AmerisourceBergen adds tools for Good Neighbor network

LAS VEGAS — Over the weekend AmerisourceBergen Corp. wrapped up its annual ThoughtSpot trade show, where it introduced new programs to help members of its Good Neighbor Pharmacy network drive their businesses.

At ThoughtSpot 2016, AmerisourceBergen said it’s developing a specialty at retail program to help member pharmacies better serve patient needs and diversify revenue streams. Through the program, Good Neighbor independent pharmacies will be able to focus more on patient care instead of spending time and resources navigating administrative tasks, the company said.

The fast-growing specialty drug arena is a natural opportunity for community pharmacies to provide personalized patient care in complex therapies, yet these medications often can be challenging for independent pharmacies to operationalize economically, according to AmerisourceBergen.

The distributor said it also has redesigned the generic drug buying experience to deliver competitive prices up front and serve pharmacists differently based on the way that they want to buy.

For the front of the store, Good Neighbor offers members a broad menu of services to spur front-end sales, including access to business coaching, manufacturer promotions, point-of-sale data and reporting tools, and Retail Remedy, a monthly publication with news, tips and product specials focused on retail strategies.

AmerisourceBergen reported that at ThoughtSpot 2016 many pharmacists took part in a daylong, front-end profit-building seminar presented by the National Community Pharmacists Association. Sponsored by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, the session marked the launch a new five-year partnership to provide similar learning opportunities in convenient settings for pharmacists.

Also to help support independent pharmacies, AmerisourceBergen has launched OurIndependentVoice.com, a new website that gives pharmacists a central place to access tools and resources to join advocacy movements that affect care in the community setting, research policies impacting independent pharmacy, access letter templates and write to legislators, and connect with other pharmacists and pharmacy organizations.

“At AmerisourceBergen, we are championing the independent pharmacist,” Good Neighbor Pharmacy Brian Nightengale told ThoughtSpot 2016 attendees. “Whether it is hearing feedback from our customers about how to improve their buying experience or delivering new solutions to enhance business profitability and patient care, we are fully committed to supporting the success of independently owned community pharmacies.”

Another new feature at ThoughtSpot this year was the Innovation & Technology Showcase. Among the showcase’s highlights were ABC Order, a new ordering platform that AmerisourceBergen described as “developed with pharmacists for pharmacists.” The platform, due out next year, fits within the pharmacy workflow for effortless ordering, smarter inventory control, quicker access to data and simple issues resolution, the company said.

The Innovation & Technology Showcase, too, spotlighted best practices for medication therapy management programs to manage adherence and patient communications and work with Medicare, as well as how partners of Elevate Provider Network — AmerisourceBergen’s pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO) — leverage technology solutions to support reimbursement discussions with payers and improve MTM, adherence and reimbursement.