Bioscript was founded to solve a specific problem. In 2001, a research study of a drug delivered by infusion—that is, directly into the bloodstream via IV—was being conducted at a New Brunswick hospital, but the space was needed for something else. To help complete the study, pharmacist David Ford — who would soon found Bioscript — set up an infusion clinic at his pharmacy. It was so well-received that he started opening other clinics in New Brunswick.
“Patients who need infusion therapy, especially when they’re newly diagnosed, are in a vulnerable position. Coming to need these specialized services can be very traumatic and anxiety-inducing,” says co-founder Andrew Steeves. “It’s important that they have time to ask questions to stay fully informed about their care plan.” At Bioscript pharmacies, when new patients get onboarded, they get an average of 51 to 59 minutes of face time with pharmacy staff.
Hiring at Bioscript includes behavioural assessments and structured interviews to filter candidates accordingly; after that, training is heavily values-focused. That extends to leadership. In the past 12 months, the company hired a new CEO and CIO. Bioscript worked with a search firm, and the process took a fair bit longer than was ideal, but that’s just how long it took to find the right candidates.