Title: Enhancing Healthcare through Retail Pharmacies: A Fresh Perspective
In the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare, Greg Samios, President and CEO of Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer, is spearheading a revolution. He's not limiting his innovation to retail pharmacy, but rather, he's aiming to improve efficiency and patient care through responsible GenAI across the board.
Pharmacies, including retail outlets, are grappling with complex challenges. They're tackling a higher volume of vaccinations, while contending with significant staffing shortages. Additionally, consolidations and closures are raising concerns about medication accessibility, especially in pharmacy deserts. Online retailers and nontraditional pharmacy models offer competition, but they haven't managed to replicate the value of in-person pharmacy experiences.
Finances also pose a challenge. Rising prescription costs and declining reimbursement rates create financial and operational hurdles, demanding innovative solutions. However, amid these challenges, retail pharmacies see an opportunity to play a more substantial role in patient care beyond prescribing and dispensing medication.
Today's healthcare consumers have high expectations and a preference for digital interactions with healthcare providers. A study found that 66% of Americans still have unanswered questions after healthcare visits. Consumer trust in providers in nontraditional primary care settings is high, with nearly 60% of patients likely to visit a pharmacy for a non-emergency condition. This creates a strong opportunity for pharmacies to focus on patients' needs with consumer-centric and technology-enabled experiences.
Pharmacists can enhance their visibility as advisors by focusing on patient education, aligning with healthcare organizations, and freeing up time to focus on patient experiences. Providing interactive, comprehensive education programs can help drive patient engagement and adherence. Adopting a single source of truth by standardizing evidence-based content can help reduce patient confusion and friction, as well as drive better adherence and experience.
Innovative digital and delivery investments can help pharmacists spend more time educating and building relationships with patients. For instance, some pharmacies are experimenting with paperless options, offering patients digital QR codes to access medication or education information. This approach can help improve medication adherence and reduce the need for follow-up appointments.
Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for growth and innovation in the retail pharmacy industry. Pharmacists can deliver effective care, stay informed about medical advancements, and tailor educational resources to meet each patient's needs.
Samios, through his work at Wolters Kluwer Health, contributes to this evolution. He emphasizes the need to define responsible GenAI to enhance efficiency and reach superior patient outcomes. He maintains the importance of maintaining the human touch and quality interactions in healthcare AI applications. Samios also supports workforce development through the integration of AI and virtual reality (VR) in healthcare professional education, making onboarding and transition processes more efficient.
In conclusion, Samios' innovative approach to GenAI supports the evolution of healthcare, enhancing efficiency and improving patient care, indirectly contributing to the retail pharmacy landscape.
Greg Samios, the President and CEO of Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer, is working closely with retail pharmacies to implement his innovative GenAI strategies. Despite the challenges facing the industry, Samios believes that AI and VR can streamline workforce development and improve patient experiences.
Samios' collaborative efforts with retail pharmacies, such as incorporating AI and VR into healthcare professional education, are making significant strides in revolutionizing the retail pharmacy landscape.
