The effort highlights the value of collaboration between Laura McDonald, business coach, and Gold Eneyo, Director of Clinical Services, who provided clinical services expertise. Together, they helped Bayshore Pharmacy move from interest to implementation, supporting a customer that was highly motivated, community-focused, and ready to invest the time required to launch an advanced clinical service.

With support from Cencora and Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Bayshore Pharmacy completed the DSMES accreditation process and positioned itself to bring a needed diabetes education service to its local community.

The challenge: Building a clinical service model beyond traditional dispensing

Like many independent pharmacies, Bayshore Pharmacy is operating in an environment where prescription dispensing alone may not be enough to support long-term growth. In New Jersey, where opportunities to bill for pharmacy services can be more limited than in some other states, the pharmacy recognized the need to proactively identify new ways to serve patients while building a more sustainable business model.

Diabetes is prevalent among the New Jersey population, with the state reporting a prevalence rate of 9.2% to 10.2%.¹ For patients who are newly diagnosed or struggling to manage their condition, diabetes can feel overwhelming. Patients may need help understanding medications, lifestyle changes, blood sugar monitoring, injections, nutrition, stress management and long-term risks, but they may not always have enough time to address those questions during traditional healthcare encounters.

DSMES offered a structured way for Bayshore Pharmacy to help close that gap. However, the path to implementation was complex. To achieve accreditation, the pharmacy needed to prove it could deliver the full program before it could begin billing for the service. That required putting a pilot patient through the program, collecting the required data and submitting information for approval.

The process demanded significant commitment. Rich Stryker, the pharmacist driving the effort, invested an estimated 80 to 100 hours into the work. The challenge became even more complex when the pilot patient experienced health-related obstacles, including surgery, requiring the pharmacy to adjust timing, delivery methods, and follow-up while keeping the program on track.

The opportunity: Helping patients manage diabetes through trusted pharmacy support

DSMES gave Bayshore Pharmacy an opportunity to address a clear care need while expanding the role of the pharmacy in chronic disease support. The program is designed for patients who are newly diagnosed with diabetes or who are having difficulty managing the condition, including those whose A1C levels may be increasing.

Through ten hours of education, DSMES helps patients better understand diabetes and how it affects the body. Topics may include healthy eating, physical activity, medication use, insulin management, stress management, complication prevention and strategies for day-to-day disease management. The program also creates space for patients to ask questions, learn from others, and build confidence in managing their health.

For Bayshore Pharmacy, DSMES aligned naturally with its broader wellness focus. The pharmacy already had important assets in place, including strong provider relationships, a diabetes educator, community connections and marketing support from wife, Jill Stryker, who plays a key role in outreach and promotion. During the launch, the community came out to support Rich and Jill including people from the mayor’s office and the health department. 

Additionally, a community healthcare worker reinforced the local need by noting that many patients she supports could benefit from this kind of diabetes education.

Because Bayshore Pharmacy was identified as the only pharmacy in its community offering this service, DSMES represented both a clinical opportunity and a community impact opportunity.

The action: Pairing business coaching with clinical guidance to bring DSMES to life

The DSMES journey began through relationship-building and collaboration. At ThoughtSpot, Rich shared his interest in launching DSMES, and Gold offered to help him understand and pursue the program's requirements. Laura brought the business coaching perspective, drawing on her relationship with Bayshore Pharmacy and her understanding of the pharmacy’s goals, operations and growth mindset.

Gold provided the clinical services expertise needed to help the pharmacy navigate DSMES requirements, accreditation steps, and program design considerations. Laura helped ensure the opportunity connected to the pharmacy’s broader business strategy, operational readiness, and long-term sustainability.

Together, Laura and Gold helped Bayshore Pharmacy connect business strategy with clinical execution. Their collaboration reflected the broader value of Cencora’s support model: business coaching helped assess workflow and readiness, while clinical services expertise helped translate a complex program into actionable implementation steps.

To complete the accreditation requirements, Rich developed an eight-topic curriculum and delivered the pilot program through flexible formats, including in-person and phone-based education. The implementation was not simply about completing an accreditation checklist; it was about building a patient-centered service model that could work in real life. 

The business impact: Preparing for sustainable growth through pharmacy-led education

DSMES gives Bayshore Pharmacy a pathway to diversify revenue by adding a billable clinical service based on patient education rather than product volume. Once Medicare approval and billing are in place, the pharmacy will be able to charge for eligible DSMES services while delivering structured education that supports better patient understanding and care.

The model becomes especially meaningful through group classes. By educating multiple patients in the same session, the pharmacy can create a more scalable service model while helping patients learn from one another. Group education also allows for culturally relevant conversations, such as discussing healthier alternatives for foods connected to a patient’s background or traditions.

Recruitment will be an important next step as Bayshore Pharmacy moves from accreditation into broader program delivery. Rich’s early growth vision included building two or three cohorts of at least 15 patients, with flexibility for makeup classes as needed. Over time, there may also be opportunities to expand DSMES into settings such as nursing homes and group homes.

Beyond reimbursement, DSMES strengthens Bayshore Pharmacy’s role as a community wellness destination. It supports the pharmacy’s broader strategy around preventive care, chronic disease support, and wellness education. Richard’s father, the original owner of Bayshore Pharmacy, attended in support of the program and shared how proud he is of Richard for launching this wellness program. He reflected that he never imagined pharmacy practice would evolve so far into clinical care, making this milestone especially meaningful. He was also excited to see that the DSMES program is eligible for Medicare reimbursement, recognizing it as an important step toward long-term sustainability for Bayshore.

A photo of Richard Stryker and his father who came out to support the launch of the DSMES program at Bayshore Pharmacy.

Outcome: Laying the groundwork for broader diabetes care in the community