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CACDS Announces Interim CEO
Ian McKinnon to direct Association in coming months

The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) has announced the appointment of Ian McKinnon to the position of interim Chief Executive Officer. 
 
During his 30 years of domestic and international business experience, Mr. McKinnon held successive senior positions with Digital Equipment Corporation and was the CEO for a number of Toronto-based software companies.  For the last 5 years he has provided consulting advice to companies on key functional initiatives such as board governance, business planning, and the development of high performance leadership teams.
 
Located in Toronto, Mr. McKinnon will, on behalf of the CACDS Board and member organizations, lead in planning and executing a number of the association’s critical initiatives.  He will also participate in meetings with provincial and federal governments, pharmacy organizations, industry partners and stakeholders.

Mr. McKinnon’s six month appointment will provide a leadership bridge while the association seeks a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

About CACDS
CACDS is the national association representing community pharmacy in Canada.  The retail members of CACDS operate over 6,000 traditional chain and banner drug stores, and grocery and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.  Associate members include all categories of product and service suppliers to the pharmacy sector.

CACDS provides its members with a wide range of services, including authoritative research and discussion forums on industry trends, as well as representation of industry viewpoints to governments, and stakeholders — all in the interest of enhancing the value of community pharmacy to consumers.  Visit online at www.cacds.com.

Canadians Turning to Pharmacies for More Health Care
Survey Highlights Pharmacy as a Significant Health-care Resource

With Pharmacy Awareness Week  kicking off, a new Nielsen survey commissioned by the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) highlights that patients from coast to coast are tapping into the health-care knowledge, expertise and services available at their local pharmacy.  In fact, 72% of almost 6,000 respondents indicated that they have talked to their pharmacist about health issues, beyond their prescribed medication. 

“Pharmacists are highly trained health-care professionals whose expertise is still under-utilized by our health-care system in Canada, and indeed around the world.  That's all starting to change," explains Nadine Saby, CACDS President and Chief Executive Officer. "Governments recognize the valuable role pharmacy plays in ensuring patients get the right medication and are able to take it correctly.  Now, by enabling and providing funding for new services like medication reviews, injections and immunizations, and prescription renewals without a doctor’s visit, patients are reaping the benefits in more convenient and timely access to professional health advice and guidance,” says Saby. 

It’s no longer enough for a pharmacy to be a place where medication and advice are dispensed — 96% of respondents surveyed believe that it’s important for their pharmacist to play an increased role and work closely with their doctor to optimize care.

What Canadians Are Talking to Pharmacists About
Of the 72% of survey respondents who said that they have talked to a pharmacist about one or more health-care issues other than filling a prescription, the most common subject was the treatment of minor ailments (41%) — like mild burns or insect bites.  Advice on vitamins and supplements (26%) and dealing with adverse medication reactions (24%) were also commonly discussed. 

Regionally, in Atlantic Canada — where Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick  have the nation’s  lowest per capita ratio of family physicians — patients are the most likely to turn to their pharmacist for advice on minor ailments (47%).  Quebec patients lead the way in seeking information on adverse medication reactions (33%).  

When it comes to managing diabetes, Canadians say they are taking some advantage of their pharmacy as an authoritative, accessible and convenient source of care.  However, given the known burden of diabetes on patients, their families, the health-care system and the Canadian economy overall, it is surprising that only nine percent of respondents reported talking to their pharmacist about managing the disease. 

Considerations When Choosing a Pharmacy
What are the most important considerations for Canadians when choosing a pharmacy? Pointing once again to the expectation among consumers that pharmacy should play a more integral part in their health care, the most common consideration for choosing a pharmacy is ‘trust in the pharmacy staff’s knowledge and advice’ (48%).  Location (42%) - being conveniently able to access quality care - was the second most common reason cited.
   
The top five considerations for Canadians choosing a pharmacy are:

1.    Trust in the pharmacy staff’s knowledge/advice – 48%
2.    Location (convenience) – 42%
3.    Pharmacist accessibility – 32%
4.    Quick service  (i.e. short wait time to fill prescriptions) – 30%
5.    Pharmacy services offered (i.e. medication counselling, blood pressure monitoring) – 17%

Canadians Reporting Effect of Drug Shortages
More than 30% of respondents reported that they have been affected by drug supply shortages, often more than once, during the past year.

On the frontline of this issue, pharmacists for the most part are finding ways to minimize the impact on patients.  Among respondents whose households have been affected by drug shortages, 54% say that their pharmacist was able to source their prescribed medication from another outlet at least once, and 35% said that at least once their pharmacist was able to provide them with an alternative drug — which in most provinces requires prescriber consent.

33% of those who had an issue with drug shortages also reported that, at least once, they were not able to fill a prescription or find an alternative therapy. 

