Introduction

Script Your Future is a national campaign by the National Consumers League to raise awareness among patients, their family caregivers, and heath care professionals about the importance of medication adherence.

Campaign Summary

Messages for Patients

Having a serious long-term health problem can take away a loved-one's chances of a long and full life with your family—if you let it. The Script Your Future campaign is designed to help you take back your future by helping you take your medicine as directed.

Script Your Future is here to help people like you manage health problems such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

The National Consumers League (NCL) leads the campaign, with partners from every sector of the health care system, including health care professionals, patient communities, family caregivers, pharmacies, health insurance plans, pharmaceutical companies and associations, as well as government agencies and researchers.

The Adherence Problem

What is the problem?

When patients learn that they have a long-term health problem, one of the most important ways they can manage their condition is by taking their medicine as directed by their doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional.

This is also known as medication adherence.

Millions of Americans have chronic health conditions

More than 25M Americans affected by diabetes (NIH)
Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke (NIH)
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States (NIH)
785,000 Americans have a first heart attack every year (CDC)
Heart disease is leading cause of death in US (CDC)
More than 15M Americans are affected by asthma (NIH)
More than 12M Americans diagnosed with CODP (NIH)

Managing Chronic Conditions often requires Managing Medication

Nearly 6 out of 10 adults (56%) are taking at least one prescription drug.
31%
say they have been prescribed medication in the last six months.

Statistics from a national campaign pre-launch survey

42% of adults are diagnosed & prescribed medicine for chronic conditions.
Among those with a chronic condition, 80% take two or more medications.
infographic showing percentages of those with chronic conditions who take 2 or more medications
Of those 80%, 45% of adults with a chronic condition take four or more medications.
infographic showing percentages of those with chronic conditions who take 4 or more medications

Statistics from a national campaign pre-launch survey

The Issue

Many people never fill their prescriptions, or they may never pick up their filled prescriptions from the pharmacy.

Other people bring their medication home, but don’t follow their health care professional’s instructions—they skip doses or stop taking the medicine, or they take more than instructed or at the wrong time of day.

Failure to adhere to prescriptions for chronic conditions reduces their effectiveness and can lead to recurring symptoms, hospital visits, and worse.

  • More than one in three medicine-related hospitalizations happen because that person did not take their medicine as directed1
  • Not taking medicine as directed can do more than just send a patient to the hospital—almost 125,000 people die every year because they did not take their medicine as directed2
  • Nearly three out of four Americans report that they do not always take their medications as directed3
  1. Osterberg, L. and Blaschke, T., Adherence to Medication, New England Journal of Medicine 353:487-97 (2005)
  2. McCarthy R. The Price You Pay for the Drug Not Taken. Business Health 1998;16:27-33
  3. National Community Pharmacists Association and Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care Adherence Survey 2006
Nearly one third of patients say that the consequences of not taking medications as directed or the possible side effects are "rarely" or "never" explained to them.
infographic showing 1/3 of people are rarely explained of potential side effects from drugs

Americans view tools like questions lists, automatic refills, reduced co-pays, and 7-day pill boxes as useful in improving adherence to medicines.

Improving communications with health care professionals emerges as very important, as having a list of questions for their health care professional ranks among the most useful tools (78% "very" or "somewhat" helpful).

Statistics from a national campaign pre-launch survey

It’s clear that improving communication between patients and health care professionals, and providing useful tools are key.

Let's raise awareness of the problem and save lives.

Campaign Launch

The campaign began in earnest with a national launch featuring the U.S. Surgeon General in Washington, DC in May 2011, with subsequent regional roll-outs in six targeted cities.

A look at how the Script Your Future campaign has been helping Americans take their medicine as directed

With a shared focus on diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the campaign in each city sparked conversations across broadcast, print, and social media.

57 million impressions, reaching more than 1.4 million television viewers and nearly 15 million radio listeners.

Media Campaign

The Script Your Future campaign has seen more than 300 million media impression and interfaced directly with tens of thousands of health care professionals and patients, many of whom have taken the pledge to take their medicines as directed at www.ScriptYourFuture.org

The media campaign includes outreach and impressions via online media and social media, as well as print, radio, and TV.

Heart Month's (February) #heartRx Twitter chat session was co-hosted with Million Hearts and the Surgeon General. Aimed at health care professionals tackling adherence in the heart health space, it reached 500,000 followers and up to 1,000,000 impressions during one hour chat

The campaign is on Facebook and joined by 15 additional Facebook pages and groups related to Script Your Future from regional markets to pharmacy schools

#.media # i.sec.icon.i-yt(data-icon!="󰀑") # .pri # :markdown # The "I Will" YouTube video reached more than 11,000 Internet viewers.

