by a new, national image ad campaign launching this month in 90 U.S. markets, GNP, owned and serviced by AmerisourceBergen Corp., has exploded in size and market reach in recent years.

GNP numbers more than 3,700 stores offering traditional, personalized care—a hallmark of the community pharmacist—alongside high-tech marketing capabilities and a growing menu of clinical and preventive-care services. Among the best-known: “Living Without Limits,” which provides diabetes counseling and services through GNP’s Diabetes Shoppe program.

The program has gained traction as an effective diabetes-treatment resource, drawing on trained GNP pharmacists and a multimedia approach that includes a Web site, award-winning newsletters and in-store programs. “Living Without Limits” was promoted through an effective spokesman: “Iron Andy” Holder, a triathlon competitor living with Type 1 diabetes, who was featured in advertisements with a GNP pharmacist helping him manage the disease.

GNP also is partnering with other disease-fighting efforts. Last October, for instance, members in south Florida joined with Baptist Health Breast Center and NBC 6 in a public service campaign to educate the community about breast cancer. GNP also continues to expand its Prescription Savings Club, aimed at giving GNP stores “the competitive power to go up against the many discount programs the chains are using,” according to ABC.