Data-Driven Strategies to Enhance Patient Care in Community Pharmacy

An interview with Cardinal Health’s Tony Steiner | Opportunities, challenges, and how Cardinal Health empowers independent pharmacies to thrive in a complex healthcare landscape.

Pharmacy Technology & Management Review editor Will Lockwood caught up with Tony Steiner, vice president of programs and solutions for Cardinal Health’s pharmaceutical and specialty solutions segment, at Cardinal Health’s Retail Business Conference (RBC) 2024 in Chicago. In this conversation, Steiner addresses key issues and opportunities for independent community pharmacies. He also dives into the challenges facing community pharmacies and how technology can help and outlines Cardinal Health’s strategies for empowering independent pharmacies to thrive in a complex healthcare landscape with a focus on data-driven solutions and patient care.

Pharmacy Technology & Management Review: What are the key technology addressable challenges for community pharmacy right now?

Tony Steiner: Community pharmacy is a challenging environment right now, with many hurdles across the business. Performance, financial, and resource management are critical areas. Thankfully, we have technology solutions to help address these challenges. Our goal is to empower pharmacies to focus on patient care, by spending less time on backend operations. And so, at Cardinal Health, we are looking both at their current situation and future needs.

We want to provide independent pharmacies with solutions that provide actionable data to help drive efficiency, optimize business performance, and ultimately improve patient care. Technology integrates with existing systems to support informed decision-making. Community pharmacies vary widely, but technology helps them make informed choices about operations and strategic goals.

I'm a data-driven person. Relevant data is essential for effective decision-making. We've pivoted our approach to provide data-driven support, enabling pharmacies to impact their communities effectively.