The entire social media following was developed without any prior direct advertising

Website

The website launched in May 2011 together with a companion site targeted to health care professionals.

Visitors spend an average of four minutes on the site, and half of site visitors download medication adherence tools

Consumer site has received more than 50,000 visits

Adherence Challenge

The Student Pharmacist Adherence Challenge was a coordinated initiative to engage student pharmacists in the campaign. More than 40,000 student pharmacists educated more than 250,000 individuals nationwide using campaign materials during the month of October.

Five awardees were selected from 81 participating colleges and schools of pharmacy. Through participating in community events, attending health fairs, creating Facebook pages, translating campaign materials into 10 languages, and even producing a rap video on adherence, the students reached members of their community through creative and collaborative ways.

The Challenge was in coordination with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

Tools for Adherence

The campaign has provided more than just information about medication adherence, it's provided tools to empower patients and their health care professionals to improve medication adherence in their daily lives

The Pledge

Examples of pledges taken

A campaign within the campaign, The Pledge is a promise patients make to themselves. It's an affirmation to help them take their medications, not because their doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional told them to, but to live a longer, healthier life.

Regional Campaigns

The national campaign launch was followed by six regional launches. Each is focused on a mid-sized American city.

Map of the US, with chosen states and cities highlighted

The six cities were selected by our Committed Partners based upon criteria they established. Each is among the top 20-25 cities in the country for **prevalence of at least 2 of the 3 targeted chronic conditions**, and each has **strong academic and research facilities** active in prevention.

While they all share several commonalities, each regional coalition has its own unique focus and methods for reaching consumers.

City Flag of Baltimore, MDBaltimore

Monique Mounce is a student pharmacist and President of the Student Section of the Maryland Public Health Association – and in the room today. Through numerous community outreach events to promote Script Your Future, the wallet medication cards have been the cornerstone to starting a discussion about barriers to adherence, and they serve as one of consumers’ most sought-after tools towards improving adherence.

Script Your Future Baltimore includes more than 40 individuals from nearly 20 different organizations in Baltimore and Maryland, including Walgreens, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, University of Notre Dame School of Pharmacy, Pfizer and the Maryland Pharmacy Board. Through work with the schools of pharmacy (SOP), the coalition also formed a student coalition that includes students from both SOP’s, as well as students from the Maryland Student Nursing Association. Key to the coalition is a unique partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Health that has grown substantially since the November 2011 launch to include the community support liaison and the city’s aging division.

Baltimore launched in November, on what Governor O’Malley proclaimed as Script Your Future Day in Maryland, with the help of the US Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Million Hearts’ Dr. Janet Wright, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, and The Wire actor and Baltimore native Jermaine Crawford.

Events

Total Reach: more than 1450

Script Your Future Day

Baltimore's coalition launched on Wednesday, November 2, outside the Maryland Science Center at the Inner Harbor.

Governor Martin O'Malley issued an official proclamation making November 2 Script Your Future Day in Maryland.

Guest speakers included U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Million Hearts Executive Director Janet Wright, Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, The Wire actor and Baltimore native Jermaine Crawford, Professor of Pharmacy Dr. Cherokee Layson Wolf, and patient and Mended Hearts activist Ron Michaud.

The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour provided free health tests for consumers throughout the morning and early afternoon. The Script Your Future team live-tweeted and posted photos of the event on Facebook as they happened.

WRC-TV NBC 4 Health & Fitness Expo 2012

In addition to local media sponsor NBC 4, Expo was held in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Medicine, Washington Hospital Center, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Fannie Mae, and National Rehabilitation Hospital. Staffed booth and distributed Script Your Future materials and wallet cards to nearly 500 consumers.

Reach: Nearly 500 consumers

MANS Annual Conference

MANS donated exhibit space to the Baltimore coalition. Campaign outreach materials were disseminated, and signed up nursing students to join the Baltimore Student Coalition.

Reach: More than 300 student nurses throughout the state, with more than 50 signing up to play a role in the student coalition

Baltimore City District Community Meetings

Series of public meetings presented by Baltimore coalition partners and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot where community leaders and concerned residents can learn about Healthy Baltimore 2015 the citywide vision for improving health in Baltimore. Wallet cards and other campaign materials have been available at meetings.

Reach: More than 300 Baltimoreans

MPhA Mid-Year Meeting

Distributed campaign materials appropriate for the health care provider community and educated Maryland pharmacists about the campaign.

Reach: More than 200 pharmacists in Maryland

B’more Healthy Expo

Local media sponsors Fox 45 and the CW presented the event in conjunction with local hospital system MedStar Health, Medifast and Maryland Physicians Care. Staffed a table at the Walgreens booth and distributed materials and wallet cards to community leaders, patients and caregivers.

