IHR Fall 2016

THIS IS A PREVIEW VERSION. FOR THE FULL VERSION DOWNLOAD OUR APP ON ITUNES AND GOOGLE PLAY

COMPANY PROFILE

PUBLICATIONS MAIL 42709013 | 920 YONGE ST, SUITE 610 | TORONTO ONTARIO, M4W 3C7 | $6

DIAMOND HERPANACINE

the

WHOLE story Dean Miller, WholeHealth Pharmacy Partners

WWW.IHRMAGAZINE.COM

FALL ISSUE 2016

CHRONIC FATIGUE:

A pilot, registry evaluation of Robuvit

CONTENTS

28

VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 6

26 “A lot of pharmacists are now needing to address natural or alternative health remedies, so we have to be on our toes and ready to answer those questions.”

20

U P F RON T 8 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 10 GET THE GOODS 12 SKU REVIEW 14 TOP SELLERS

F E AT U R E S 16 CHFA REVIEWS: CURTAIN CALL: CHFA EAST’S STAR PERFORMERS

28 EVIDENCE-BASED JAPANESE APPROACH TO IMMUNE RESTORATION

20 COVER STORY: THE WHOLE STORY

30 FRENCH OAK WOOD EXTRACT IMPROVES MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY CHRONIC FATIGUE

By Paula Reid

24 COMPANY PROFILE: THE PRODUCT THAT LAUNCHED AN EMPIRE

By Cayla Ramey

By G. Belcaro, U. Cornelli, R. Luzzi, M.R. Cesarone, M. Dugall, B. Feragalli, S. Hu, L. Pellegrini, E. Ippolito

By Corrina Mosca

FIND US ON

6 IHRMAGAZINE.COM • FALL ISSUE 2016

008.IHR TOC.indd 6

2016-10-14 9:18 AM

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

ISSN 1197 - 1495 | V O L U M E 1 6

ISSUE 6

FOUNDER, PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Olivier Felicio MANAGING EDITOR

Cayla Ramey E D I T O R I A L A S S I S TA N T

A Change of Pace

A

s the cooler months approach, it’s easy to feel the need to wind down and stop being as active—so, don’t be surprised if your customers seem to be getting ready to hibernate. We have decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to extend our multichannel strategies of providing more content for you through our channel. We will feature more interviews with star players in the industry, learn about them, their products, and new business strategies, and we capture it all on film!

Our new channel is just one more resource for you to find more in-depth content on the topics that matter to you.Videos are a more engaging way to become more educated on the news and people in the industry. We encourage you to look us up, subscribe and contact us with your suggestions. Forget Netflix, we’re bringing you what you want to know, when you need to know it.

There have been some major changes this year, both with us and with the natural health industry. We are always excited to learn more and share more, so remember that IHR Magazine is your voice in the industry.

Corrina Mosca C O M M U N I C AT I O N S A S S O C I AT E

Paula Reid ART DIRECTOR

Scott Jordan JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Daniella Vizzari

THE

GROUP

PRESIDENT

Olivier Felicio GENER AL MANAGER

Melanie Seth GENER AL CUSTOMER CARE MANAGER

Lucy Holden Subscription Rates Canada $50 (gst included) for nine issues (one year) USA $60 Change of Address email: circulation@thergmgroup.net telephone: 416-203-7900 fax: 416-703-6392 or send your cover label and new address to ihr c/o Rive Gauche Media 920 Yonge Street, Suite 610 Toronto, ON Canada M4W 3C7

A D V E RT I S I N G I N F O R M AT I O N

Olivier Felicio

T: (416) 203-7900 x 6107 E: olivier@rivegauchemedia.com

Olivier Felicio Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

www.ihrmagazine.com SIGNUP FOR IHR MAGAZINE’S WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER TODAY! www.ihrmagazine.com

Published by Rive Gauche Media Inc. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail 42709013 The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. The publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any misprints in advertising not the fault of the publisher and in such an event the limit of the publisher’s liability shall not exceed the amount of the publisher’s charge for such advertising. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or part, without the express written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. ©Copyright 2016 Rive Gauche Media Inc. ihr magazine is pleased to review unsolicited submissions for editorial consideration under the following conditions: all material submitted for editorial consideration (photographs, illustrations, written text in electronic or hard copy format) may be used by ihr Media Inc. and their affiliates for editorial purposes in any media (whether printed, electronic, internet, disc, etc.) without the consent of, or the payment of compensation to, the party providing such material. Please direct submissions to the Editor, ihr magazine.

8 IHRMAGAZINE.COM • FALL ISSUE 2016

006.IHR_PubLetter.indd 8

2016-10-12 9:45 AM

COVER STORY

the

WHOLE story Whole Health Pharmacy Partners: Bringing together like-minded pharmacists

BY PAULA REID

20 IHRMAGAZINE.COM • FALL ISSUE 2016

IHR_CoverStory.indd 20

2016-10-11 11:09 AM

Dean Miller President and CEO

Stacey D’Angelo Director of Pharmacy Excellence

IHR_CoverStory.indd 21

Saleema Bhaidani Director of Pharmacy Innovation & Professional Affairs

Bobby Lau Director of Strategic Sourcing

2016-10-11 11:09 AM

COVER STORY

T

here’s a new kid on the block, and he’s looking to make an impact. Dean Miller, the creator of Whole Health Pharmacy Partners, started his business with the dream to create a banner focused on innovation—something he felt was lacking in the industry.

