Someone once said that “innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.” That just happened in the pharmacy world, and there are lessons to be learned.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 with the goal of making it easier for consumers to buy books (and eventually everything else) online. TJ Parker, a second generation pharmacist who grew up working in his father’s store, wanted to make life easier for patients to receive and take their medications. He founded PillPack in 2013 with the straightforward motto: “Pharmacy simplified.” It is no surprise that they found each other 2018 as Amazon purchased the online prescription retailer for the handsome price of about $1 billion dollars.
If the price tag of the purchase isn’t enough to convince everyone that Amazon is serious about entering the prescription healthcare space, maybe the response of the market will do it. The total value of several of the largest healthcare stocks like UnitedHealth, CVS and Walgreens dropped by about $24 billion in a single day once the deal was announced. This on top of the $30 billion earthquake Amazon initiated back in January with the JP Morgan venture. Consumers may not have yet felt the impact of this deal, but investors sure have.
I’m a pharmacist, not a professional investor, but I can read the writing on the wall. Amazon will now be a factor in pharmacy and health care that must be accounted for. They have successfully pulled themselves up to the table and are beginning to cut their own piece of the prescription pie. I wish them luck. I have no doubt they can cause disruption, but am not sure they will find the profit margins worthwhile.
What does interest me as a pharmacist with respect to our profession is how these companies got to this point. It boils down to what Zig Ziglar famously remarked: “You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Amazon is doing this in spades. PillPack followed suit with their convenient medication packaging and home delivery. They found a way to cut through the red tape and make life easier for people and patients.
This is the career lesson that we as pharmacists need to carry around with us day after day. Think about the job you are doing or want to do. How do you go about making it easier for those involved? What obstacles can you remove? What technology can you invent? Where are the pain points for patients, providers and pharmacists today that we can begin to eliminate for tomorrow?
It is easy to complain about problems in the prescription distribution system today. We and our patients are often encountering roadblocks on the way to serve our patients. Every problem that you discover is an opportunity in disguise!
Medication synchronization is an example of such a solution. Patients were tired of coming down to the pharmacy every few days because none of their 10 differ medications ran out at the same time. Pharmacists got involved, created a process to sync the refills for patients, and now many patients enjoy a much simpler monthly (or quarterly) refill process.
PillPack took it one step further and combined all the medication in a simple disposable packet that had all the medications taken together grouped into a single pouch. Brilliant. Not easy to accomplish, but sufficiently valuable to patients that the business exploded soon after it launched.
Whatever branch of the pharmacy profession you work in, there are doubtless problems that someone would be willing to pay to have fixed. How can you begin to fix them? What can you offer to the world? Launch a new idea! If you are looking to take your career to the next level, think less about how to toe the line and more about building new ships of innovation and creativity and service.
The world is waiting for you!
As nurses we go to work and do our best to take care of our patients, provide treatment and care..
When it comes to social media, it can be hard to see and know where the line between professional and..
Applying to jobs can be a tedious activity. Sometimes the application process can involve just uploading your resume, but sometimes..
Working with a recruiter and working with a contract role can seem like the opposite of what you want to..
It may seem like a small thing, and to some recruiters and hiring managers it won’t matter too much, but..
Dear Jason, It has been just over 3 months since I lost my job due to a pharmacy closing. They..
If you're working with our staffing agency or another, building a relationship with your recruiter is going to be a..
Whether you’re unemployed, graduating, or just looking for a new job, starting a job search can be daunting, some may..
I believe it was Leo Tolstoy who said “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing..
You've heard it once and you're never going to stop hearing it; check your spelling and grammar on your resume...
Next to being unemployed, being stuck in a job you don’t love is one of the worst professional experiences for..
Emails are the text message of the business world. They can be quicker than phone calls, they aren't disrupted by..
One of the hardest parts about searching for a new job can be deciphering what companies really want from their..
You got the job! Congratulations! You are excited. You are relieved. You are nervous. Maybe you have gotten promoted to..
I was scrolling through LinkedIn this morning and came across a video posted by Business Insider on . The video..
Send your resume as a PDF or Microsoft Word Document With almost any job application you can guarantee that some..
Your boss is bad. Maybe she only calls you to tell you that you are behind on your flu shots...
Email Etiquette: match the tone of who you received the original email from Sending an email seems like such a..
Keep your resume up to date, even if you aren't looking for a new position. If you're not looking for..
Change is scary. In fact, one of the reasons people stay in a job they don’t like is the fear..
If there is one piece of advice that any billionaire will give you it'll probably be something along the lines..
We've all been there before, you spend hours and hours perfecting your resume, only to apply to a position and..
When you work with a staffing agency, you will most likely have your own recruiter who acts as your manager...
A couple of weeks ago, I read an article about and it inspired me to do a little more digging..
You've prepared for the interview, you figured out what you need to bring and what should stay at home, now..
Staying organized is the name of the game if you’re trying to balance a career, a social life, and everything..
Now that you've fully prepared for your interview, and if you haven't check out our first blog post in the..
This week's Tip Thursday is all about the inteview! We're breaking it up into three parts so stay tuned next..
The best part of my day is lunch time, not because I don't love my job, but because I get..
July is UV Safety Month! Do you know how to protect yourself from harmful UV rays during long summer days?..
You've probably been told over and over again that you need to live a happy life and in order to..
The first thing a hiring manager or recruiter ever sees about you is your resume. You need to make it..
You have probably never visited Madawaska, Maine. It is a tiny, rural town at one of the most northern peaks..
This week Diana, our Recruiting Manager, and Adrianna, our Business Development Manager, will be heading to Denver, Colorado for the..
Are you a PTCB certified Pharmacy Technician? Do you have sterile compounding experience? Do you want to show your employers..
While there are many strategies and tools available to help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians find great jobs, maybe none is..
Create a Good Professional Summary Tweak your resume to customize it for each job you apply for. If you’re applying..