Reach: over 150 community leaders, patient and caregivers

Media

Total Reach: more than 300,000

Pre-event coverage

Visit Baltimore

Included Script Your Future in an email blast and posted to Facebook

Reach: More than 25,000 Facebook Fans

Baltimore on the Cheap

Posted about Script Your Future to blog and shared on Facebook

Reach: More than 300 Facebook Fans

Center Maryland

Posted to blog and included in a daily email blast

Reach: 7,000 visitors

Launch event coverage

WBAL-AM

Aired an interview with Dr. Benjamin

Reach: 93,900 listeners

Maryland Physician Magazine

Produced an article on Script Your Future Baltimore launch

Reach: 8,000 in circulation

WMAR-TV (ABC)

Aired a segment about Script Your Future Baltimore launch

Reach: 92,000 viewers

Post-event coverage

WBAL-AM

Aired an interview with Dr. Barbot encouraging Baltimoreans to make medication adherence part of their New Year's Resolutions in 2012 Reach: 93,900 listeners

Comcast Newsmakers

Repeatedly aired an interview with Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Barbot

Maryland Family Doctor

Newsletter article on Script Your Future Baltimore

Baltimore Regional Contact

Kerry O'Neill
Office: 410.902.5035
Cell: 301.351.2308

City Flag of Birmingham, ALBirmingham

Patrick Devereux is an independent community pharmacist in the Birmingham area and a member of the Alabama Board of Pharmacy. When he began disseminating the wallet cards, one of his customers, Beverly W., told him “I’ve had a bad heart for nearly 20 years and need to take medications every day. I appreciate this campaign and the pledge cards because, for people like me, taking medications is a necessary part of life. I’ve never seen cards like this and think we should find ways to get them to everyone who picks up a prescription.”

The Birmingham coalition has built a number of strong partnerships since the launch in December 2011. With active participation from numerous governmental agencies, the Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson County Department of Senior Services, Alabama’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (AQAF), and patient advocacy groups and community organizations such as the NAACP and Greater Birmingham Ministries, the coalition is well positioned to continue increasing the number of educational and outreach opportunities. The coalition is leading a united effort to address medication non-compliance issues in the greater Birmingham community.

Birmingham launched locally on December 6 at a local pharmacy, with Governor Bentley and a local NAACP leader on hand to speak about the importance of improving adherence within the Birmingham community.

Events

Total Reach: more than 450,000

Magic City Classic

In coordination with student leaders from the Samford McWhorter School of Pharmacy, the campaign participated in the 70h Annual Magic City Classic, a historically famous footbal game between Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University. The campaign sponsored a booth with McWhorter School of Pharmacy students offering free blood pressure screenings and blood sugar tests to event attendees. Script Your Future disseminated wallet cards and counseled patients on medication adherence related questions.

Reach: Distributed approximately wallet cards and counseled over 200 patients. Visibility touched several thousand event attendees, as the booth was located directly outside the main gate of the stadium. Additionally, 95.7 Jamz radio announced the free health services provided at the booth.

Campaign Launch

Formally launched the Birmingham Script Your Future campaign at the Homewood Pharmacy, and featured The Honorable Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, and other community leaders. NAACP Birmingham Chapter, Alabama Lifespan Respite Resources Network, and representatives from numerous coalition partners were also present.

Reach: covered by Birmingham News, CBS 42 (TV), ABC 33/40 (TV), Fox 6 (TV), NBC 13 (TV), The Birmingham Weekly Magazine, 280 Living, Samford University Press, Homewood Star, The National Community Pharmacists Assoc. will run an article in their June publication.

QIO Learning in Action

Presentation on the campaign at this continuing education meeting with of nurses, nursing home administrators, hospice facility managers and home health care providers from throughout Jefferson County. Script Your Future was a featured presenter at the conference.

Reach: 260 conference attendees, dissemination of our campaign overview materials, wallet cards and calls to action. CBS 42 (TV) news also covered the event.

Heart Month (joint event with CMS’ Million Hearts)

Featuring guests of honor Dr. John O’Brien (CMS’ Million Hearts initiative) and The Honorable Kenneth E. Gulley, Mayor of the City of Bessemer, other speakers included Patrick Devereux, owner of FMS Pharmacy in Bessemer, AL, which hosted the event, a pharmacy student and a heart health patient. Samford McWhorter School of Pharmacy students provided complimentary hearth health screenings, blood sugar tests and brown bag consultations for community members and others in attendance.

