Meeting Preview: McKesson ideaShare 2024

Pharmacists around the country are preparing to head south from June 23 to 26, 2024, for McKesson ideaShare, the nation’s premier community pharmacy event. Taking place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, independent pharmacists will have a chance to earn up to 11 continuing education credits while experiencing over 35 hours of content and connections, over 150 exhibitors, and 3 general sessions designed to engage, motivate and inspire.

With sessions running the gamut of insightful topics in pharmacy, attendees will have the chance to experience roundtable discussions, participate in networking events, and learn from industry experts and their peers. In fact, McKesson will be joined by leaders from top industry partners like NCPA, APhA, and NASPA for a panel discussion about advocacy. Attendees will also have a chance to meet the 3 finalists for Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year and cast their vote for who will be awarded the title.

New Orleans city skyline | image credit: CrackerClips / stock.adobe.com

Session Previews: What To Look Forward To

Women in Pharmacy Reception

Sunday, June 23, 2024; 7:15-7:45 PM

Owner of Palms Pharmacy in Tampa Florida, Dr. Shahida Choudhry joins McKesson’s RxOwnership Vice President for the Northeast region, Kacey Glinka to discuss Shahida’s journey in pharmacy ownership navigating a rewarding career in community pharmacies in Northern California and Florida. Shahida shares innovative ways her and her team have implemented additional clinical services and alternative streams of revenue to continue to grow and thrive in today’s challenging environment. She shares her perspective on being a woman in pharmacy and her thoughts on the importance of networking, ownership, leadership, and work-life balance.

Why Word of Mouth Shouldn’t Be Your Only Marketing Tool

Monday, June 24, 2024; 4:00-4:30 PM

In this installment of McKesson ideaShare’s Pharma Talk series is a short presentation about maximizing marketing efforts within the pharmacy. Word of mouth advertising can be very effective, but it’s not always consistent. Learn how to boost referral marketing efforts to ensure delivering a consistent and memorable message to a specified target audience.

Peace and Pharmony: How to Recruit, Retain, and Foster Growth of Team Members

Tuesday, June 25, 2024; 9:15-10:15 AM

On Tuesday morning, Sandie Kueker, RPh, owner of Hesston Pharmacy and Harvey Drug, will lead a Continuing Education (CE) discussion on the single most important aspect of pharmacy operability: the team members. From the beginning processes of hiring new employees to seeing them grow in the long-term, this presentation focuses on recruiting, retaining, and nurturing pharmacy team members.

Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year

Health Mart, which is part of McKesson, is a network of high-performing independent pharmacies, with more than 4,500 community pharmacies across the nation. Health Mart provides tools and resources to help community pharmacies grow their business – from improving marketing, expanding services for more revenue, or monitoring payer and financial performance.. Every year at McKesson ideaShare, attendees have the opportunity to vote between 3 finalists for the annual Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. With nominees spanning across the country, the winning pharmacy will be a finalist that exemplifies best-in-class clinical practices, community leadership, independent pharmacy advocacy, and excellent financial performance. The winner will be named at the final night party of this year’s meeting. Read on to learn more about the 2024 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year nominees.

Creswell Pharmacy

A Health Mart Pharmacy since 2017, this Pacific Northwest pharmacy is owned by the duo of Brian Marr, RPh, and Jeannie Marr, CPhT. Creswell Pharmacy, located in Creswell, Oregon, saw a significant spike in customer retention when it utilized prescription transfers to advertise its operations after a nearby regional chain closed.

From advocacy for state PBM regulation to free retirement home medication deliveries, the owners of Creswell have a knack for maximizing profits while also keeping their community in mind. “We strive to be a part of our community and not just be an occupant of it,” said Jeannie.

Dreier Pharmacy

Family owned and operated for over 50 years, Dreier Pharmacy in Shawano, Wisconsin, is run by a 3-person team consisting of owners Tim Dreier, RPh, Jessica Dreier-Huntington, RPh, and Jana Dreier. A Health Mart Pharmacy since 2007, one of its continued missions is growing the future of pharmacists, with children of Dreier Pharmacy veterans attending pharmacy school right now. Furthermore, Dreier is affiliated with Concordia Pharmacy School and the Medical College of Wisconsin, helping the local youth find their way in the pharmacy industry.

“Our pharmacy specializes in serving Shawano and the surrounding communities with fast, friendly, professional service and the highest-quality medicines and health products. You’ll always work with somebody at our pharmacy who greets you by name,” according to Dreier Pharmacy.

Hayden Pharmacy

A Health Mart Pharmacy since 2008, and the third and final nominee for 2024 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year is Hayden Pharmacy. According to Jennifer Metcalf, RPh, owner of Hayden Pharmacy, “in 2023, we were able to reduce inventory by over $30,000 and were able to maintain it. We started using a new inventory management system to keep turns up and on-hand inventory down.”

Inventory management isn’t the only successful operation at Hayden Pharmacy in Hayden, Alabama. The pharmacy regularly finds opportunities to serve its community through employee wellness screenings for its local school district and state employees, regularly donating Narcan to the local police department and serving as a Recovery Resource Center drop-off location.

Beginning June 23, check back for our full coverage of McKesson ideaShare 2024.