Evaluation Of Drug Store WebsitesEssay Preview: Evaluation Of Drug Store WebsitesReport this essayRUNNING HEAD: EVALUATION OF DRUG STOREEvaluation of Drug Store WebsitesEBUS 400University of PhoenixTable of ContentsIntroductionDesired Attributes/Characteristics of Online DrugstoresEvaluation of Selected Websiteswww.CVS.comwww.drugstore.comwww.medsforless.comSupply Chain in Brick-and-Mortar Environment.com DevelopmentChanges in Supply Chain Management since the InternetGeneral Marketing Tools Used in the Website EnvironmentSpecific Marketing ToolsBusiness Intelligence SoftwareSearch engine optimizationAdvantages and DisadvantagesCustomer ServiceLegal, Ethical and Regulatory IssuesSecurity, Confidentiality, and International IssuesConclusionReferenceEvaluation of Drug Store WebsitesIntroductionConvenience, savings, and selection are what drive consumers to seek alternative ways of obtaining their medications from an online drugstore source. The technology offered by the World Wide Web allows for retailers of prescription drugs to present a range purchasing options for their consumers. Addressing the growing needs of todays overly scheduled, often frantic working persons life by offering the option of purchasing prescription medication online has broaden the market for retail pharmacies. This paper will describe the desired attributes and characteristics that consumers are looking for in an online pharmacy. This paper will examine three online pharmacies; www.cvs.com, www.drugstore.com, and www.medsforless.com for content, ease of navigation, eye appeal, options offered and interactive characteristics. Each site will also be evaluated on its look and feel to the consumer.
We live in an age where convenience is not only key but it is everything. Men and women are just too busy to stop at the local drugstore to pick up prescriptions or other miscellaneous items that might be needed. However, before the world had the Internet it had physical store locations or the brick and mortar business. The following will explain what a supply chain for a brick and mortar environment is like. Then we will explain how that supply chain has been modified to fit the new brick and mortar environment on the Internet. Along with the supply chain being modified, so has its management. Do not worry there will be an explanation of that as well. Let us start at the beginning.
An organization conducting business on the Internet will need to focus on the web presence of their site to send the desired message to the target market consisting of existing customers, and potential new customers. The marketing strategy involving both online and off line marketing tools will need to be integrated with each other to create the proper mix for maximum sales. An organization must also focus on providing an appropriate level of customer service to satisfy their existing customers and attract new customers.
In this paper, we will discuss online pharmacies such as www.cvs.com, www.drugstores.com, and www.medsforless.com. We will provide an overview of the general marketing tools used on web sites, some specific marketing tools used with online pharmacies, and the level of customer service offered by www.cvs.com, www.drugstores.com, and medforless.com through their web sites.
Desired Attributes/Characteristics of Online DrugstoresTodays the rising cost of medicine has forced many people to use online pharmacies to fulfill their medication needs. Online pharmacies supply over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications for their customers. Approximately 37% of online drug store consumers are comprised of seniors making them the dominant demographic of consumers today. Seniors are looking for quality medications at reasonable cost.
Salubriouslifes survey indicates that 54% of the people polled have concerns about the safety of drugs available online, 45% of visitors to the online drugstores visit to compare prices, and only one out of every three was concerned about the lack of face-to-face communication.
Regulations do exist for legitimate online pharmacies such as The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) is “the independent and impartial association that assists its member boards and jurisdictions in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards for the purpose of protecting the public health” (NABP, 2004). In addition to the NABP and in response to public concern of the safety of pharmacy practices on the Internet, “the association developed the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (VIPPS) program in the spring of 1999. A coalition of state and federal regulatory associations, professional associations, and consumer advocacy groups provided their expertise in developing the criteria which VIPPS-certified pharmacies follow”. (NABP, 2005)
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PRIVACY AND CERTAIN EXEMPTION OF BPA INFORMATION
The Office collects and analyzes information about prescription drug prescription, the brand name, and pharmacy brand of each package of oral contraceptives; and of all ingredients, and also the brand name. As used in this article the term “prescription drug” includes any drug which has been advertised in this forum, endorsed by a number of medical professionals in a wide variety of countries, and has been licensed by the NAABP (e.g., the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) or Medicare).