Reach: This event was covered by the Birmingham News newspaper, the Samford University Press and the Pharmacy Today magazine from the American Pharmacists Association.

Birmingham Diversity Coalition MLK Day March & Community Health Awareness

Community action day and health fair in Downtown Birmingham. Campaign distributed wallet cards, engaged other community partners and filmed by CBS 42.

Reach: 250 Birmingham residents. Distributed approximately 50 wallet cards. Filmed by CBS 42.

Media

Total Reach: more than 450,000

Launch Event TV Media

WBRC-FOX

(Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa)
  • News at 6:00 PM
  • News at 10:00 PM
  • News at 12:00 Noon
  • Good Day Alabama at 7:00 AM
  • Fox News Daybreak at 6:00 AM

Story available online

WCFT-ABC

(Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa)
  • News at 6:00 PM
  • "Focus at 4" at 4:00 PM
  • News at 11:00 AM
  • News at 6:00 PM
  • Good Morning Alabama at 5:30 AM
  • Good Morning Alabama at 4:30 AM

Story available online

WIAT-CBS

  • News at 5:00 PM

WVTM-NMC

(Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa)
  • NBC 13 News at 5:00 PM

Launch Event Print Media

Birmingham News

Print and online distribution. Available for statewide viewership on al.com.

Samford University Press

Online and print distribution targeted and distributed to both current students and national alumni. Video from Bessemer Heart Month event also posted online at Samford University Press’ website.

Homewood Star

Online publication available through website.

Reach: Online viewership of approximately 2,500 Homewood area residents.

National Association for Community Pharmacists (NCPA) article

NCPA prepared an article covering the Birmingham launch event set for June distribution in their association publication with national circulation

Additional Media

Birmingham News

Birmingham News featured an online posting announcing the joint Heart Month event in Bessemer with CMS’s Million Hearts campaign.

Pharmacy Today

A publication of the APhA

Reach: 150,000 copies in nationwide circulation

Birmingham Regional Contact

Collier Craft
Office: 205.969.1331
Cell: 205.757.6927

City Flag of Cincinnati, OHCincinnati

Andrea Wall is an associate professor of pharmacy and an assistant dean at the University of Cincinnati’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy supports the Script Your Future campaign and its students have found the campaign’s materials useful during their rotations and in outreach events. The experiential education faculty of the University has agreed to incorporate Script Your Future and medication adherence into its required activities when the students are on their clinical rotations.

The Cincinnati coalition is co-chaired by Employers Health Coalition and the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. The coalition capitalizes on Cincinnati’s outstanding health infrastructure, including its designation as a Beacon Community; HealthBridge, a pioneer in health information exchange; several nationally rated hospitals, and a College of Pharmacy. Building on this tradition of excellence, Cincinnati was the first city in the country to launch the Script Your Future campaign. The coalition is a diverse group of 24 organizations, including health care practitioners, employers, health plans, pharmaceutical companies and patient advocacy organizations.

Cincinnati launched in May, and has since worked extensively with its coalition and in the community, disseminating information at such events as the Black Family Reunion and the Step Out American Diabetes

Events

Total Reach: more than 4,500

Diabetes workshops

In a project with 2 other coalition members, (the Health Collaborative and American Diabetes Association), Health Care Access Now sponsored four diabetes management/education workshops in June and July 2011. The workshops targeted the African-American community in Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Reach: 400 cards distributed to attendees

22nd Annual Midwest Black Family Reunion

Exhibit booth at this 3-day festival held on Cincinnati’s riverfront each August, with hundreds of vendors, exhibitors, parades and live entertainment. It is the city’s most profitable annual event, attracting more than 75,000 African Africans, both regionally and locally. Cincinnati Script Your Future partnered with HCAN (Health Care Access Now) on this event.

Reach: Approximately 500 cards disseminated to attendees

RxAnte Health Care Forum

More than half the participants were members of the Cincinnati coalition. Other groups attending included employers (Fifth Third Bank and Kroger), health plans (Anthem) and providers (TriHealth). The consensus was to strengthen the collaboration between Kroger and Script Your Future. Coalition members attending included Employers Health, Pfizer, Merck, Viable Synergy, Abbott, Kroger.

Reach: 20 health care leaders

Northern Kentucky University

After a presentation to the benefits managers who are part of the Tristate Workplace Wellness Collaborative, Northern Kentucky University included Script Your Future as a community resource in their spring employee brochure, published and available to 2500 employees and students. The school (health and wellness department) distributed 250 wallet cards, also downloaded the PDF for future use.

Reach: 2,500 employees and students

Ohio Pharmacists Association annual trade show

Exhibit booth at show, disseminate wallet cards and other campaign material.

