I am so impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit I see with so many of our clinic customers! As the pressures mount, the creativity explodes!
A few examples:
During a visit to a dispensing clinic in Chicago this week, we discussed pending changes in Illinois law related to workers compensation reimbursement. The news? Not good. Unflinching, the clinic is already working on other avenues of revenue and exploring joint venture opportunities with health services companies in different fields. For this clinic, medication dispensing is one part of an overall plan to grow their business and continue serving their customer.
At a student health center, I discovered an RN who returned to school to get her APN. Returning to her clinic, she lobbied to reduce their dependence on contract medical expertise and expand the clinic’s capabilities by leveraging her new capabilities. The result of her initiative? Cost savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for the clinic. In addition, she is working to expand services including clinic dispensing to enhance the value they provide and convenience to their patients. Lower costs and enhanced services!
At a health system-owned group of clinics, we discussed developing an expanded formulary to help secure a contract with an employer group. The list of medications needed to match a different set of patients than some of their other clinics. The pharmaceutical fulfillment solution needed to be timely and relevant to their new customer. As a trusted partner, we also worked to help them identify new practitioners as they continue to expand into new areas.
Northwind clinics around the country are aggressively meeting changes in law, practice, economy and demographics with incredibly creative and entrepreneurial ideas. The challenges will not disappear and neither will the opportunities. As a pharmaceutical wholesaler, we distribute medications. As a trusted business partner, we work to supplement our customer’s efforts and expand their business. Pharmaceutical logistics are easy when compared to the challenges of running a clinic in today’s complex environment and we welcome the chance to help our clinics face those challenges head-on.
Our clinics demonstrate that they are not just great medical practitioners, but smart business people. I would not bet against them!
