KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Tim Mitchell of Mitchell’s Drug Stores, based in Neosho, Mo., was presented with the 2022 NCPA Innovation Center Outstanding Adherence Practitioner Award in recognition of his commitment to improving medication adherence. The award is sponsored by RxSafe and was presented as part of the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Annual Convention, which was held Oct. 1-4.
“Adherence can be highly personal for many patients, but engaging with them and helping them manage their medications is critical,” said NCPA President Michele Belcher, owner of Grants Pass Pharmacy in Grants Pass, Ore. “Working together, Tim and the Mitchell’s Drug Stores staff are proactively putting in place programs that will improve health outcomes. I’m happy to recognize them for revamping their adherence strategies and applaud Tim for his leadership.”
Mitchell and his team overhauled their previously underperforming medication adherence programs to increase efficiency for the pharmacy and its patients alike. They successfully implemented compliance packaging to organize patients’ various medications based on prescribed directions. They also put in place a medication synchronization program which allows patients to pick up all ongoing prescription refills at the pharmacy on a single, convenient day each month and work closely with the pharmacist on sticking to their medication regimen.
In addition to streamlining the process for patients, these overhauls have also saved pharmacy resources and created more time for enhanced clinical initiatives like disease management or diabetes education. Mitchell’s Drug Stores’ compliance packaging program has 200 patients enrolled and another 400 in the medication synchronization program. They aim to grow the packaging program by 100 by the end of the year and have an overall adherence goal of 65 percent of patients.
“I’m so happy to once again join the NCPA Innovation Center in sponsoring the Outstanding Adherence Practitioner Award,” said RxSafe Founder and CEO, William Holmes. “Tim Mitchell and his team have implemented a compliance packaging and medication synchronization program at Mitchell’s Drug Stores that serves as a great example of how improving adherence can transform community pharmacy. This type of service offering truly empowers patients to become proactive partners in improving health outcomes.”
The winner of the NCPA Innovation Center Outstanding Adherence Practitioner Award receives an engraved commemorative plaque and complimentary registration, accommodation, and travel to the NCPA Annual Convention. Additionally, a donation of $1,000 will be made to a school or college of pharmacy of the award recipient’s choice. At Mitchell’s request, NCPA will be donating to his alma mater, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy.
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Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 19,400 pharmacies that employ nearly 240,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America’s most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
