eq-life(R) and Fairview Pharmacy Services Announce Multi-Year Consulting Contract with Alegent Health

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Marolt, president of St. Paul-based eq-life(R), announced today the company's collaboration with Fairview Pharmacy Services to provide pharmacy operations consulting to hospital organizations across the country. The consultancy has signed a multi-year agreement with Omaha-based Alegent Health to grow its retail pharmacy operations.

Alegent Health is the largest not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare system in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa, with nine acute care hospitals, more than 100 sites of service, more than 1,300 physicians and approximately 8,600 employees.

"We are always looking for new ways to improve our patients' experiences," said Russ Gronewold, vice president of Ambulatory/Retail Development at Alegent Health. "Our partnership with eq-life and Fairview Pharmacy Services offers us a new approach to pharmacy. By building relationships between pharmacists and doctors, patients will find what the doctor ordered at the pharmacy down the hall."

"We are pleased to partner with Fairview Pharmacy Services to provide Alegent and other clients with opportunities to enhance patient care while improving bottom line pharmacy performance," said Marolt. "The hospital-based retail pharmacy marketplace is at a critical juncture to benefit from the consulting services we provide."

The current process for managing on-campus pharmacies often results in lost opportunities for improved patient care and business growth, says Marolt. Typically, more than 90 percent of prescriptions written on a hospital campus are filled off-site, often at chain pharmacies, preventing patients from receiving personal guidance from a pharmacist within their physicians' system.

The unique retail pharmacy approach for health care systems developed by eq-life and Fairview Pharmacy Services evaluates the entire patient experience, including the development of new store layout and designs, better inventory management, improved clinical offerings and improved integration with the physicians and professional caregivers.

Key to creating a differentiated retail pharmacy is offering services that improve patients' experiences and assist the clinical staff's ability to manage recovery, adds Marolt. One example is to focus on the needs of patients who are engaged in specialized drug therapy programs, which are estimated to account for nearly 12 percent of the total pharmaceutical market. Other areas of focus might include oncology, home and ambulatory infusion, and medication therapy management.

About Alegent Health

Alegent Health is the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care system in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa with nine acute care hospitals, more than 100 sites of service, over 1,300 physicians on its medical staff and roughly 8,600 employees. Alegent Health is making health care better with an exceptional commitment to quality and by providing patient focused care for the body, mind and spirit of every person consistent with its faith-based mission. Alegent Health continues the health ministry begun by its sponsors, Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems, more than a hundred years ago. At Alegent Health, patients and their families find a continuum of care, from women's and children's services, primary care, wellness counseling, and senior care to cardiovascular services, orthopaedics, oncology, physical rehabilitation, home care and behavioral health.

About Fairview Pharmacy Services

Fairview Pharmacy Services, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services, is a national provider of pharmacy-related services for consumers, insurance companies, corporations, health systems, providers, clinics and pharmaceutical companies. In addition to retail and hospital pharmacies, FPS offer a wide range of service programs designed to optimize health outcomes and manage costs.

About eq-life

eq-life, based in St. Paul, Minn., formerly operated retail stores (in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area) specializing in health and wellness products and services. The company became recognized for its innovative retail expertise in this area. Founder, president and owner Mike Marolt and his management team have evolved the company's strategic direction to a consultancy, working with forward thinking healthcare executives to create the next generation of healthcare retail.