In this Issue

As the nation's healthcare system continues to evolve, community pharmacies are searching for new ways to attract patients and create new revenue opportunities. Because this has mostly meant expanding the services they offer, streamlining payment and reimbursement processes has taken on added importance.

Facebook senior client partner Aaron Calloway

Video-based marketing messages designed for mobile viewing represent a significant opportunity for retailers, according to a speaker at the recent Health Innovation Summit, hosted by CVS Health in partnership with Drug Store News and Mack Elevation.

Helena Foulkes, CVS Health EVP/CVS Pharmacy president

Ryan Olohan, Google industry director for health care

Internet search activity, particularly on mobile devices, has become an important element of consumer healthcare decision-making.

Steve Laughlin, IBM VP/GM of global consumer distribution

“The last best experience anyone has anywhere becomes their expectation everywhere,” and the retail experience is no exception. That was the message conveyed by Steve Laughlin, VP and general manager of global consumer industry at IBM, in his CVS Health Innovation Summit presentation.

For a real-world look at the speed at which innovation occurs and what it means to truly have an innovation mindset, a panel of start-up companies — each at various stages of development and maturity — talked about the white spaces their organizations targeted and the solutions they created to fill those voids at a special Health Innovation Summit, hosted by CVS Health in partnership with Drug Store News and Mack Elevation in June.

Following is a brief recap of the companies that participated in the June 13 discussion.

The future of retail innovation is not just about selling products; it’s about developing new healthcare platforms, uncovering new networks and nurturing a passionate brand community. Retailers and consumer health companies must constantly knit together new assets, addressing the changing needs of today’s consumer. It is created by balancing science, emerging technology and design. Committing to an innovative culture is dangerous because you never know what you will discover, or what the implications will be. The discovery process is core to an emerging healthcare culture.

Futurist/economist Jane Sarason-Kahn