Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 23, 2014 — Community pharmacists can play a powerful role in helping patients better manage their overall health – and in improving the cost-effectiveness of healthcare. This week, thousands of the nation’s top community pharmacists will demonstrate that in the nation’s capital.

Health on the National Mall, co-sponsored by Cardinal Health and the National Community Pharmacists Association, will showcase the expanding role pharmacists are playing in improving patient care.

The event will be held today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall, in front of the Capitol Building. The event will feature ten tents, staffed by community pharmacists who will share practical insights into how patients can better manage common health issues and chronic conditions ranging from asthma and diabetes to heart health and weight management.

The free event will highlight the many ways community pharmacists, who are among the nation’s most trusted and accessible healthcare providers, can provide knowledgeable, accessible patient care services that improve the overall health of the communities they serve. Health on the National Mall will be an upbeat, family-friendly affair, featuring music and entertainment, free educational materials, healthy snacks and water.

“Community pharmacists play a critical role in helping patients achieve better health outcomes,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA. “This is particularly true in rural communities where the independent community pharmacist may be the only provider for many miles around. NCPA is proud to partner with Cardinal Health on this event to increase public awareness about how pharmacists help millions of Americans every day. In addition, we again urge Congress to enact H.R. 4190 to expand recognition of pharmacists as providers and to expand Medicare coverage of pharmacist-delivered health care services in medically underserved areas.”

Health on the National Mall is part of Cardinal Health’s annual Retail Business Conference (RBC), one of the nation’s largest gatherings of community pharmacists, which this year expects to welcome nearly 8,000 attendees. This year’s RBC theme, Leading Change, is an apt description of the critical role community pharmacists can play in improving today’s fast-changing healthcare environment.

“Pharmacists are community educators on health, in the very broadest sense – and oftentimes, they’re a patient’s most trusted healthcare provider,” says Ron Clerico, vice president of marketing strategies and solutions at Cardinal Health. “This event demonstrates the many ways pharmacists are leading change in communities across the country, by help their patients better manage their overall health, so they can live longer, healthier lives.”

About the National Community Pharmacists Association

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA^®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $88.7 billion health care marketplace, dispense nearly 40% of all retail prescriptions, and employ more than 300,000 individuals, including over 62,000 pharmacists. To learn more, go to www.ncpanet.org, visitfacebook.com/commpharmacy, or follow NCPA on Twitter @Commpharmacy.

About the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC)
The Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC), held July 23-26 in Washington, D.C., provides independent pharmacists 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 independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy industry professionals across the United States with access to pharmaceutical manufacturers, buying opportunities, continuing education sessions and programs to help pharmacists reduce costs and improve patient care and efficiency. For more information, visit www.CardinalHealth.com/RBC.

About Cardinal Health 
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $101 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, clinical laboratories 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 and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #22 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 33,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com and@CardinalHealth on Twitter.

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