Check out our Business Innovation Award Winner: Meadow Miles Pharmacy & Compounding
A retail pharmacy in Calgary, AB, Meadow Miles Pharmacy & Compounding shares space with physicians and specialists in an adjoining clinic, all of whom access the same Electronic Medical Record system. The pharmacy features a variety of “clinic hubs” that integrate directly with traditional pharmacy services to help fill gaps in patient care. For example, Meadow Miles launched Alberta’s first pharmacist-led “Iron Hub” clinic to address patients’ iron deficiency via IV and oral iron therapy. There are also clinics geared to COPD/asthma, dermatology and specialty medication onboarding.
Why they won
The team at Meadow Miles has designed a scalable, replicable hybrid pharmacy and clinic model that is solving real-world gaps in care. The Iron Hub ensures patients who were previously delayed due to anemia can now proceed with surgery on time. Similarly, patients who used to wait weeks to navigate the system for specialty medications can often start their therapy within days. Plus, the pharmacy team is constantly looking at developing new clinic services as patient needs arise.
What the judges said
“Innovative approach, providing a level of patient care and physician collaboration that is uncommon and needed.”
Not only does the pharmacy team schedule regular patient outreach and continuous chronic disease monitoring, but there is universal vaccine screening at intake to ensure every interaction with the patient is an opportunity for preventative care. The pharmacy team navigates Special Authorization medication applications and appeals too, saving time for physicians to focus on more complex patients.
The fact that Meadow Mile’s patients will regularly drive up to 45 minutes for services is further proof that the pharmacy model is working. This integrated system is a positive step towards a sustainable pharmacy practice of the future.
We asked the Meadows Mile team . . .
How can pharmacists be more effective at integrating practice excellence with business sustainability?
“Clinical excellence and business sustainability shouldn’t be treated as opposing goals. What we’ve found is that when care models are designed with clear workflows, appropriate compensation, and outcomes that are measurable, they become both clinically meaningful and financially viable for the pharmacy. We believe sustainable practice comes from doing the right work well, not from doing more work for free—and from building systems that allow pharmacies to keep investing in their teams and patient care. That has remained true for us.”