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Press Releases
Record-setting 5,300+ attend annual Retail Business Conference as company launches new tools to help independent pharmacies streamline operations, spend more time with patients
DENVER, July 22, 2010 — To kick off its annual retail pharmacy trade show, Cardinal Health today launched Order Express, a completely new, user-friendly online ordering system for independent pharmacies.
Developed in collaboration with hundreds of independent pharmacists nationwide, Order Express significantly streamlines the way pharmacies place, receive and track orders, allowing them to more efficiently manage the ordering process so they can more quickly respond to patient needs.
Order Express provides retail pharmacies with a more convenient online buying experience that includes many features that are similar to online consumer shopping sites, like:
- A simple and easy-to-navigate site design that requires little if any training to use;
- A new product search tool that enables users to quickly find and order the products they’re looking for;
- Special promotions, clearly highlighted on its homepage, so users can instantly click to take advantage of special product pricing offers;
- A new shopping cart feature that puts each final order into a concise, itemized list with the option to edit, add or delete products at any point in the ordering process.
- Clear and transparent generics pricing information to empower users to make smarter buying decisions.
“We’re discovering new things Order Express can do all the time,” said Mike Zerbe of Mike’s Pharmacy in Myerstown, Penn. “Anyone can use it with little training. I’m going to put it in all my stores.”
The record-setting 5,300 attendees at this year’s Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference can check out Order Express at 25 demo stations throughout the show floor. In addition to Order Express, Cardinal Health will also highlight three additional solutions that help independent pharmacies proactively manage inventory and address workflow issues:
- Cardinal Inventory Manager, an automated inventory replenishment solution that helps pharmacists proactively manage their largest asset – their inventories – with real-time information about their inventory value, dynamic order points, advanced cycle count logic, site transfers, outdated return tracking and preferred item selection.
- SOURCESM Generics, the company’s enhanced generics program that makes buying decisions easier for independents. It provides contract pricing on nearly 4,300 items, back-up pricing guarantees, progressive rebates that reward independent pharmacies for purchasing generics from Cardinal Health and automatic, next-day distribution of newly launched generic drugs.
- myPharmacyTrainer, the company’s online training site, which offers 22 training modules to help retail pharmacies coach employees to deliver better patient care, improve business operations and increase sales. The myPharmacyTrainer application invites pharmacy staff to interact with virtual patients – each with a unique health care need. By consulting with the patients and answering their questions in an interactive, video game-like environment, staff can quickly learn how to connect patients with pharmacy products and services for their specific needs, and how to improve store sales, productivity and profitability.
“Our new Order Express online ordering system is a great example of Cardinal Health’s commitment to making smart investments in industry-best technology that can help our customers save time and run more efficient businesses,” said Mike Kaufmann, CEO of Cardinal Health’s Pharmaceutical segment. “We remain focused on finding innovative ways to help our customers work smarter, not harder, so they can focus more time on what they do best: serving patients.”
Order Express, Cardinal Inventory Manager, SOURCESM Generics and myPharmacyTrainer are available to all Cardinal Health independent retail pharmacy customers; and to Medicine Shoppe International franchisees.
About the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC)
The Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC), held July 22 to July 26 in Denver, provides independent pharmacies and pharmacy franchise owners with the opportunity to network with and learn from thousands of their peers from across the nation while gaining new insights to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their businesses. With a 2010 conference theme of “Elevate,” Cardinal Health used the scenic backdrop of picturesque Denver to underscore its continued commitment to helping retail independent pharmacies ‘elevate’ their businesses and operate at peak performance. The annual event provides more than 5,300 attendees – including independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other pharmacy industry professionals across the United States – with buying opportunities, continuing education sessions and programs to help improve patient care, efficiency and profitability. For more information, visit www.CardinalHealthRBC.com.
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $96 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing profitability. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #17 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com.