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ORLANDO, Fla., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health today kicked off its Retail Business Conference (RBC),  the company's annual trade show for independent pharmacies, which again this week attracted more than 7,000 attendees. Taking place July 11-14 in Orlando, Fla., this year's event celebrates independent pharmacies' commitment to providing quality, personalized care and customer service to patients.

The event features an 83,000-square-foot trade show floor, highlighting buying opportunities with more than 320 exhibitors. At the event, pharmacists can again access one of the industry's largest and most complete lineups of continuing education opportunities, with nearly 50 courses on topics that can help them improve both their clinical and business operations. Pharmacists can also access seven, full- or half-day continuing pharmacy education courses, on issues ranging from pharmacy-based immunization delivery to helping patients manage cardiovascular risk.

Cardinal Health will also highlight its broad array of solutions that help community pharmacies diversify revenue, improve reimbursements, expand marketshare and improve their overall business operations.

"RBC is an outstanding opportunity for independent pharmacy owners to network with thousands of their peers from across the country; tap into more continuing education courses than they'll find anywhere else; and enjoy top-notch fun and entertainment with their families," said Steve Lawrence, senior vice president of retail independent sales for Cardinal Health. "RBC is also a great way for independent pharmacies to learn about the many ways Cardinal Health can help improve the efficiency and profitability of their businesses – so they can spend more time meeting and exceeding the needs of their patients."

RBC 2012 will also again feature a full line up of entertainment for the entire family, and will include nationally renowned health care and retail pharmacy experts including Myrtle Potter, chief executive officer of Myrtle Potter and Company, a global healthcare advisory and consulting firm and Douglas Hoey, chief executive officer of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), the nation's largest trade association representing independent pharmacies.

One of America's most accomplished healthcare leaders, Potter has dedicated three decades to serving the healthcare needs of millions of consumers through her leadership of some of America's most successful global healthcare companies. She formerly served in executive leadership positions at Merck, was president of a $4.5 billion business at Bristol-Myers Squibb and most recently was COO and later president of Genentech. After suffering a tragic, near-death experience in the healthcare system in 2005, Potter shifted her focus to combine her vast experience as a healthcare expert to advise healthcare corporations and patients on key matters related to serving and being served by the healthcare system.  At this year's RBC, Potter will share her unique perspective and candid assessment of the state of U.S. healthcare, the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision on healthcare reform and what it all means to independent pharmacy.

Hoey, who has spent more than 20 years working in and advocating for community pharmacies, is a licensed pharmacist in Oklahoma, Virginia, and Texas and serves as a board member of the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, Surescripts, Mirixa, and the Pharmacy e-Health Information Technology Collaborative. He helped lead the NCPA team that scored legislative victories requiring prompt pay of Medicare Part D claims, winning a court injunction to delay AMP that saved community pharmacies over $2 billion. He has also played an instrumental role in expanding NCPA membership by 20 percent over the past two years. Hoey will talk with RBC 2012 attendees about key issues facing community pharmacies, including the essential need for pharmacists to work together to affect legislative change that ensures patients have access to community pharmacy services. Hoey will also discuss the important role that improving patient medication adherence plays in the evolution of the community pharmacy business model; and about the vital role that revenue diversification plays in enhancing the long-term livelihood of community pharmacies. 

About the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC)
The Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC), held July 11-14 in Orlando, Fla., 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. The annual event provides nearly 7,000 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 pharmacists improve patient care, efficiency and profitability. For more information, visit www.CardinalHealth.com/RBC.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $103 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, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. 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 #21 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

SOURCE Cardinal Health