Reach: 1200 pharmacists

Media

Traditional Media

Total Reach: more than 470,000

WKRC-CBS Interview

Interview for May 2011 ran on noon and evening broadcasts, as well as online.

Reach: Viewership of 430,000

Cincinnati Herald

Article on launch published in the Cincinnati Herald, read by 25,000 African Americans regionally and in the UC HealthNews, also distributed throughout the University of Cincinnati health care complex.

Story available online

Reach: Estimated readership of 15,000

Social Media

Reach: averages 75 impressions/weekly.

We shared/posted Script Your Future updates, adherence information and news from coalition members on LinkedIn and on Facebook.

Media Bridges

Reach: 165,000 Cincinnatians.

The public service announcement (spot with U.S. Surgeon General) will begin to air on Cincinnati’s four cable-access stations beginning the first week of April, 2012.

Cincinnati Regional Contact

Donna N. Marsh
Cell: 513.206.0476

City Flag of Providence, RIProvidence

Bob S. had his first heart attack in 1998, after which he found himself suddenly on several different, complicated medications. After a frank discussion with his doctor about the importance of adherence, something clicked. "If I followed my doctor's instructions and took my meds as prescribed, I could have many healthy years ahead of me." In addition to volunteering with the American Heart Association and Mended Hearts, Bob shares his story with Script Your Future Rhode Island and continues to reach out to cardiac patients about the importance of talking with health care professionals and taking medication as directed.

The Providence Target Market is a strong and diverse coalition of over 25 organizations. Two of the strongest partnerships have developed through the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and the professional organization for all pharmacists in the state, the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association. In addition to identifying consumer outreach opportunities and increasing its presence in the healthcare landscape in the state, the coalition is also working to broaden its reach to state-level agencies and major health systems.

Providence launched in May with the help of the Lieutenant Governor and a host of local panelists, including a student pharmacist.

Events

Total Reach: more than 1000

City of Providence "Seniors Day in the Park"

Held in conjunction with the city’s office of Senior Services and the Mayor’s Office. Staffed resource table, distributed materials and wallet cards.

Reach: Over 200 senior citizens

CDOE Annual Conference

Over 150 healthcare professionals (HCP) attended annual conference. Hosted resource table, distributed materials, and signed up over 50 healthcare professionals onto our coalition email alert list.

Reach: Over 150 Health Care Professionals

Presentation to SHIP counselors

Through coalition partner RI Division of Elderly Affairs, the campaign was invited to present to approximately 60 SHIP counselors from across the state. Sample materials were distributed followed by presentation of HCP website and overview of adherence issues

Reach: 60 health care professionals designated as SHIP counselors; community health workers designated as SHIP counselors

Medicare Open Enrollment campaign

Partnered with various organizations to have a presence at 20 events; met individually with several hundred patients and family caregivers at the events. Campaign materials placed in "goody" bags given out for duration of Medicare Open Enrollment via RI Division of Elderly Affairs, United Way, and The Point. Over 500 wallet cards distributed.

Reach: 500 seniors entering open enrollment period for Medicare; family caregivers

Annual Face of Pharmacy Event, hosted by RIPA and RI Society of Health Systems Pharmacists

Held at the RI State House as part of an annual advocacy day RIPA organizes. Campaign participated with a resource table for legislators. Governor’s Office presented a citation to University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy students who helped in the Advocacy Challenge in October. Short article ran in the Providence Business News.

Reach: Office of the Governor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly, RI Pharmacists Association, RI Society of Health Systems Pharmacists

Media

Total Reach: more than 180,000

TV & Radio

WPRO 630

Morning radio talk show interview on WPRO 630 with NCL’s Mimi Johnson to talk about campaign launch in RI, May 2011.

Reach: 127,000 adults ages 35-64 in RI and Southeast Massachusetts

WJAR-NBC

Secured with URI College of Pharmacy a segment on WJAR (NBC 10) morning news: "Coffee Cup" salute to the campaign and the participants in the adherence advocacy challenge.

Segement available online

Reach: 45,260 impressions in RI and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Traditional Media

GoLocalProv.com (news & info website)

GoLocalProv.com posted feature length story on Script Your Future campaign launch event.

Providence Business News

Providence Business News included interview with NCL’s Sally Greenberg on the campaign.

Additional article of note

Reach: 9800+ subscribers, sold at 155 outlets across RI and Southeastern Massachusetts.

RI Medical Society mailing

Newsletter insertion into mailing of RI Medical Society.

Reach: approximately 200 area physicians

Face of Pharmacy press release

Press Release highlighting Script Your Future and college of pharmacy advocacy work at annual Face of Pharmacy day run by Providence Business News.

