Insight Spring 2020

Spring 2020 | 14 Spring 2020 | 15 Customer Spotlight Emily Smith, Sr. Marketing Coordinator Gavin Duley, Pharm.D., grew up in a small southeastern Kansas town and knew he wanted to run an independent pharmacy in a place just like it. He appreciates the more personal connections that rural life can bring but also believes that technology should thrive there. He sees innovation as key to providing the personalized, high-quality care that is the backbone of community pharmacy. “We try to provide a different business model, and I think we’ve been successful,” he said. Gavin graduated from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 2012, working at an independent pharmacy in his hometown and at a hospital in Joplin, MO. He took over Caney Drug three years ago and knew from the beginning that he was looking for a pharmacy management system to support his vision for modern rural pharmacy. Although Caney Drug had long successfully used QS/1’s NRx software, Gavin found the newer SharpRx system appealing when it came time to assume ownership. It fit well with his vision to achieve modern, accessible pharmacy for any community regardless of size or rural location. Caney Drug serves as one of the SharpRx test sites, which are among the first stores to try new releases of enhancements to the software. Gavin said, “Because we see the updates early, there may still be some issues to resolve, but we also get to use the new stuff first and get to help improve Sharp.” Any pharmacy can fill a prescription Gavin stresses that his approach as a pharmacist is quality over quantity, and he believes his business provides patients more complete care than does simple dispensing. Among the services available from Caney Drug are health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose; immunizations; an appointment- based model that allows patients to schedule a convenient time to talk one-on-one with Gavin; delivery within a 15-mile radius; home medical equipment; and wellness classes like smoking cessation. In fact, Gavin’s wife, Ashley, is a fellow University of Kansas School of Pharmacy graduate and a certified diabetes educator. She has plans to open another pharmacy location soon. Personal attention to each customer is important to Gavin – taking time to get to know them and having technology at hand that helps free him to be fully responsive to their questions and concerns. This includes serving the adult children and grandchildren who are often the caregivers and main points of contact for his patients. Gavin views Caney Drug’s current list of services to be a rolling out of ideas that he’ll refine as he evaluates what truly fills his patients’ needs. Among those with the greatest impact so far is the Dispill ® Adherence Program, which combines medication synchronization with pre-packaging of medications by day and time. Gavin said, “Med sync is really a convenience thing for a lot of patients, but for a smaller percentage, it allows us to identify issues sooner. I’ve seen patients become very adherent soon after starting the program, and sometimes they’re even able to come off some of their medications.” Because SharpRx was designed from the outset to simplify medication synchronization, it strengthens Caney Drug’s ability to provide this popular service. Staying accountable to innovation Gavin knows that maintaining forward-thinking patient services in a close-knit rural setting requires his ongoing education and peer support. He is a member of the NCPA, Kansas Pharmacists Association, and CPESN Kansas, where he is a liaison to the The Cutting Edge in Caney, KS quality assurance committee. Caney Drug is also a participant in Flip the Pharmacy , (see related article on Page 10.), which Gavin appreciates for the accountability it provides. He said, “We have to set regular goals and doing that pushes those to front of mind, especially because we have to report on our progress to other people.” Gavin also enjoys the chance to connect with and learn from other pharmacists who share his mindset to remain on the front edge of innovation. Gavin believes it’s incumbent on independent pharmacy to make the most of its inherent dedication to patients, despite deep cuts in reimbursement rates by PBMs. He said, “It’s 2020, and as professionals, we have to make sure we’re using the technology available to us to track patient progress and improve their outcomes.” As always, QS/1 is honored to help rural-community pharmacists like Gavin Duley continue to cut the leading edge in pharmacy.