ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has entered a five-year agreement with digital health provider RxWiki Inc.

NCPA said Tuesday that the pact extends an existing agreement with RxWiki and secures the association members’ benefits through 2021.

RxWiki’s Pharmacist Portal

With the extension, NCPA member pharmacies such benefits as an annual digital health check; a royalty-free license to RxWiki’s pharmacist-written and verified content; a newsfeed to power pharmacy social media or email marketing programs; and exclusive, member-only rates on RxWiki’s Digital Pharmacist platform.

A cloud-based solutions suite, RxWiki’s Digital Pharmacist gives community pharmacies access to branded websites, e-newsletters and mobile apps with HIPAA-compliant prescription refill tools, appointment scheduling, refill and medication reminders, patient messaging capabilities and patient reviews.

“With more and more patients seeking health care solutions online, it is critical for independent community pharmacies to have a solid digital presence and rethink how they communicate with patients,” NCPA chief executive officer B. Douglas Hoey said in a statement. “That’s why we are proud to continue our work with RxWiki to help community pharmacies strengthen their digital presence and offer convenient patient services like a refill app.”

RxWiki currently operates digital solutions for 1,400 pharmacy brands. “This new agreement secures our member benefits and places greater emphasis on training and education for community pharmacy owners, managers and staff,” according to Hoey.

NCPA first began offering RxWiki’s Digital Pharmacist solutions to its roughly 22,000 community pharmacy members in 2013 as a way to help them transition their businesses in to the digital realm.

“We are delighted to work with NCPA and have the opportunity to help community pharmacists stay connected with their patients in new and innovative ways,” stated Chris Loughlin, CEO of Austin, Texas-based RxWiki. “Every day, hundreds of thousands of patients are engaging with their community pharmacy via the mobile apps, websites, e-newsletters and social media programs we develop. Our new products, such as adherence alerts and patient reviews, are driving adherence and giving pharmacists valuable patient feedback.”

In a survey of community pharmacies this summer, RxWiki found that 65% use social media, with 63% using Facebook and 24% using Twitter. More than 68% of pharmacists said they think social media has a positive impact on their business by helping them connect with their patients, provide patients health news and drive visits to their store. And besides posting content, 23% of pharmacists said they  advertise on social media, namely via Facebook.