Reach: 9800 subscribers; sold at 155 locations

Providence Regional Contact

Erin Arcand
Cell: 401.339.5802

City Flag of Raleigh, NCRaleigh

Patti Pozella is a pharmacist and teaches courses at the UNC Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, with extensive personal experience motivating patients and prescribers to improve adherence. Patti is now using Script Your Future in her courses as an example of a well-executed, comprehensive and integrated campaign on a public health issue.

The Raleigh target market has built a local coalition consisting of more than 30 health care organizations (both public and private), community care organizations, and individuals. The coalition has a particularly strong partnership with the North Carolina Alliance for Healthy Communities (NCAHC), which includes more than 35 health care related organizations working to improve medication adherence. Raleigh’s coalition meets in-person quarterly and communicates frequently via email and phone to plan and execute Script Your Future promotional events.

The Raleigh coalition, which launched in June at a local Kerr Drug pharmacy with the help of the Lieutenant Governor, offered campaign tools to more than 6,000 visitors receiving flu shots at the North Carolina State Fair. Coalition members have also placed ads and messaging on local buses, at health fairs and other public events.

Events

Total Reach: more than 5500

Raleigh Target Market Launch

Kerr Drug hosted the launch event which included remarks from NC’s Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton. 30 local partners attended the launch.

Reach: 75 attendees, including coalition partners, community leaders, and general public

North Carolina State Fair

UNC School of Pharmacy students passed out co-branded Script Your Future wallet cards to 5,000 local residents who dropped by Kerr Drug’s fair tents to receive flu shots.

Reach: 5,000 state fair attendees

NCAP Annual Conference

Outgoing NCAP President and Script Your Future Coalition member, Fred Eckel, showed the Script Your Future public service announcement (PSA) featuring U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin to the 600 conference attendees and asked everyone to log onto the website and take the pledge. Coalition members staffed a conference booth for two days and interacted with a majority of the pharmacists and pharmacy students in attendance.

Reach: 600 attendees at NCAP

NC Alliance for Healthy Communities Annual Meeting

Rebecca Burkholder spoke at the NC AHC Meeting in Cary. The conference focused on medication adherence and attendees included community leaders and representatives from Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Pfizer, GSK, Merck, and others. Wallet cards were passed out to the conference’s 75 attendees and a booth was set-up with additional information.

Reach: 75 attendees

"What the Health" Forum at GSK

130 community leaders and health care providers, including the CEO of Duke Health Systems and the former Secretary of Health and Human Services in NC, gathered at GlaxoSmithKline for a discussion about the current state of health care in NC. The Forum was broadcast live via the web. Script Your Future provided wallet cards to attendees, coalition members from Community Care of NC and Blue Cross Blue Shield served as panelists.

Reach: 130 health leaders

Media

Total Reach: more than 1,450,000

Kerr Drug

printed a Script Your Future newspaper circular in October that went out to subscribers in the Triangle area.

Related Pharmacy Times article Reach: 900,000 subscribers

My Carolina Today

Mark Gregory of Kerr Drug taped an interview in September with My Carolina Today, a 30-minute lifestyle show that aired on the local NBC affiliate.

Reach: viewership of 20,000

The People's Pharmacy

Mark Gregory of Kerr Drug also recorded a radio interview with The People’s Pharmacy, a health talk show, podcast, and web forum that reaches 500,000 monthly.

Reach: 500,000 subscribers

Wingate University

Wingate University ran the Surgeon General’s PSA on WUTV Student Television during the Fall Adherence Challenge.

Reach: 1,500 students and faculty

North Carolina State Health Plan

The North Carolina State Health Plan included an article in its January newsletter about the campaign, mailed to the Plan’s members in NC.

Reach: 660,000 members

Raleigh Regional Contact

Seth Dearmin
Office: 919.829.1132 x 106

City Flag of Sacramento, CASacramento

Maureen Lloy Groux is a clinical pharmacist. Using medication counseling and the Script Your Future wallet card, she saved the life of a non-adherent heart patient. The patient came in for a refill for a daily medication 5 days late, and after filling out a medication list, conversations with Maureen and the physician, and a new stent, the patient lived and appreciated the importance of taking his medicine as directed.

The Sacramento coalition includes a broad network of more than 40 organizations representing health care professionals, patients, community groups, multicultural organizations, health insurers, government agencies, elected officials and pharmaceutical companies. Two schools of pharmacy have become actively involved, with student and faculty participation and leadership at meetings and community events. Professional societies representing physicians, nurses and pharmacists have become Script Your Future champions, speaking on behalf of the campaign with their peers and affiliated community organizations. The coalition meets approximately three times per year, with committee groups meeting monthly as needed to plan and coordinate media, fundraising, outreach and community activities.