Just one year ago, Miller and his team looked into the Canadian pharmacy landscape and found there was room and interest for what Whole Health Pharmacy Partners would eventually have to offer—a support system for like-minded, independent pharmacists Three months into its inception, Miller had “ten pharmacies that were operating as Whole Health partners, and another five or six in the works.” While its initial growth started in Ontario, the company plans to eventually spread across Canada.

The dynamic team Miller has put in place has become the backbone for introducing a lot of great programs and professional services for the patients of independent pharmacists. Also setting Whole Health apart is their financial model, in which “partners are true partners—not only in the banner itself, but also in the business,” according to Miller.

LOOKING OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUYS Independent companies have freedom larger corporations simply don’t have. “Many of these people have a strong, entrepreneurial spirit, and that’s part of the reasons for their success,” says Miller.

Miller and his team are attracted to independent pharmacies that are looking to take a very specific path.They plan to work with “pharmacy owners of similar backgrounds that are interested in doing special things for patients, including working together as one to provide good pharmacy care,” says Miller.

In the industry, there are about five or six banners available for pharmacies, each with its own specific client offerings. As such,Whole Health recognizes that some independents may want to stick with other banners that may best suit their needs. “We’ve gone to great lengths to say that this banner isn’t for everybody,” says Miller.“However, we have an appealing offering for pharmacists that do show interest.”

That being said, the banner certainly is an attractive one. Whole Health’s innovative philosophy focuses on the importance of technology and the services that come along with it, such as mail order pharmacy and online refills. “Technology and innovation are a big part of our banner,” Miller adds. “In fact, one of the new positions that I hired is specifically responsible for determining what kind of services are best to bring into the Canadian market.”

For those independents that are interested, becoming a potential Whole Health Pharmacy partner is simple.“These businesses feel that this model itself is for them, because they are pharmacy owners that love to practice good pharmacy, and they’re keys to health care in their community” Miller notes. “These professionals want to be part of a group that’s going to support that journey.”

“Pharmacists are doing more things than ever before, so we’re fully supportive,” he says.“Many of our early adopters have been past chairs of associations, so a lot of them have been responsible for bringing the changing role of pharmacists—including broader prescription authority—to the Canadian marketplace. As such, we strongly encourage our members to be forward-thinking.”

Miller believes that there is no shortage of trailblazers in the Whole Health banner family. “Some of the most innovative things I have seen in the last little while are coming out of independent pharmacies,” he adds.

HUB OF HEALTH CARE In recent years, the scope of pharmacists’ duties and how they practice their science has gone through a vast change. Now, they are responsible for understanding an entirely new mix of products and staying on top of new treatments that weren’t previously available. “Natural health products and alternative streams of medicine, are very important in today’s pharmacies because we have a much more important role in the consumer world,” says Miller. As such, he strives to educate his partners about these new methodologies, allowing them to earn more trust in their respective communities.

Today, people are quick to access information on the Internet, taking it upon themselves to learn more about novel remedies and methods. After researching, their next step is to bring any of their questions to pharmacies, rather than their doctors. As such, pharmacists must create a personalized experience that blends empathy with high-quality service.

“A lot of pharmacists are now needing to address natural or alternative health remedies, so we have to be on our toes and ready to answer those questions,” says Miller. “As pharmacists, that’s our role: to be the hub of health care in the community.” Although pharmacists are faced with the need to have educated answers, Miller plans to work with those who are passionate about taking on that challenge.

MOVING FORWARD “Now we’re ready to go to the next level, which is awareness and getting our message out there,” says Miller. A large part of that process is focusing and putting the effort into their social media.“We also now have a business development team as well that will actively market our brand and our concept to stores,” says Miller.

“I think this model is unique in Canada,” he adds. Whole Health is now gaining the attention of pharmacists who have been waiting for a banner focused on high-quality innovative care.Their eagerness to explore new ideas, and evolve with the direction of independent pharmacies is what will allow them to keep their competitive edge for the long haul.

22 IHRMAGAZINE.COM • FALL ISSUE 2016

IHR_CoverStory.indd 22

2016-10-11 11:09 AM

Hauser’s Pharmacy Dunnville Launch Celebration

IHR_CoverStory.indd 23

2016-10-11 11:10 AM

IHR MAGAZINE IS NOW DIGITAL

NOW ON

Want more of IHR?

IPHONE 5 AND UP!

Get your digital version

PACKED WITH EXTRA CONTENT! Look for this icon

on the Appstore or Google Play store

WWW.IHRMAGAZINE.COM

IHR Digital Ad.indd 29

2016-10-14 9:33 AM