Walgreens debuts ‘Feel More Like You’ program
Walgreens is bringing a new support program to 400 of its stores nationwide. The “Feel More Like You” program is meant to help patients with cancer and their caregivers manage the physical effects of undergoing cancer treatment.
“Feel More Like You” started rolling out in 100 stores in seven metro areas in the spring, and the remaining stores participating will comprise beauty-differentiated stores throughout Florida. The program takes an integrated approach, Walgreens said, noting that specially trained beauty consultants and pharmacists will work to provide personalized advice and support to people with cancer. The company’s community-based specialty pharmacies will play a part in offering support and coordinating care with patients and their local Walgreens store.
“For many patients, the result of cancer treatment not only impacts how they feel on the inside, but also the physical and emotional changes can drastically affect their self-image,” said Rina Shah, vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens. “By leveraging the expertise of our beauty and pharmacy teams, we’re looking to provide personalized care for people living with cancer that has not been found in a retail environment before.”
Roughly 500 of Walgreen’s beauty consultants have been through specialized training provided by Look Good, Feel Better — a support program focused on the appearance and beauty needs of cancer patients. The training encompassed how to address such physical changes from cancer treatment as hair loss, dry hair, dry skin, skin discolorations, sun sensitivities, and nail and cuticle changes.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with Walgreens on this initiative to help educate their beauty consultants to offer support to cancer patients who visit their pharmacies during treatment,” said Louanne Roark, executive director of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation. “As the organization who pioneered the concept of helping cancer patients manage appearance side effects of treatment, and with support services available nationwide and globally, we are proud to utilize our expertise to give patients an added community resource to support them during treatment.”
Additionally, more than 2,000 Walgreens pharmacists have received cancer-specific training for over-the-counter recommendations that can help address such side effects as skin rash, fatigue, dry mouth and mouth sores. The pharmacists at stores participating in “Feel More Like You” have received empathy training from the Cancer Support Community — a nonprofit cancer support network — to offer an enhanced level of emotional support for patients with cancer.
“We are proud to collaborate with Walgreens to develop an important initiative that includes best practices gleaned from our more than 35 years of listening to patients and developing programs that meet their needs,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “This is a win for patients. The individuals who benefit from our network of CSC and Gilda’s Club affiliates and other resources will learn about Walgreens new patient-focused program, while Walgreens customers in these markets will be made aware of the free services we provide in-person through CSC affiliates, online and through our toll-free helpline.”
Globally, Walgreens noted that experts — both beauty advisors and pharmacists — at 1,400 Boots stores in the United Kingdom provide health and beauty advice to patients with cancer through training from MacMillan Cancer Support.
“Feel More Like You” started rolling out in 100 stores in seven metro areas in the spring, and the remaining stores participating will comprise beauty-differentiated stores throughout Florida. The program takes an integrated approach, Walgreens said, noting that specially trained beauty consultants and pharmacists will work to provide personalized advice and support to people with cancer. The company’s community-based specialty pharmacies will play a part in offering support and coordinating care with patients and their local Walgreens store.
“For many patients, the result of cancer treatment not only impacts how they feel on the inside, but also the physical and emotional changes can drastically affect their self-image,” said Rina Shah, vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens. “By leveraging the expertise of our beauty and pharmacy teams, we’re looking to provide personalized care for people living with cancer that has not been found in a retail environment before.”
Roughly 500 of Walgreen’s beauty consultants have been through specialized training provided by Look Good, Feel Better — a support program focused on the appearance and beauty needs of cancer patients. The training encompassed how to address such physical changes from cancer treatment as hair loss, dry hair, dry skin, skin discolorations, sun sensitivities, and nail and cuticle changes.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with Walgreens on this initiative to help educate their beauty consultants to offer support to cancer patients who visit their pharmacies during treatment,” said Louanne Roark, executive director of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation. “As the organization who pioneered the concept of helping cancer patients manage appearance side effects of treatment, and with support services available nationwide and globally, we are proud to utilize our expertise to give patients an added community resource to support them during treatment.”
Additionally, more than 2,000 Walgreens pharmacists have received cancer-specific training for over-the-counter recommendations that can help address such side effects as skin rash, fatigue, dry mouth and mouth sores. The pharmacists at stores participating in “Feel More Like You” have received empathy training from the Cancer Support Community — a nonprofit cancer support network — to offer an enhanced level of emotional support for patients with cancer.
“We are proud to collaborate with Walgreens to develop an important initiative that includes best practices gleaned from our more than 35 years of listening to patients and developing programs that meet their needs,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “This is a win for patients. The individuals who benefit from our network of CSC and Gilda’s Club affiliates and other resources will learn about Walgreens new patient-focused program, while Walgreens customers in these markets will be made aware of the free services we provide in-person through CSC affiliates, online and through our toll-free helpline.”
Globally, Walgreens noted that experts — both beauty advisors and pharmacists — at 1,400 Boots stores in the United Kingdom provide health and beauty advice to patients with cancer through training from MacMillan Cancer Support.