The GCR Wake-Up Call: How Small Buying Decisions Are Crushing (or Saving) Pharmacy Margin | TWIRx

 Independent pharmacies are dispensing more prescriptions than ever—but too many are seeing their profits shrink month after month. In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, hosts Todd Eury and CEO of MatchRx Johny Kello sit down with Saeed Dinno Director of Pharmacy for a group of independent pharmacies in MI. For a practical, plain-English breakdown of one of the most overlooked metrics impacting pharmacy profitability: GCR, let's dive into this! This episode isn’t about policy debates, compliance theory, or vendor hype. It’s a real-world conversation designed to help pharmacy owners, managers, and buyers understand how everyday sourcing and dispensing behaviors directly influence margin—often without anyone realizing it. Saeed explains what GCR actually measures, what it does not measure, and why two pharmacies filling the exact same prescription can end up with completely different financial outcomes. From convenience buying and emergency orders that become routine, to default NDC selection and a disconnect between the buyer and the bench, the episode highlights the subtle habits that quietly erode profitability over time. More importantly, the conversation delivers actionable steps pharmacies can implement immediately. Saeed outlines the core disciplines that improve performance—smarter buying strategy, better alignment between purchasing and dispensing, and simple operational guardrails that don’t slow workflow. The focus is not on “working harder,” but on working differently. The episode closes with a clear, clip-worthy takeaway: one specific action pharmacy leaders can take this month to start moving the needle. If you’ve ever wondered why your pharmacy is busy but the numbers don’t reflect it, this is an episode you’ll want to listen to twice—and put into practice the very next day. Second segment of TWIRx is with Jonathan Adly, CEO of TJM Labs, to discuss his powerful new book, The Innovative Pharmacy: How to Build an 8-Figure Pharmacy One Idea at a Time. At a time when independent pharmacies are being squeezed by rising labor costs, shrinking reimbursements, and increasing operational complexity, Adly delivers a refreshing message: success is still possible—but it requires innovation, clarity, and execution. Jonathan shares why this book is not a “one-size-fits-all” business blueprint, but a collection of real-world frameworks inspired by hundreds of high-performing pharmacies across the U.S. and Canada. We explore the principles behind sustainable growth, including identifying your ideal customer, building scalable systems through automation, simplifying operations, and playing offense when the math works. This conversation is a call to action for pharmacy leaders ready to build smarter, faster, and stronger—one bold idea at a time. This episode of TWIRx is sponsored by MatchRx, TJM Labs, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and Sykes & Company.