sions,” (drugstore.com achieves one million online shoppers). Customers have the option to personalize their shopping experiences with a shopping list, e-mail reminders to replenish regularly used products, and private e-mail access to pharmacist and beauty experts for questions.The pharmacy division at drugstore.com has been awarded the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) certification by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as a fully licensed facility exercising the best safe pharmacy practices in compliance with federal and state laws. The RxML program, which enables participating Physician Connectivity Companies (PCCs) to transmit electronic prescriptions securely on-line to pharmacies via their electric prescribing applications, was completed by drugstore.com in May 2000. Incorporating the RxML standard provides physicians and other health care providers the capability to transmit accurate electronic prescriptions securely, thereby reducing the potential for prescribing errors, increasing overall efficiencies, and helping physicians better help their patients. Lee Ann C. Stember, NCPDP president, states, “The adoption standard will unify a rapidly-changing industry and deliver more efficient and effective communication between physicians and pharmacies—and ultimately their mutual patients.”The acquisition of Beauty.com, a leading on-line retailer of prestige beauty products including specialty lines exclusive to the site, has expanded drugstore.com’s product base and provides the benefits of an ongoing relationship with a team of industry experts. In addition, a strategic alliance with Rite Aid in 1999 allows customers to order prescription drugs on-line for same day pick-up at a conveniently located Rite Aid drugstore. Potential benefits perceived from this alliance include increased traffic at the website with Rite Aid customers using their services, pharmacy benefits co...
