Celebrating Community Pharmacists: An Interview with Bruno Tching, PharmD, RPh

In this interview, our Pharmacy Network Manager, Teresa Gerbig, PharmD, RPh, speaks with Bruno Tching, PharmD, RPh, an independent, family-owned pharmacy owner, to explore his experiences and perspectives on the critical role of community pharmacists. Bruno shares his insights on the importance of pharmacists in their communities, the trust they cultivate with patients, and the potential for independent pharmacies to engage in clinical research.

Bruno owns and operates Inland Pharmacy in Hemet, CA. He has participated in several RxE2 study referral programs and recently took part in a challenging study that started and was completed within the same month. The pharmacies committed to participating in this tight timeline study before knowing the number of patients that may be identified. It so happened that Bruno had the most patients on his list of any other pharmacy in the study.

Beyond the obstacle of the tight study timeline, Bruno’s pharmacy was also directly affected by the recent California wildfires. His pharmacy was without power for several days, and the pharmacy staff was challenged to continue pharmacy operations and serve their community. As Bruno appreciates the opportunities RxE2 referral programs offer his patients, rather than resigning from this opportunity, he reorganized by bringing in an extra pharmacist. He set aside dedicated time so they could focus on the study activities in the short time remaining to meet the deadline. Inland Pharmacy completed its patient list and was the most successful pharmacy with respect to the number of referred patients.

RxE2 is grateful and proud of Bruno and his pharmacy team. Their dedication was a large part of the study’s success despite the hardships. Read our interview with Bruno below:

Teresa: Bruno, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. To start, could you share a bit about yourself and your pharmacy?

Bruno: We are an independent, family-owned pharmacy, and recently celebrated our 50th anniversary.

Teresa: Recently, your pharmacy was impacted by the fires in California. Can you share how that affected your pharmacy, your patients, and the challenges you faced?

Bruno: The fires were complicated by heavy winds, which led to power outages. We couldn’t operate. Some pharmacies brought in generators, but our building wasn’t equipped with a power transfer switch to allow generator use. We invested in power cells to sustain fridges, freezers, servers, network switches, and routers. We filled prescriptions manually until electricity and the internet were restored.

Teresa: The news reported about communities coming together during that devastation. What did you observe in your own community?

Bruno: I heard from patients that neighbors with generators were helping those without power. Patients were understanding of the situation. The community cooperated and helped each other.

Teresa: What can you tell us about your experience with the RxE2 referral programs?

Bruno: We’ve been part of the CPESN since the very start in California. CPESN brings RxE2 programs to its members. At first, I was a little apprehensive about it because we didn’t quite understand how it was going to work within independent pharmacies and how it would affect our patients. But later on, as I learned more about it, the first program seemed pretty straightforward, and we got on board.

Teresa: Where do you see independent community pharmacies going in the future?

Bruno: It’s not looking that great right now for independent pharmacies. Reimbursement is getting pretty aggressive. But you can’t really get away from that because our patient base is tied to filling prescriptions. The future definitely lies within services. Some states allow their pharmacists to do more than others, and I hope legislation increases the scope of practice for all pharmacists in the future. Here at Inland Pharmacy, we’re providing services and focusing on holistic care, addressing health equity, and using community health workers to help patients navigate and educate themselves…filling in those gaps in healthcare.

Teresa: What would you say to pharmacists and pharmacies that are undecided about participating in RxE2 referral programs?

Bruno: I think you have to consider the fact that due to our accessibility and our relationship with the patients, we’re in the best position to identify potential candidates for clinical studies. For example, it could be a life-changing drug for the patient, and you could be a part of that. Doing the things that are maybe a little uncomfortable can help you grow and make everything else a little easier.

Bruno’s insights underscore the vital role community pharmacists fulfill in their communities. From dispensing medications to delivering essential services and engaging in clinical research, pharmacists are devoted to enhancing patient outcomes and fostering community well-being.