Contents
SPRING 2024 I RETAIL/COMMUNITY • SPECIALTY • LTC
CASE STUDY
www.surecost.com
PHARMERICA’S JOURNEY TOWARDS
PATIENT-CENTRIC CARE THROUGH
BEST-IN-CLASS INVENTORY
AUTOMATION
THE COMPANY: PHARMERICA
PharMerica is a national leader in pharmacy services, serving over 3,100 long-term care, senior
living, IDD/behavioral health, home infusion, specialty pharmacy and hospital partners.
THE CHALLENGES
• Manual inventory management processes
• Limitations of tracking inventory accurately
• Inefficient and decentralized processes
THE SOLUTIONS
• Automated inventory management
• Streamlining inventory management and purchasing processes
THE CHALLENGE
PharMerica faced several challenges in their operations prior to implementing best-in-class
inventory automation. One major challenge was the manual and time-consuming nature of their
inventory management processes. With a vast range of medications, spread across multiple
departments and locations, keeping track of stock levels, monitoring expiration dates and ensuring
optimal stock levels became a complex and labor-intensive task. The pharmacy staff had to
manually update inventory records, reconcile discrepancies between different systems and
manually calculate reorder quantities. This reliance on manual data entry and paper-based systems
led to inefficiencies, errors and increased labor costs.
Additionally, the lack of real-time visibility into inventory levels often resulted in stockouts, delays
in medication delivery and frustrated patients. Without an efficient system in place, it was difficult
to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on stock availability. This often meant critical
medications weren’t readily available when needed, causing delays in patient care and impacting
satisfaction. In addition, the absence of real-time data made it challenging to forecast demand
accurately, resulting in overstocking or understocking of medications. These inconsistencies
not only increased costs, but also led to potential waste and expiration of medications, further
impacting the pharmacy’s financial health.
Gabriel Toribio
Central Purchasing Manager
~ PharMerica
Industry: Long-term and post-acute care
Number of Pharmacies: 180+
Facilities Served: 3,100
Number of Employees: 6,000+
page 40-43
Case Study:
PharMerica’s
Journey Towards
Patient-Centric Care
Through Best-In-
Class Inventory
Automation
From SureCost
Crafting Success,
and Made-to-
Order Sodas
The unique charm and
timeless journey of
Green Line Apothecary.
Return Solutions
Offers Faster Credit,
Easier Tracking, and
Efficient Processing
Reduce time spent tracking
credits and get credit quickly
with Return Solutions’
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— the fastest Rx return credit
reimbursement in the industry.
page 34-35
SPRING 2024 I RETAIL/COMMUNITY • SPECIALTY • LTC
34
On a crisp morning in Providence,
we stepped through the doors of
Green Line Apothecary, feeling
like we had journeyed back in
time — but with a delightful
twist! Established in 2016 by
Christina Procaccianti and her
husband, Ken Procaccianti, this
charming establishment graces
a bustling street just outside
downtown Providence. As we
embarked on a tour of the
facility, engaging in conversation
with Christina herself, we were treated to a delightful surprise
— homemade ice cream crafted with organic ingredients. Join
us as we delve into the story behind this unique independent
pharmacy and uncover the secrets to its enduring charm.
The Story Behind Green Line Apothecary
You often hear, “my father was a pharmacist” or “my
grandfather opened this pharmacy” but that is not the story
behind Green Line Apothecary. Christina Procaccianti’s father
was a greeting card salesman, and when she was young, he
would get her jobs changing the cards over, where she found
herself wandering to the store and falling in love with the
environment. She grew up in the pharmacy world and after
graduation, went to Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Procaccianti worked in chains and hospitals but always had a
calling for independent pharmacy, especially after working for
a family-owned independent chain based in Rhode Island. She
had such a positive experience working there, but it was time to
branch out and do her own thing with her version.
Procaccianti and her husband,
Ken Procaccianti, opened Green
Line Apothecary in April 2016
in Wakefield, RI. Their modern
interpretation
of
a
classic
American
drugstore.