After launching in June, the Sacramento coalition has continued to partner in the community, including public health events and activities. The coalition hosted a health fair in the fall that was highlighted in the Sacramento Bee.

Events

Total Reach: more than 35,000

Launch Events

Media event at Rite Aid store featuring patient, coalition partners (Rite Aid and California Pharmacy Foundation) and Sacramento County Public Health Officer. Approximately 30 partners attended. Media coverage included story in online health policy website, community newspapers, and guest appearance on National Public Radio (Sacramento) public affairs program.

Reach: 75 health leaders and community members

ADA Sacramento Risk Assessment Campaign

10,000+ Script Your Future wallet cards included in risk assessment kits provided to approximately 10 area businesses and at patient/caregiver-focused community health events.

Reach: 10,000 diabetes patients and caregivers

American Pharmacist Month Events

Worked with coalition partners and students participating in the Script Your Future Student Pharmacist Advocacy Challenge to present a series of 10 community workshops (in multiple languages) and health fairs culminating with a media event at the Sacramento Asian Community Center. These events targeted multicultural communities, and included a presentation followed by medication management consultations and health screenings. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and City Councilman Darrell Fong were engaged, with the Mayor sponsoring a resolution declaring "Script Your Future Medication Adherence Awareness Week," and Councilmember Fong presenting it to California Northstate University College of Pharmacy. Activities were coordinated with coalition partners, including a California Pharmacists Association health fair at the State Capitol, and a Medication Take Back event coordinated by the California Society of Health System Pharmacists. Pharmacy students and faculty staffed booths at both events. Media coverage included a brief in the Sacramento Bee, which ran twice in print and online.

Reach: 300 community members at Asian, Latino, Arab and general community centers

Sutter Independent Physicians

Network medical director presented information about the campaign at a series of regional quarterly meetings for member physicians. Provided materials to 120 physicians for distribution at their offices. Co-authored newsletter article for inclusion in network newsletter, which is distributed via email to 500 physicians in Northern California.

Reach: 500 physicians

Direct Distribution of Campaign Materials

Distributed campaign materials to 40+ coalition members, health care professional societies, patient groups, community organizations, community health navigators, pharmacy students and retail pharmacies, for dissemination at the following: regular meetings (i.e., professional societies) conferences, elected officials, resource centers, health fairs, community and senior centers , clinics, and pharmacy counters.

Reach: 25,000 patients and HCPs who received wallet cards

Media

Total Reach: estimated at greater than 2 million

Newspaper placements

12 newspaper articles reaching a general public audience, such as:

Reach: 975,000

Radio reports
  • 1 public affairs program
  • 2 airings of launch audio news release

Reach: 200,000

Newsletter placements
  • 4 newsletter articles reaching approximately 34,500 health care professionals
  • 5 newsletter articles reaching nearly 90,000 consumers, patients, and caregivers

Reach: approximately 124,500

Facebook page posts
  • 18 posts to organization home pages

Journal placements
  • 3 journal placements reaching health care professionals

Reach: 705,000

Sacramento Regional Contact

Elaine Linn
Cell: 916.799.6438

Partners

Partnerships and Outreach

The strength of the campaign lies in its partners. At national, regional and local levels, partners have disseminated more than a quarter of a million wallet cards and interfaced with tens of thousands of patients and health care professionals about the importance of medication adherence. Via media outreach, coordinating of health fairs, exhibit space, and events with local celebrities or political figures, Script Your Future messages and tools have seen broad dissemination in communities across the country.

Public officials have championed the campaign, including U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Congressman Bill Posey (FL), Senator Jack Reed (RI), and Baltimore Public Health Commissioner Orixis Barbot. Script Your Future Proclamations have been made in Sacramento, Baltimore and Providence. Several regional launches and student pharmacist activities involved Governors and Lieutenant Governors.