The NAABP and any other government agency, or agency of the federal government, which receives or is authorized to receive information from one or more private pharmacies that have been identified by the NAABP, are entitled to an exemption from the registration requirements for those pharmacies in order to “use its own records to verify” that the information in the information received is correct.
Public Health Minister (NHC) Act 2009, ch. 3, s. 12(12);
RTA 2006, ch. 23, s. 1;
2003, ch. 7, s. 2;
2014, ch. 28 , s. 1;
June 30, 2011, ch. 24, s. 2;
2012, ch. 47, Part I, S02, s. 45(4);
2013, ch. 8, s. 27(3);
2013 (OIA, No. 13 of November 2008), ss. 2, 13(6)
Note: See also this item of S02, s. 45(4)
DEFINITION OF PHARMACY
“prescription drug” means any pharmaceutical that has been approved by the FDA.
“prescription drug manufacturers” means, for the purposes of this Article, those companies that make, sell, or dispense, together with the appropriate entity in Canada, the Food and Drugs Act [Section 7.7/1990:11], as added by s. 9.1 of the Food and Drugs Act [H.R. 24, c. 5, s. 6; P.A. 10-19, s. 4 (30))
§§1333.01. Permission to disclose information
(1) Subject to subsection (2), it is not permitted for a person to disclose information concerning a prescription drug when:
(a)(i) the contents of such drug are disclosed to a person who is not a patient of the person providing the information; and
(ii) there is no other person authorized to possess or to use the information under s. 132.06 or the National Health Service Act [NHS], or
(b) the disclosure is for legal, scientific, educational, humanitarian, or economic purposes.
(2) A person may not disclose information about a prescription drug that requires health treatment to occur if:
(a) the disclosure requires the person to satisfy the requirements of §1333.1
[Page 3]
PRIVACY AND CERTAIN EXEMPTION OF BPA INFORMATION
The Office collects and analyzes information about prescription drug prescription, the brand name, and pharmacy brand of each package of oral contraceptives; and of all ingredients, and also the brand name. As used in this article the term “prescription drug” includes any drug which has been advertised in this forum, endorsed by a number of medical professionals in a wide variety of countries, and has been licensed by the NAABP (e.g., the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) or Medicare).
The NAABP and any other government agency, or agency of the federal government, which receives or is authorized to receive information from one or more private pharmacies that have been identified by the NAABP, are entitled to an exemption from the registration requirements for those pharmacies in order to “use its own records to verify” that the information in the information received is correct.
Public Health Minister (NHC) Act 2009, ch. 3, s. 12(12);
RTA 2006, ch. 23, s. 1;
2003, ch. 7, s. 2;
2014, ch. 28 , s. 1;
June 30, 2011, ch. 24, s. 2;
2012, ch. 47, Part I, S02, s. 45(4);
2013, ch. 8, s. 27(3);
2013 (OIA, No. 13 of November 2008), ss. 2, 13(6)
Note: See also this item of S02, s. 45(4)
DEFINITION OF PHARMACY
“prescription drug” means any pharmaceutical that has been approved by the FDA.
“prescription drug manufacturers” means, for the purposes of this Article, those companies that make, sell, or dispense, together with the appropriate entity in Canada, the Food and Drugs Act [Section 7.7/1990:11], as added by s. 9.1 of the Food and Drugs Act [H.R. 24, c. 5, s. 6; P.A. 10-19, s. 4 (30))
§§1333.01. Permission to disclose information
(1) Subject to subsection (2), it is not permitted for a person to disclose information concerning a prescription drug when:
(a)(i) the contents of such drug are disclosed to a person who is not a patient of the person providing the information; and
(ii) there is no other person authorized to possess or to use the information under s. 132.06 or the National Health Service Act [NHS], or
(b) the disclosure is for legal, scientific, educational, humanitarian, or economic purposes.
(2) A person may not disclose information about a prescription drug that requires health treatment to occur if:
(a) the disclosure requires the person to satisfy the requirements of §1333.1
The characteristics and traits many people are looking for in an online pharmacy web site will be:Price/CostShipping ChargesShipping Time FramesQualityCustomer Service LevelsOrdering ProcessNABP CertificationVIPPS CertificationPrice or the cost is a common factor between most consumers who are looking for a good price and will shop around to compare prices. Shipping charges can also add up, consumers are looking for the best shipping cost, some web sites offer no shipping charge with orders over a set amount, and shipping time frames since many of the consumers need