A
big
part of that was the recreation
of the soda fountain with real
fountains from the 1940s that
were rescued, restored, and
brought back to life. After success
with their initial location, they
opened an additional pharmacy
in Providence, RI, in 2019. In
May 2021, they moved their flagship pharmacy in Wakefield
into a larger facility a couple doors down.
Personalized Service at Green Line Apothecary
vs. Traditional Independent Pharmacies
With big chains vertically integrating, Green Line wants to be
the alternative and create a different experience for patients and
customers down to the soda fountain, a curated selection of
products, and tailored relationships with patients. As a common
phrase in pharmacy, “pharmacist-recommended,” Procaccianti
takes pride that every product on the shelf is “Christina-
recommended” and hand selected by herself and her staff of
pharmacists. Due to her background in integrative medicine,
they carry alternative, natural, or homeopathic brands.
At Green Line, pharmacists are powered to practice to the
fullest extent of their licenses, making them a true piece of
the continuum of care for the patient’s journey. Given these
principles at the core, it’s only natural for Green Line Apothecary
to progress by expanding its operations and introducing a
pharmacist-led medical clinic in 2024, Green Line Express.
Crafting Success
& MADE-TO-ORDER SODAS:
The Unique Charm and Timeless
Journey of Green Line Apothecary
EZ Grid™ From
Health Care
Logistics® Puts an
End to Misaligned
Blisters and Labels
Built-in locator pins ensure
precise label-to-blister
alignment every time you
repackage tablets or batch
process prescriptions.
page 33
page 45
page 47
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For over 50 years, Medi-Dose/
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solving the specific needs of
their pharmacies.
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Environmental
Sensors Bring
Visibility and Cold
Chain Confidence
to Environmentally
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Zebra sensors provide insights into
products, such as biologics and
pharmaceuticals when temperature
limits have been exceeded during
transit, storage, and utilization.
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A Member of The Medi-Dose® Group
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PRESCRIPTION
FOR PHARMACISTS
Priced low
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• Medi-Dose® Solid Oral Unit Dose Packaging
• TampAlerT ® Liquid Unit Dose Packaging
• MILT ® Software for Medication Identification
and Bar Coding
• LiquiDose® Labels
• IV Additive Disposable Accessories
• Steri-Dropper ® Sterile Ophthalmic
Dropper Bottles
• Compounding Products
• Cleanroom Supplies
• Ophthalmic Practice Accessories
• Resealable and Ultraviolet Inhibitant Bags
• Tamper-Evident Products
• Bottles, Vials and Containers
• Operating and Procedure Room Accessories
• ShrinkSafe® Bands and Safety Products
• Tapes and Labels
• Maternity and Laboratory Products
• Record Keeping and Identification Products
• Storage and Transport Products
Visit our website for
our EZ order system!
High quality, safe and effective products for medication administration,
preparation and dispensing...in stock for fast shipment worldwide.
page 39
Precision Cooling,
Certified Confidence
With American
BioTech Supply
The NSF/ANSI 456 Standard for
Vaccine Cold Storage ensures
that certified units protect
pharmaceuticals at optimal
temperatures, prioritizing patient
safety, preventing waste, lowering
energy costs, and allowing for
peak delivery of vaccines.
Precision cooling,
Certified Confidence
NSF Certified Vaccine Cold Storage
Call Us : (843) 821-8010
Visit Us : www.americanbiotechsupply.com
Extensive selection of models ranging
from 1 to 49 cu. ft.
Fastest lead times in the industry
Temperature alarms with audible and
visual indicators for product security
Microprocessor temperature controller –
superior temperature control and recovery
EPA/SNAP compliant hydrocarbon, natural
refrigerants; environmentally friendly and
lowers energy expenses
Temperature monitoring device included with
3-year certificate of calibration
2/28/24 4:39 PM
2/28/24 4:39 PM
page 37
page 49
McKesson’s
Assist Line Offers
Automation
Tailored to Retail
Pharmacies
McKesson Pharmacy
Automation is leading the way
in automating how patients
get their medication, enabling
faster and safer treatment.
COMPOUNDING RESOURCES
COMPOUNDING RESOURCES