As the pharmacy industry becomes more commoditized, independent pharmacies need to find ways to set their businesses apart.
For Ritzman Pharmacy, a family-owned and operated regional pharmacy chain in Northeastern Ohio, this means expanding the role of pharmacists as healthcare providers.
“Our healthcare landscape and patients’ needs are changing and pharmacists are no longer simply dispensing medication,” John Dimmick, a pharmacist with Ritzman Pharmacy, said in a Sept. 29 press release. “Our pharmacists are also providing important wellness and healthcare services through innovative programs and services across our practice settings.”
The pharmacy first created its Ritzman Revives program to help patients “revive” their health through a series of health and wellness workshops.
Now, Ritzman Pharmacy has expanded the program to include free comprehensive wellness assessments, known as Wellness Rx, and other tools to help patients improve their overall wellness.
“Our purpose is to help people get, stay and live well…to transform them and the role community pharmacy plays in healthcare,” Dimmick said.
How the pharmacy improves wellness
The Wellness Rx program allows patients to receive a free comprehensive wellness assessment at certain Ritzman Pharmacy locations.
During the assessment, the pharmacist reviews the patient’s current health habits and determines certain markers of wellness.
The wellness assessment includes:
- Blood glucose
- Blood pressure
- Energy
- Heart rate
- Hydration
- Weight, including BMI and BMR
The pharmacist-conducted assessment helps patients identify what changes they need to make to their nutrition, exercise and supplement plans to reach their wellness goals.
“In our practices, pharmacists frequently field questions from patients about ways they can boost their energy levels or for help in achieving their wellness goals,” Beth Husted, general manager of pharmacy services at Ritzman Pharmacy, said in the press release. “As part of our mission, this program will individually educate patients on better wellness choices.”
Going above and beyond for patients
Beyond the wellness workshops and free comprehensive wellness assessments, Ritzman Pharmacy offers additional tools to help patients improve their wellness.
Other wellness services include:
- Fee-based Wellness Rx: Advisors and coaches help patients as needed throughout their wellness journey.
- Technology Bar: Patients can get help understanding how to use common electronic wellness devices and apps.
- RefreshinQ Quotient: A blood-based analysis determines a patient’s biomarkers, which a pharmacist then uses to create a customized nutrition, exercise and supplement plan.
Through its entire Ritzman Revives program, Ritzman Pharmacy continues to re-energize communities and improve patient health.
Learn more at ritzmanrx.com/revives.
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