In this interview with ComputerTalk Publisher Bill Lockwood, Jude Dieterman, CEO of TDS, talks about what his company is doing to advance pharmacy’s role in healthcare by putting their client’s needs at the forefront of the solutions they develop to address compliance, clinical care, and reimbursement. Learn more today.
ComputerTalk: Transaction Data Systems has enjoyed remarkable growth over the years. This tells me you are reading the market correctly in terms of what pharmacies want. Would you mind sharing with us your “secret sauce”?
Jude Dieterman: Simply put, there is no “secret sauce.” TDS’ successful growth comes from putting the client’s needs at the forefront for every decision we make. This means tracking what’s coming in the market — including compliance, clinical enablement, adherence, regulatory, and market changes — and delivering solutions when and where they are needed. It means listening to the market as a whole. Our clients count on us to use information to create solutions that meet their changing requirements and succeed in their communities.
CT: It appears that the current emphasis at TDS is helping pharmacists get paid for the clinical services offered. How are you facilitating this?
Dieterman: In the simplest terms, we have facilitated clinical service delivery and adoption through our in-workflow clinical solution. We bring sponsored clinical MTM [medication therapy management], adherence, and intervention opportunities directly to the clients we serve. We show them exactly what is available based on the patients they serve, what reimbursement is available. We know that their time is valuable. We know that margins matter and that they need to diversify revenue. Most importantly, we know that they are performing clinical services already. So at TDS, we are focused on making them more efficient and profitable in the delivery of care.
”Simply put, there is no ’secret sauce.‘ TDS’ successful growth comes from putting the client’s needs at the forefront for every decision we make.” – Jude Dieterman
CT: And what has the uptake been from TDS users?
Dieterman: Each pharmacy client is at a different stage in providing clinical services, depending on their own readiness and ability to engage with health plans in their area. We’ve seen a steady uptake across the thousands of pharmacies we serve, so the impact has been significant to date with even greater potential ahead.
CT: TDS is in the process of acquiring PrescribeWellness from Tabula Rasa HealthCare. What do you see as the synergies from this acquisition?
Dieterman: We recently completed our acquisition of PrescribeWellness on August 1. We are excited to expand clinical opportunities and adherence programs across the combined pharmacy base, thereby increasing clients’ ability to succeed in their communities. Together, we expand our reach and have the ability to advance our comprehensive product portfolio throughout the pharmacy market. The open communication pathway we enable between pharmacist and patient enhances the existing, trusted relationship our pharmacy clients have. Together, our pharmacy network is equipped with technology and data solutions to increase adherence and achieve better health outcomes for their patients.
CT: TDS will also be adding the MedWise drug interaction management product from Tabula Rasa HealthCare. This offers a new level in preventing adverse drug events. This seems like an ideal fit for your clinical platform. Your thoughts?
Dieterman: MedWise allows pharmacists to identify cumulative multidrug interactions and create a risk score for each patient quickly and easily. This helps pharmacists better reduce medication-related risks and improve care for their customers. TDS has been at the forefront of advancing clinical care in the pharmacy; this partnership will allow us to continue to advance those offerings.
CT: Immunizations have become a much-needed revenue stream for pharmacies. Reporting these immunizations to registries is a requirement, and checking the registries for a person’s immunization history has its benefits. Can you explain what you have done to facilitate the whole process of immunizations?
Dieterman: Yes, we have all seen the vital role pharmacies have played in administering immunizations over the past two years. TDS is pleased to deliver the market-leading solution Immunization Registry Reporting for pharmacies. Automation ensures compliance and allows our pharmacy clients to focus on patient care and proactive immunization outreach.
CT: It’s not just all about the pharmacy and prescriptions. Your company has the front store covered as well with the integration of a point-of-sale system. This closes the loop on total store management. This should help the store’s profitability, correct?
Dieterman: We have the most complete end-to-end offering in community pharmacy. Our focus has always been on the success of the pharmacy through patient-centric solutions, on their ability to optimize operations, diversify revenue, and provide patient care. The core pharmacy management system naturally needs to be fully integrated with a point-of-sale solution, and with a delivery/curbside solution with fully integrated mobile payment solutions such as text-to-pay that streamline financial processes. More than those fundamental operations is tying the whole profitability of the pharmacy through claims processing, coupons, and cash pricing, to even reconciliation.
CT: This was most interesting. Is there anything else you would like to add in closing?
Dieterman: The role our pharmacy clients play in their communities is essential. Essential to medication adherence, access, and better health outcomes — and essential to the future of the healthcare continuum. We are focused on the future of clinical pharmacy, on our pharmacists’ ability to serve as the trusted providers they are. The pharmacist-
patient relationship is the cornerstone of our focus in providing fully integrated solutions that meet their ever-evolving needs to deliver care in their communities. CT