NCPA forms Innovation Center to drive healthcare evolution through independent pharmacy
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday announced the establishment of a new Innovation Center that is intended to further assist and speed up the evolution of independent community pharmacies in a changing health care environment.
"The U.S. health care system is shifting toward a greater emphasis on value and quality of care," stated Douglas Hoey, NCPA CEO. "Many independent community pharmacists are already at the vanguard of this movement. This new Innovation Center will bring many of these community pharmacists together with leading community pharmacy partners under an organized and flexible structure," he said. "Working together with NCPA staff, the Innovation Center will help better position independent community pharmacies to be part of and benefit from broader health care changes. Its driving mission is to help independent community pharmacies continue to prosper in step with health care changes rather than being left behind them."
The NCPA Innovation Center board of directors is comprised of many leading community pharmacists and prominent partners of independent community pharmacies. Hoey will serve as chairman of the board and NCPA SVP , strategic initiatives Kurt Proctor, is its president.
"I am excited to be a part of this new initiative from NCPA to help independent community pharmacies thrive in a changing health care environment," commented NCPA Innovation Center board member Mike McBride, VP partner relations at Upsher-Smith Laboratories. "We believe that community pharmacists are uniquely suited to help improve outcomes at lower overall cost because of their strong relationships with patients, and that they will play a critical role in the delivery of tomorrow's health care."
The Innovation Center will develop and execute programs to inform and educate community pharmacists to realize the opportunities in an evolving health care market. In addition, it will demonstrate, research and support new and expanded roles for community pharmacists.
Specifically, this will be accomplished through peer-to-peer exchanges of best practices. The Innovation Center is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, which enables industry partners to make tax-deductible contributions to support the Innovation Center's work.
The current Innovation Center Board of Directors was appointed by the NCPA board of directors and is as follows:
Doug Hoey, NCPA CEO & Innovation Center Board chairman;
Brian Caswell, owner of Wolkar Drug, Baxter Springs, Kan.;
Rex Catton, SVP McKesson;
Jeff Key, president, PioneerRx;
Steve Lawrence, SVP independent sales, Cardinal Health;
Tripp Logan, L & S Pharmacy, Charleston, Mo.;
Mike McBride, VP partner relations at Upsher-Smith Laboratories;
Rob Meriweather, corporate VP sales, H. D. Smith;
Joe Moose, operator Moose Pharmacy, Concord, N.C.;
DeAnn Mullins, owner of Mullins Pharmacy, Lynn Haven, Fla.;
Jimmy Neil, general manager of Pharmacy Lending, Live Oak Bank;
Brian Nightengale, presdient Good Neighbor Pharmacy, AmerisourceBergen; and
Walt Slijepcevich, senior director, pharmacy development, Pfizer.
"We are honored to have a truly all-star cast of board members and NCPA staff to help lead the Innovation Center from its inception," said Proctor. "I want to acknowledge and appreciate their support for this new effort. I look forward to what this body will accomplish to help put independent community pharmacists in an optimal position for the changes occurring in health care today and that surely will follow tomorrow."