NCPA rolls out online community lab testing platform
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association on Friday announced that it will collaborate with consumer-direct lab testing innovator, Ulta Lab Tests, to roll out an online community lab testing platform to participating community pharmacy members across the country. The arrangement will offer community pharmacy patients direct access to lab tests and health screenings.
By integrating Ulta Lab Tests’ innovative services within community pharmacies, customers can order select low-priced lab tests without the need to obtain a prescription from a local physician (an offering that is not currently available in New Jersey, New York or Rhode Island). Pharmacy customers then can easily access lab test information from the Internet and mobile apps. Customers can review and track their test results for each biomarker from their personal and secured dashboard at their convenience.
“In many areas, community pharmacists are the only accessible health care provider and a resource for vital patient-focused services such as medication management, education, immunizations and more,” stated Douglas Hoey, NCPA CEO. “This exciting new collaboration with Ulta Lab Tests will allow community pharmacists to continue their commitment to driving better health outcomes for patients by giving patients direct access to information about their own health at lower costs. At the same time, it gives community pharmacists a chance to diversify their patient service offerings and business opportunities.”
“We are excited to collaborate with NCPA to offer 23,000 independent community pharmacies access to our low-priced and confidential lab testing and health screening services," commented John Roehm, CEO Ulta Lab Tests. "Our pharmacy partners can now offer their customers access to more than 1,600 lab tests and health screenings. With 70% of all diseases being diagnosed from blood testing, pharmacists and their customers now have the ability to monitor health conditions.”
Consumer benefits include:
Savings up to 80% off the regular price of lab tests and health screenings;
Easy ordering of lab tests and health screenings from websites and mobile apps 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
Direct access to more than 1,600 lab tests and health screenings without the need to obtain a prescription from a local physician (not currently available in New Jersey, New York or Rhode Island);
Convenient access to more than 2,100 state and federally certified blood-draw centers (patient service centers) nationwide for specimen collection;Lab test results received within one to two days; and
An online personalized dashboard where patients can securely view test results, track progress and share the information with the pharmacist and physician.
“The community pharmacies that expand their practices and find unique niches are the ones that will succeed in today’s rapidly changing health care landscape – this new collaboration with Ulta Lab Tests is a good place to start,” Hoey said.