Press Releases

LAS VEGAS — July 23, 2015 — Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., announced that John Balch, RPh, was named 2015 Franchisee of the Year, in recognition of  his patient-oriented service and his ability to meet the unique needs of the diverse communities his pharmacies serve.

The award, which each year honors a pharmacy that serves as a role model for other franchisees to emulate, was presented at a meeting of Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchisees, held at the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference  (RBC) in Las Vegas. In honor of Balch’s receipt of this award, Medicine Shoppe International will donate $5,000 to the non-profit organization of his choice.

“As a pharmacist, president and chief executive officer of the PharmaCare Network, a member of the Medicine Shoppe family, John’s commitment to patient-oriented pharmacy is reflected in the passion he has for the mission of the Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy franchise systems, and especially his unwavering support of franchise’s new co-branding option,” said John Fiacco, vice president of Medicine Shoppe International (MSI).

Balch operates three fully-branded Medicine Shoppe pharmacies and recently co-branded his remaining four pharmacies as “members of the Medicine Shoppe family.”

Fiacco continued, “John’s focus on patient service really fueled the growth of his first independent pharmacy in 1977 into the fully integrated health care organizations he manages today - each of which deliver unique, customized services to a diverse population of communities.”  

Each of Balch’s pharmacies offer unique services that reflect the needs of the unique populations in the areas they serve, including a college town, a farming community, urban environments and even a local medical center. His pharmacies offer health education and adherence programs to help ensure patients are compliant with their medications, and medication therapy management (MTM) services for patients who require them. At one of his pharmacies, Balch also initiated a patient discharge program in partnership with the regional medical center to better serve patients, encourage medication compliance and help reduce hospital readmission rates. The PharmaCare Network also provides care to patients with acute and chronic conditions, including home infusion combined with specialty pharmacy services. 

Balch has demonstrated his commitment to the pharmacy profession by serving a number of pharmacy and community organizations. He is actively involved in his church, and was appointed president of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland. Balch also previously served multiple terms on the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy, culminating as the board’s president.

Other Medicine Shoppe awards announced at this year’s RBC include:

• The Medicine Shoppe International Professional Achievement award, presented to John Forbes, RPh, of Urbandale, Iowa, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the pharmacy profession; and
• The Medicine Shoppe International Operational Excellence award presented to Devin Trone, PharmD, of Meridian, Idaho; Bobbie Barbrey, RPh, CCN of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Al Patel RPh, CCP and Dr. Roshni Patel, PharmD, CCP, of Whiting, New Jersey for their support and commitment to delivering the kind of  differentiated care that defines the Medicine Shoppe and Medicap Pharmacy experience.

About the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC)

The Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference (RBC), held July 22-25 in Las Vegas, 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 or use #RBCWin on Twitter.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of 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 #26 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 34,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.