“Pharmacists are going above and beyond to help manage drug supply issues and minimize their effect on patients. In fact, a study conducted by the Canadian Pharmacists Association in October 2010 estimates that, on average, individual pharmacists are spending 30 minutes per shift dealing with this problem,” says pharmacist Sandra Aylward, Chair of the CACDS Board of Directors  and Vice President of Professional and Regulatory Affairs with Sobeys Pharmacy Group.  “It’s both alarming and unfortunate that in spite of all of the work of pharmacists across the country, that the problem of drug shortages is not getting any better and is impacting so many Canadians.”
 
About the CACDS Survey
Results are based on 5,878 Canadian household respondents to a Nielsen PanelViews online survey. The survey was conducted from February 6-26, 2012 using a national sample, balanced by region and demographics using Canadian census data to be statistically representative.

About CACDS
CACDS is the national association representing community pharmacy in Canada. The retail members of CACDS operate almost 6,000 traditional chain and banner drug stores, and grocery and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.   Associate members include all categories of product and service suppliers to the pharmacy sector.

CACDS provides its members with a wide range of services, including authoritative research and discussion forums on industry trends, and representation of industry viewpoints to governments — all in the interest of enhancing the value of community pharmacy to consumers.  Visit CACDS online at www.cacds.com.

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For more information or to schedule an interview with a CACDS spokesperson to discuss the survey results and pharmacy services in Canada, contact:

Sara Feldman
CACDS Director, Communications
Tel:  416-226-9100 ext 225
Email: sfeldman@cacds.com

Adam Sanders
CACDS Communications Specialist
Tel: 416-226-9100 x 222
Cell: 647-465-7596
Email: asanders@cacds.com

Don’t Miss the CACDS Canadian Drugstore Conference
Capitalizing On Change
Speakers Richard Florida, Patrick Rodmell and Shakeel Bharmal

On October 26, 2011 at the BMO Centre for Learning, CACDS will host the Canadian Drugstore Conference bringing together community pharmacy executives and their trading partners. This one-day conference will focus on taking best advantage of changes in the sector that have altered both the business and practice of pharmacy.

“The community pharmacy business model has changed so quickly and so dramatically that continuing to deliver high value patient services in a sustainable manner is a definite challenge,” explains CACDS President and CEO, Nadine Saby. “During the Canadian Drugstore Conference, retailers and suppliers representing both the dispensary and front shop will hear from inspiring and thought-provoking speakers and industry experts, ideas for working together in different ways to create and sustain value in the midst of major changes and economic challenges.”

Titled Capitalizing on Change, this conference will feature a trio of high impact speakers:

• Richard Florida, Senior Editor of The Atlantic and Professor at the Rotman School of Management, delivering a presentation entitled The Creative Corporation;
• Patrick Rodmell, President and CEO, Watt International, speaking on The Future of Retail – Part II; and
• Shakeel Bharmal, Canadian President of The Summit Group, providing tangible advice on Collaborative Innovation for Customer Value Creation.

Rounding out the conference schedule will be a variety of networking opportunities and a special Drugstore Marketplace session during which the results of the 2011 Community Pharmacy Report will be premiered by Rogers Healthcare Group, and IMS Brogan and the Nielsen Company will provide industry sector trends and insights.

Date, Location and Registration
The Canadian Drugstore Conference will take place:

October 26, 2011
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
The BMO Centre for Learning
3550 Pharmacy Avenue
Toronto, Ontario  M1W 3Z3

Registration is open exclusively to CACDS retail and associate member companies and invited guests from stakeholder organizations. 

For complete event information and to register please visit: http://www.cacds.com/en/conferences/cdndrugstore.htm.


About CACDS
CACDS is the national association that represents the community pharmacy industry in Canada. The retail members of CACDS are traditional chain and banner drug stores, and grocery and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.  CACDS retail members operate 6,200 pharmacies that dispense 70 per cent of the nation's prescriptions annually. Associate members include all manner of product and service suppliers in the Canadian drugstore industry.

CACDS provides its members with a wide range of services, including authoritative research and discussion forums on industry trends, representation of industry viewpoints to governments, stakeholders and the public and co-operative initiatives with related industry sectors - all in the interest of enhancing the value of community pharmacy to consumers.  Visit online at www.cacds.com.

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For further information, please contact:
Heather Tyrrell
CACDS Director Membership and Trade Issues
Tel: (416) 226-9100 ext. 218
htyrrell@cacds.com

Media Release
October 6, 2010

Infoway report underscores value of e-health momentum

Toronto - The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores welcomes Canada Health Infoway's National Impacts of Generation 2 Drug Information Systems Report. The report describes patient care improvements and health system benefits being realized through electronic drug information systems (DIS), and highlights the future value potential that will accompany broader adoption of the technology.

"We are pleased to see the evidence of the positive impact of Generation 2 DIS in Infoway's Report," said Nadine Saby, President and Chief Executive Officer, CACDS. "We hope the report will serve to bolster the momentum behind the development and adoption of harmonized DIS systems across the country."

The study measured realized benefits in terms of quality, access and productivity from Generation 2 DIS systems deployed in Canada as of March, 2010, with particular emphasis on patient safety. In jurisdictions that have a DIS initiative, CACDS and its members have collaborated and advocated extensively to ensure the development of harmonized, interoperable systems.

