Yvonne Eberling: Shaping iCare+ Success

One of the ways my role supports independent pharmacies is by leveraging digital marketing tools such as social media, email marketing, and search engine optimization to connect with a broader audience of patients who can benefit from our iCare+ products and services. By implementing a mix of local and banner ad campaigns, we strategically target each pharmacy’s community when launching the iCare+ program.

This includes identifying potential patients, educating them about the pharmacy’s offerings, building trust and brand awareness, and driving foot traffic by showcasing unique services, promotions, and community engagement initiatives. Ultimately, my role is unique as it acts as a bridge between the pharmacy and its target audience, helping to increase sales, customer loyalty, and community presence.

What motivates me most about working with independent pharmacies is their ability to provide personalized care to their patients and communities. Coming from a retail pharmacy background, I deeply appreciate the “freedom to pharm” that independent pharmacies embrace, tailoring their services to meet the unique needs of their communities. Unlike the one-size-fits-all or assembly-line approach that many retail pharmacies have fallen victim to, independent pharmacies remain dedicated to individualized care, which I find both inspiring and rewarding.

Our team collaborates closely with various departments to better serve our members, with iCare+ ScriptPass program being a great example of this collaboration.

We worked hand-in-hand with the IT and finance teams to develop and launch our own prescription savings program. This tool leverages our formulary to help members offer cash savings on generic medications to their customers—without significantly reducing profit margins or incurring losses on each sale. The IT team played a crucial role in building the price lookup tool and algorithm, while the finance team supports the program by providing rebates on processed claims for members who are part of our iCare+ network. Together, these efforts enhance value for our members and their customers.

If IPC had a time capsule, I would include our brand guidelines along with samples of marketing content and collateral. I’ve always enjoyed looking back at vintage magazines or marketing materials to see how brands and companies have evolved their design and messaging over time. It would be fascinating for future generations to see how IPC’s identity and communication have grown.

Working at IPC has completely reshaped my perspective on the pharmacy industry. Coming from the retail space, I initially saw wholesalers in a more technical or supply chain-focused way, without much consideration for customer or member services. However, I’ve come to realize that IPC is so much more than a distributor of drugs—it’s a cooperative that operates with a member-first mindset, putting independent pharmacies at the center of everything it does. Additionally, IPC has changed how I view working in larger healthcare organizations. Unlike many billion-dollar companies, IPC genuinely cares about and values every single employee, from top to bottom. I’ve never felt more appreciated or supported at any other company than I do at IPC, and that’s a rare and refreshing experience.