Introduction
Community pharmacies have long been the most accessible point of care for patients, and their role in clinical research is becoming increasingly vital. Pharmacists are bridging the gap between innovative medical studies and the patients who need them most. We sat down with Dr. Tammy Bullock , a clinical pharmacist at Osterhaus Pharmacy, to discuss her team’s participation in the CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) Study with RxE2. From workflow strategies to overcoming common misconceptions about capacity, Tammy shares how a community-focused approach to recruitment is transforming the pharmacy’s role in modern healthcare.
Q&A with Pharmacy Research Leader Tammy Bullock
Teresa: Tammy, thanks for joining us today. To start, could you give a brief overview of the program you participated in and a little background about yourself and Osterhaus Pharmacy?
Tammy: I have been a pharmacist at Osterhaus Pharmacy for several decades, serving in both pharmacist and clinical coordination roles. Osterhaus has always been a progressive pharmacy; we have been involved in studies related to asthma, cholesterol, and quality of life for years. When RxE2 approached us, it felt like a natural fit. This study was unique because our role centered on recruiting patients and referring them to a central call center. It involved smartwatch technology to explore risks for coronary artery disease, which was a very interesting concept to introduce to our patients.
Teresa: This was your first time with RxE2, but not your first research initiative. Did you have specific goals or expectations set for this program?
Tammy: Honestly, we didn’t have many initial expectations; we really just wanted to see how things worked with RxE2. One goal we did have was to be efficient and perform well within the 30-day incentive window. We wanted to hit the ground running and ensure we were doing a good job from an operational standpoint.
Teresa: You mentioned aiming to be efficient. What specific strategies did you use to incorporate this study into your existing workflow?
Tammy: We utilized our medication synchronization program. Our med-sync coordinator identifies who is coming in, and I would flag their prescription bags or baskets. This allowed us to capture patients face-to-face when they arrived. I also found it helpful to sneak away for “focus time” to make calls, though the real success came from being able to recognize patient names as they popped up in our daily tasks.
Teresa: Time and resources are often cited as barriers. What do you say to neighboring pharmacies that are hesitant to participate in research due to these concerns?
Tammy: I think the biggest misconception is that pharmacies don’t have the capacity. If you have good workflow in place, it’s much more manageable than it looks from the outside. For example, when I couldn’t make calls, I used text messages to reach out to patients. I developed a rhythm and a “script” where I could quickly identify if a patient was interested. Once you get into that rhythm, it becomes very natural.
Teresa: These programs are designed so tasks can be delegated. Do you feel a pharmacy technician could have just as much success with this recruitment?
Tammy: I believe so. It’s all about the relationship and the conversation. If you have a technician who has good patient relationships and feels comfortable engaging in those conversations, it’s a win-win.
Teresa: Finally, what do you think is the single biggest key takeaway for achieving success in these programs?
Tammy: You need a pharmacy champion to take the lead and ensure things are getting done. It needs to be someone who is part of the pharmacy home and has established credibility with the patients. Because we have long-standing relationships, that trust makes the conversation about unique healthcare opportunities so much easier.
Final Words
The experience at Osterhaus Pharmacy highlights that the future of clinical research isn’t just in a lab—it’s in the community. By identifying the “low-hanging fruit” and utilizing modern communication tools like texting, Tammy and her team proved that research can be integrated into a busy pharmacy workflow. Ultimately, the success of the CAD study recruitment relied on the values of trust and accountability, showing that when patients believe in their pharmacist, they are more than willing to learn more about the future of medicine.