"While benefits are already accruing from Gen 2 DIS as outlined in this report, the full benefits of DIS evolve over time as adoption, functionality and integration grows. We anticipate the Generation 3 DIS, the next phase, will deliver even greater patient care and health system benefits by accelerating the implementation of e-prescribing," said Saby.

While gains in patient safety, through reduced adverse drug events and misuse of medicines, are seen earlier in DIS implementation, gains in productivity, improved drug cost management and patient compliance occur later in DIS system maturity, according to the data.

"The development and introduction of new electronic health systems presents a particularly prickly problem for busy community pharmacies, because the introduction of DIS initially decreases productivity, and typically for a period of 12-18 months," said Saby. "Data from DIS projects show that it isn't until years five to 15 of system maturity that meaningful pharmacy productivity gains will be realized."

"Certainly it's recognized that these things take time, money and a single-minded focus to get them done right in the first instance. CACDS members, who view DIS as an enabler to delivering a higher level of professional pharmacy services, are committed to the successful adoption of harmonized systems," Saby concluded.

CACDS is the national association that represents community pharmacies in Canada. The Retail Members of CACDS are traditional chain and banner drug stores, and grocery chains and mass merchandisers with pharmacies. Together, CACDS members operate almost 6,500 pharmacies that dispense almost 80 per cent of the nation's prescriptions each year. The Associate Members of CACDS represent all supply categories and services in the retail pharmacy industry, including pharmaceuticals, health and wellness products, self-care medications and other consumer products.

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Contact:Sara Feldman
Director, Communications
CACDS
(416) 226-9100 ext 225
(416) 818-4400
sfeldman@cacds.com

Drug Information Systems to generate $436 million in benefits in 2010

New report cites improved patient safety, productivity gains, and health system savings

October 6, 2010 (Toronto, ON) - Canada's investments in drug information systems (DIS) will generate $436 million in cost savings and efficiencies in 2010, announced Richard Alvarez, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway (Infoway). The findings are outlined in an independent study commissioned by Infoway, released today.

Drug information systems are part of an electronic health record. Authorized pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other care providers can use them to securely view a patient's medications. They also help health care providers to obtain a full and accurate medication history and to catch potential drug interactions before they harm patients. By early 2010, about one in three community pharmacists in Canada used DIS. So did half of hospital emergency departments. Some doctors also used e-prescribing to send or print prescriptions for their patients. Some of the gains identified in the study come from these early adopters.

"Drug Information Systems in place today are already generating significant value across Canada, and that value will increase as adoption of the technology increases," said Alvarez. "Through access to a comprehensive patient medication profile, DIS enable health care providers to improve care for patients and to save time."

The study found that drug information systems generated patient care benefits and productivity gains valued at $436 million in 2010. These include:

• Increased medication compliance: In a national survey conducted for the study, pharmacists said that DIS helped them to work with patients so that medications were more likely to be taken as prescribed (valued at 21% of total benefits).
• Reduced adverse drug events: Fewer drug interactions and other problems means better quality of care. This helps patients and saved health care costs, accounting for 20% of the overall financial benefit from current use of DIS in Canada.
• Reduced medication abuse (16%).
• Increased pharmacist and prescriber productivity (32%), e.g. because pharmacists had to call doctors and other prescribers less often to check prescriptions
• Improved drug cost management (10%).

"Pharmacists are seeing technology and their drug therapy expertise working in concert to transform the delivery of patient care," stated Ruth Ackerman, President of the Canadian Pharmacists Association. "By providing health care professionals with the information they need to support their clinical decisions, Drug Information Systems are improving medication safety and effectiveness."

The findings are outlined in the National Impact of Generation 2 Drug Information Systems Report. The study drew on a national survey of pharmacists, information from provincial DIS implementations, interviews with health care leaders, a comprehensive scan of related research studies from Canada and other countries, and economic statistics. An independent panel of experts reviewed and validated the results. Stronger improvements in productivity and in medication compliance were reported in provinces with more established DIS.

In the national survey, pharmacists rated improved access to patient information, increased patient safety, and reductions in fraudulent medication use as the top benefits from a drug information system. More than 9 in 10 of those who responded reported that patient, physician, and pharmacist/pharmacy technician satisfaction had improved since implementing a DIS. In addition, about 7 in 10 pharmacists said that DIS had improved their ability to detect and prevent fraudulent medication use. Many also indicated that DIS support pharmacists in undertaking clinical roles, such as checking to make sure that patients who move from one point of care to another (e.g. hospital to home) have the right medications or helping patients with chronic disease to manage their condition.

"When health providers have access to the right information at the right time, quality of care and efficiency improves, " said Alvarez. "We expect these benefits to grow over time as more of Canada's clinicians begin to use increasingly advanced drug information systems to help them care for patients."

Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health record projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.

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For more information:
Dan Strasbourg
Director, Media Relations
Canada Health Infoway
(416) 595-3424
dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca