The following is a brief interview with Bobby Rawls, the Director of Pharmacy Affairs for Realo Discount Drugs. Bobby will detail his experience utilizing the SlashRx Independent Pharmacy Loyalty Program.

Interviewer: Hi Bobby, can you tell us a little about Realo Discount Drugs and what your function is there?

Bobby: Yes, Realo Discount Drugs is an Independent Chain Pharmacy located in Eastern North Carolina. We currently have 20 locations. My name is Bobby Rawls, I am Director of Pharmacy Affairs, basically in charge of all pharmacy operations throughout all 20 locations. Anywhere from contracting with our PSAO, ordering through our wholesaler, employee relations, and customer relations, anything that has to do with pharmacy operations is within my realm.

Interviewer: Pharmacy is a really crowded space with a lot of competition, what does Realo Discount Drugs do to differentiate themselves from everyone else?

Bobby: We like to think that we differentiate ourselves primarily with customer service. As most independent pharmacies do, you hold your customers dear and you want to treat them like family. Which is what our motto is, “Let our family take care of your family”. Another differentiator for Realo would be that we try to offer everything that the pharmacy loyalty can offer our clientele. That includes specialty services, long term care, delivery, coordination of care, chronic care management. If it’s in the pharmacy world, for the most part Realo Discount Drugs can offer it. We like to think that is what differentiates us from most of the chains and quite a few of the independents.

Interviewer: So you have an internal loyalty program. Can you elaborate on that?

Bobby: We partner with a Pharmacy Benefits Administrator that’s a technology company. They actually manage the program for us. It allows us to have a better option for our current patients as far as retention and giving them a discount. But it also brings in a new patient population through programs with local providers and veterinarian services in the area.

Interviewer: Do you believe this program has actually brought in new patients?

Bobby: We definitely have seen a new base come in with this. We currently have over 500 transactions or Rx’s that have come in dedicated to this new program. We have a three-tiered approach where we offer it to some of the patients as they come into our locations. Some of these are given out to local providers where they are made aware of this new program and they bring those in that's a new customer base to us, and we also see quite a bit in the veterinarian program we started here as a number of veterinarian medications have gone up in our areas.

Interviewer: So do you use the program for only cash paying patients?

Bobby: It doesn’t always pertain to our cash only patients. Now with the new gag clause rules and regulations from the federal government. Were able to offer those patients who have insurance type plans through their regular PBMs that you are used too and sometimes these come out to be a cheaper option for them then their current copays, and we’re able to offer that to them as well.

Interviewer: What else do you like about the program?

Bobby: I like the fact that they’re very patient friendly. They have an online platform and a helpline that patients can call in or look into for their prescriptions, concerns, or needs. They’re also very friendly to us as their clientele, we're offering the same services, or we can call them about our questions and concerns as well. The loyalty cards that they provide are free of charge and very nice and beneficial to the patient. Very open, very honest, and very transparent.

Interviewer: Would you recommend this program to other Independent Pharmacies?

Bobby: Yes I would recommend this to other Independent Pharmacies. I think it offers the ability to offer a program to your patient population where it’s very transparent and open and you know what you’re being charged. Where a lot of other programs on the market, you don’t necessarily know what fees and charges you may get in the background. So I would strongly recommend looking into this program.

Interviewer: Hey Bobby, thanks for your time today I really appreciate it.

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