Kinney Drugs' pharmacists address compliance issues

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. October is American Pharmacists Month, and Kinney Drugs has spent it educating patients about the medicines they take and how a relationship with their pharmacist can ensure the safety and efficacy of their therapies, the regional chain said Tuesday.

Poor medication adherence is estimated to cost the healthcare system $290 billion a year, according to the New England Healthcare Institute, while healthcare market research firm IMS Health estimated that only 25% to 30% of new prescriptions are properly taken.

“Compliance is driven by access and affordability, and it’s easy to be noncompliant when people have to make purchasing decisions, they can’t get to the pharmacy or they are not fully informed about their medication,” Kinney Drugs pharmacy director Mike Duteau said. “Pharmacists can make it easier for people to understand their health care and the value of taking medications as prescribed by their doctors.”

The company is highlighting some of the programs it offers, such as e-prescribing, prescription discount plans, automatic refills, flu immunizations and free Medicare Part D consultations. Kinney will sponsor a Community Medicine Take Back event on Wednesday, designed to help customers dispose of medications in a safe and environmentally sound way.