Teams with medical university to redefine Rx patient experience

WADSWORTH, Ohio — A new partnership formed by Ritzman Pharmacy aims to elevate pharmacy services to provide “whole-person health.”

The Ohio pharmacy chain said Wednesday that it has allied with Pharmacy Innovations LLC, an affiliate of Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), to develop a “pharmacy of the future.”

Taking a holistic approach to health and wellness, the pharmacy model will give patients access to medication management, primary care services, physical therapy and a medical fitness facility, as well as take advantage of the latest health care technology.

According to Ritzman, the model seeks to redefine the pharmacy patient experience by employing a team-based philosophy focusing on the individual’s well-being. The drug chain said it also wanted to build a pharmacy practice that’s more community-oriented and pharmacist-accessible.

“Emerging health care philosophies are increasingly focused on wellness, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to lead in the pharmacy experience,” George Glatcz, chief operating officer of Ritzman Pharmacy, said in a statement. “We believe this pharmacy will serve as a catalyst to advance pharmacy and primary care in the community, and it wouldn’t be possible without our partners at NEOMED.”

NEOMED, a community-based, interprofessional health sciences university, is providing the foundation for the new pharmacy model. The university said its college of pharmacy formed Pharmacy Innovations to leverage interprofessional education, collaborative partnerships and NEOMED’s expertise to improve the health and wellness of urban and rural communities via advanced pharmacist services.

“The pharmacy will serve as an incubator of innovation, bringing elements such as telemedicine and mobile health apps and devices, to our pharmacy that are not commonly seen,” stated Charles Taylor, Pharm.D., dean of NEOMED College of Pharmacy and president of Pharmacy Innovations. “It will be an extraordinary model for educating pharmacy students.”

Plans call for the model pharmacy to open in January 2016. It will be located in the NEOMED Education and Wellness Center (NEW Center).

“By building a place that allows our patients and customers to better adhere to their prescriptions and have access to services that promote better health outcomes,” Taylor added, “we’re furthering our mission with the help of a trusted community pillar in Ritzman Pharmacy.”

Eric Graf, chief executive officer of Ritzman Pharmacy, noted that the new model will make the pharmacist more prominent and facilitate interaction with patients.

“This will be a pharmacy of the future,” Graf commented. “We are using this model in all of our pharmacy practices, where the pharmacist will be front and center, contributing to more engaged and impactful patient-centered care.”

Ritzman Pharmacy operates 25 pharmacies in Ohio, including 11 locations inside Buehler’s Fresh Food supermarkets and one inside an IGA grocery store.