Where Prescriptions Meet Prevention – Transforming Your Bottom Line with Integrated Pharmacy and Primary Care

Long lines, unexpected closures, and skyrocketing drug prices – challenges across the retail pharmacy space are making it difficult for employers to reach their goal of delivering the best value to their employees and dependents without breaking the bank.

What do we mean when we talk about value in the context of pharmacy? At Premise Health, we believe a valuable pharmacy strategy is built on three pillars: quality, service, and cost.

The Pharmacy Value Equation

• Quality: Getting patients the right medications for their conditions, and the personalized clinical support to make sure that they know how to take prescriptions properly to feel the best they can, as fast as they can.
• Service: A satisfying pharmacy experience that’s convenient for patients, while giving them access to clinical help for their medication questions.
• Cost: The affordability of medications, making them accessible for patients with chronic conditions that are at risk of costly hospital visits.

It’s part of the bigger picture for organizations. The money organizations invest in pharmacy services for their workforces results in improved health, better experiences than are possible at community pharmacies, and lower total cost of healthcare for employers.

And when pharmacy and primary care are integrated with each other as part of a larger healthcare strategy, that value increases exponentially.

Integration with Primary Care

Combining primary care and pharmacy allows both primary care providers (PCPs) and pharmacists to work as a team that ensures members are getting the treatment they need – from prevention and checkups to medication adherence and administration.

For example, if someone has an infection, their PCP and pharmacist can work together to prescribe the right medicine, explain how to take it, and make sure the person finishes the whole course of medicine so the infection doesn’t get worse.

But it goes beyond acute illnesses, too. By leveraging pharmacist’s clinical expertise on the care team, they can also help members to manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Here’s how it works:

Value in Action

One Premise client caters to their slightly older member demographic by offering both pharmacy and primary care services at their onsite wellness center.

With a focus on enhancing the overall experience for their members, this organization has created a dedicated and convenient location that allows individuals to bypass the long lines and wait times common at community healthcare providers. As a result, they have achieved a remarkable average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 95, reflecting the seamless and satisfactory service they provide.

As populations get older, the likelihood of managing costly chronic conditions increases. However, thanks to the high-quality care available to members, the organization has seen a significant improvement in testing adherence and the management of chronic conditions. This has resulted in fewer trips to the emergency room and a decline in inpatient admissions year over year.

Moreover, by prioritizing accessibility and personalized care, the organization has collectively saved $1,600 per member annually while also reducing the overall impact and downstream costs of various conditions within their population.

That’s the value equation at work.

Pharmacy as Part of Advanced Primary Care

At Premise, our advanced primary care approach goes beyond others in the market because we see pharmacy as a crucial component of next-generation care.

In a traditional primary care setting, members receive their diagnosis, get their prescription, and are left on their own to determine the next best steps for their care. Having access to advanced primary care means that from the moment they walk into the wellness center, members have the backing of a whole care team – their PCP, pharmacist, care manager, licensed behavioral counselor, and more – to ensure they’re on track with their health and to course-correct if they aren’t.

It’s an accessible, informed, and holistic approach that fills the gaps in traditional care models, and helps employers solve for and prevent costly conditions amongst their population.

Set Your People Up for Better Health

When primary care and pharmacy combine, the value goes beyond eliminating long waits at the counter. This super-powered pairing can reduce costly community visits, improve chronic conditions, and reduce bottom-line spend for employers and their people. It’s all part of an advanced primary care approach to health. Ready to build a foundation of health for your people? Get in touch today.