WOONSOCKET, R.I., Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of
October's American Pharmacists Month, CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) is
celebrating the important role its nearly 30,000 pharmacists play
in helping people on their path to better health. The company's
pharmacists are helping to change the way health care is delivered
by increasing access, lowering costs and improving care quality in
the company's retail, mail service and specialty pharmacies across
the country.
"Whether providing face-to-face consultations at the pharmacy
counter or helping patients with complex conditions manage their
specialty medications by phone, our pharmacists are truly the front
line of health care," said Larry
Merlo, President and CEO, CVS Health. "Our pharmacists are
not only trusted resources for patients, but are also key players
in the evolution of CVS Health, delivering innovative products and
services and enabling our patients and clients to manage health in
more effective and affordable ways."
Beyond simply filling prescriptions, CVS Health pharmacists are
helping the company's patients manage their health care through a
number of programs and services.
- As medication experts within the broader health care team, CVS
Health pharmacists are helping identify potential barriers to
medication adherence and offering solutions to help encourage
patients to stay adherent. Pharmacists also educate patients about
potential side effects and drug interactions and help identify
potential gaps in care for those with complex medical
conditions.
- CVS Pharmacy and CVS Specialty pharmacists are working together
to provide patients choice and flexibility in how they access their
specialty medications and receive expert clinical support through
the Specialty Connect program. The partnership gives patients the
option to bring their specialty prescriptions to any CVS Pharmacy,
while still receiving insurance guidance and dedicated clinical
support by phone from a team of specialty pharmacy experts at CVS
Specialty.
- Pharmacists are providing convenient and accessible access to
flu shots and other vaccinations at every CVS Pharmacy location
nationwide seven days a week with no appointment needed, including
evenings and weekends.
- CVS pharmacists are helping patients understand their
prescription insurance coverage options under Medicare Part D and
the Affordable Care Act during open enrollment, which begins on
October 15 and November 1, respectively.
- CVS pharmacists are working to reduce prescription drug abuse
through the company's Pharmacists Teach program. This
community outreach program connects pharmacists with high school
health classes to share vital information about the dangers of
improper drug use. CVS pharmacists have already delivered this
program to more than 100,000 students across the country.
In 2016, CVS Health welcomed nearly 6,000 pharmacists from
Target to the company. Noted Merlo, "These new colleagues bring a
wealth of health care knowledge and expertise to our team and are
spearheading our efforts to introduce Target guests to our suite of
pharmacy care services and innovative digital pharmacy tools."
In addition, CVS Health will celebrate National Pharmacy
Technician Day on October 18 to
recognize the company's more than 50,000 pharmacy technicians for
the valued support they provide to CVS pharmacists and pharmacy
teams across the organization.
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping
people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600
retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a
leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan
members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more
than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty
pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and
communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways.
This unique integrated model increases access to quality care,
delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care
costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the
future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Lanctot
(401) 770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health