Increasing focus on diabetes care

Ahold USA’s COO James McCann earlier this year outlined the driving force behind the supermarket operator’s overarching initiatives — improve customer perceptions of its U.S. operations across quality and service, as well as price. Operating under the Stop & Shop, Giant/ Martin’s and Giant Landover banners, Ahold USA’s high-touch pharmacy business aims to do just that through its focus on diabetes care, Brad Dayton, Ahold USA VP pharmacy, told Drug Store News. “[Through these initiatives], we believe that we can influence customers’ health outcomes and, consequently, their overall healthcare spend,” he said.

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Today, more than 400 Ahold USA pharmacists are specially trained and certified in patient-centered diabetes care, and that will extend to all of Ahold USA’s pharmacy operations by yearend. “These pharmacists are engaging their patients in ways we’ve never done before,” Dayton said. “From one-on-one consultations to in-store diabetes management classes, we’re reaching patients in innovative and relevant ways.”



Joining Ahold USA pharmacists on the frontline of health delivery is the company’s in-store nutritionists. “We’re fortunate to have an ever-growing stable of nutritionists in the stores, and we’re leveraging their expertise in unique ways,” Dayton said. For example, many nutritionists and diabetes care pharmacists are teaming up to lead diabetes management classes at their stores and in the community.



Additionally, Ahold USA nutritionists recently created a web-based learning module to give pharmacists practical nutritional advice that they can incorporate into conversations with their patients about heart disease and diabetes. “Maintaining a proper diet is as important as medication for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The unfortunate reality, however, is that many pharmacists feel uncomfortable discussing nutrition with their patients. We’ve taken some steps to build our pharmacists’ nutritional IQ, and, as a result, their confidence,” Dayton said.