Dear Colleague,
During some of the darkest parts of the pandemic, actor John Krasinski ("The Office" among his acting and directing accomplishments) launched the digital series "Some Good News" to break up the bleakness some felt. Almost 40 years ago, singer Anne Murray released her self-explanatory song, "A Little Good News." Good news? How novel.
There's no shortage of bad news to talk about. Ukrainians fight for their lives. Russian citizens have the wool pulled over their eyes. Will Smith goes berserk at the Oscars, then cries. Inflation continues to rise. COVID-19 funding goes dry. PBMs continue to lie.
But despite plenty of bad news to choose from, I want to focus on a little good news today. The NCPA Innovation Center's NICE Awards were announced recently. They showcase the creativity and resiliency of independent pharmacy owners. It's fun to see.
Amina Abubaker in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the leading innovators in all of pharmacy so its no surprise that she would be a recipient of a NICE award. In her case, it was for the Best Internal Modification.
Abubaker purchased a closed 11,500 square-foot ft Rite-Aid building. It was more space than she needed so she subdivided it into Avant Pharmacy and Wellness Center and physician offices. The pharmacy has the feel of a high-end spa. And, no wonder, because the pharmacy's wellness program and IV hydration room rivals even the poshest spa.
In Tomahawk, Wis., Tyler and Kaci Stevenson, owners of Tomahawk Pharmacy, created their own line of probiotic supplements and won the NICE award for Best Marketing Promotion. Probiotic supplements? Don't tons of retail stores sell them? Perhaps, but the Tomahawk Pharmacy team identified a need to convey that probiotics aren't just for adult guts. Add some plush animals to further get the idea across and presto! "The Good Bugs" were born to educate consumers both young and old about probiotic benefits.
Probiotics promoting immune health—especially during a pandemic—were appreciated by the community. "It was really helpful to our community. They were coming in and checking it out ... and figuring what else we could do for them."
There are other NICE award winners and all of them are well-deserving of recognition for how they serve their communities. Be sure to read each of their stories.
We all could use a little good news today. And, perhaps, the Best Community Engagement NICE award winner is the finest way to exemplify that. Last August, flash flooding in western middle Tennessee killed 20 people and left 500 families without a home. Jay Phipps, owner of Phipps Pharmacy, sprang into action. He and his pharmacy team provided medicine, water, and even a cool breeze to the many without electricity, courtesy of the pharmacy's external generator. "I'm proud of our staff and the pharmacy profession," said Phipps. "Giving of yourself to help others and give them hope. That's what it's all about." Thanks, Jay. We needed that.
Best,
B. Douglas Hoey, Pharmacist, MBA
NCPA CEO