Committed Partners

  • AARP
  • Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
  • Adheris Inc.
  • Aetna Behavioral Health
  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
  • American Academy of Physician Assistants
  • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
  • American Chronic Pain Association
  • American College of Cardiology Foundation
  • American College of Clinical Pharmacy
  • American College of Physicians Foundation
  • American Diabetes Association
  • American Medical Association
  • American Pharmacists Association
  • American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation
  • American Society of HealthBSystem Pharmacists
  • AmerisourceBergen
  • Amplify Public Affairs
  • Apothecary Products Inc.
  • Aprexis Health Solutions
  • AREA 4 AGENCY ON AGING
  • Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics
  • Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
  • AstraZeneca
  • AT&T
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • California Association for Nurse Practitioners
  • California Medical Association Foundation
  • California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT)
  • Cardinal Health Foundation
  • Care Continuum Alliance
  • Catalina Health Resource
  • Center for Health Value Innovation
  • Consumer Health Information Corporation
  • Consumer Healthcare Products Association
  • CVS Caremark
  • Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
  • Direct Care Alliance
  • Dominion Diagnostics
  • eHealth Initiative
  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • Employers Health Coalition of Ohio Inc.
  • FLAVORx, Inc.
  • Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy
  • Fresh Health
  • Generic Pharmaceutical Association
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Health Honors
  • Health Intelligence Partners
  • Health Partners
  • Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council
  • HealthPrize Technologies, LLC
  • Healthwise
  • HolaDoctor
  • IMS Health Inc.
  • Infield Health
  • Intelecare Compliance Solutions Inc.
  • Ipsos Health
  • J Peterson and Associates Inc.
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Kerr Drug
  • Lash Group
  • Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging
  • Maryland Board of Pharmacy
  • McKesson
  • Medco Health Solutions
  • MedFolio, LLC
  • Med Time Technology, Inc.
  • MEMOTEXT Corporation
  • Mended Hearts
  • Merck & Co., Inc.
  • Microsoft
  • Midwest Business Group on Health
  • MWV Healthcare
  • National Alliance for Caregiving
  • National Alliance for Hispanic Health
  • National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
  • National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation
  • National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
  • National Association of Social Workers
  • National Business Coalition on Health
  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  • National Community Pharmacists Association
  • National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
  • National Family Caregivers Association
  • National Health Council
  • National Pharmaceutical Council
  • NEHI
  • North Carolina Alliance for Healthy Communities
  • Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy
  • Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide
  • Optum
  • Patient Access Network
  • Peoplechart Corporation
  • Pfizer Inc.
  • Pharmaceutical Direct, Inc.
  • Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
  • Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc.
  • Pharmacy Foundation of California
  • Pharmacy Quality Alliance
  • Phreesia, Inc.
  • Physicians Pharmacy Alliance, Inc.
  • Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
  • Puget Sound Health Alliance
  • Purdue Pharma L.P.
  • Rite Aid
  • Sanofi
  • Society for Women’s Health Research
  • Surescripts
  • Thomson Reuters
  • United States Pharmacopeial Convention
  • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • VRI
  • Walgreens
  • WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Researchers

  • Nancy Allen LaPointe, Duke University Medical Center
  • Joshua Benner, RxAnte
  • Bruce Berger, Auburn University / Berger Consulting, LLC
  • Hayden Bosworth, Duke University
  • Lawrence Brown, University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy
  • Niteesh Choudhry, Harvard Medical School
  • Walid Gellad, University of Pittsburgh
  • Bradi Granger, Duke University Health System and Duke Translational Nursing Institute
  • William Shrank
  • Ira Wilson, Brown University

Government Agencies

  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Healthcare Quality
  • Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency
  • Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
  • Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women’s Health
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • Million Hearts
  • National Institutes of Health
  • TRICARE Management Activity

Looking Forward

  • Continued outreach
  • Explore new target markets
  • Survey follow up
  • Expanded media strategies

Sponsors

  • AARP
  • Adheris, Inc.
  • American College of Physicians Foundation
  • American College of Cardiology Foundation
  • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
  • American Pharmacists Association Foundation
  • American Society of HealthBSystem Pharmacists Foundation
  • AstraZeneca
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Cardinal Health Foundation
  • Catalina Health Resource
  • Cigna Foundation
  • Consumer Healthcare Products Association
  • CVS Caremark
  • Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
  • Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy
  • Generic Pharmaceutical Association
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • Lash Group/AmerisourceBergen
  • McKesson
  • Medco Foundation
  • Merck & Co., Inc.
  • MWV Healthcare
  • National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation
  • National Community Pharmacists Association
  • National Pharmaceutical Council
  • Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
  • Pfizer Inc.
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Purdue Pharma L.P.
  • Sanofi
  • Schering-Plough

How to Help

Become a Committed Partner. Join the growing Script Your Future community.

Participate: Take part in campaign working groups (Chronic Condition, Health Care Professional, Evaluation and Communication), local coalitions, national and target market events

Share: Co-brand materials and disseminate to consumers; share campaign information with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through your internal networks

Connect: Identify and introduce NCL to potential Committed Partners, nationally and in our target markets

Contribute: Financial and in-kind contributions sustain core campaign operations and strengthen and broaden its reach.

Thanks

Thanks for your support!

Questions? Comments? Please contact us:

Larry Bostian
National Consumers League Development Office
Office: 202.207.2826