Narveson: NACDS' Effectiveness, Member Engagement Make Chairmanship Amazing Ride

PRESS RELEASE

Apirl 27, 2014, Scottsdale, Ariz. — At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Annual Meeting Business Program today, Bob Narveson drove home the central theme of his chairmanship of the Association: pharmacy’s commitment to serving patients and consumers, and NACDS’ value to chain and associate members as they focus on that priority.

“I wanted to focus on pharmacy services and the importance of medication adherence and patient care. I wanted to represent everyone whether you’re a regional or national chain, or one of our associate members who partner with us,” said Narveson, president and CEO of Thrifty White Pharmacy.

“I can’t imagine a more exhilarating job than working with all of you to ensure NACDS delivers results with the important work of serving patients and consumers as the face of neighborhood healthcare.”

Narveson summarized his one-year term as NACDS chairman of the Board by saying “Wow! What a Ride!” He reported on NACDS’ accomplishments over the past 12 months in every facet of its operations, and reported on the cutting-edge patient care research made possible by the NACDS Foundation.

He credited the Board of Directors and diverse members of NACDS, and the collaboration of the entire NACDS staff, for the Association’s successes.

“Certainly, my team at Thrifty White has always understood the importance of engaging in NACDS, but this year has shown me just how important that engagement is and it’s shown me just how seriously you take it,” Narveson said. “Just know this: everything I’m going to talk about today doesn’t happen without you, it happens because of you.”

Narveson highlighted the successful launch of the NACDS Total Store Expo trade show and strategic exchange, saying: “Together, we all made the show a reality.”

In addition, he cited additional NACDS successes, including the overall member engagement in NACDS; advancement of front-end issues and dialogue through the NACDS Retail Advisory Board; the growth of NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy and the NACDS Political Action Committee; key state-level Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement victories earned in collaboration with members and state partners; success in shaping the new prescription drug supply chain law; the introduction and advocacy for pharmacy provider status legislation; growing recognition of pharmacy’s importance in public health emergencies; education and training programs related to Drug Enforcement Administration enforcement initiatives; and the launch of the NACDS “Victory Vision” opinion research and communications program.

Narveson summarized the “state of the industry” this way: “As long as we have NACDS, and supplier partners, and chain members like you, we will flourish. That passion has to live on and grow from year to year.

“We are the face of neighborhood healthcare, and as long as we focus on what’s best for our patients and the entire industry the state of our industry is great.”

Narveson acknowledged Jack Bailey, senior vice president, policy, payers, and vaccines, GlaxoSmithKline, who supported and spoke at this morning’s NACDS Annual Meeting Business Program. Similarly, Caitlin Pappas, vice president, U.S. consumer sales, Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, is supporting and will speak at Tuesday morning’s NACDS Annual Meeting Business Program.

Today’s Business Program also featured remarks by NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, and a keynote address by Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO, X PRIZE Foundation.