WNY pharmacies have used ‘allco’ to do more than 300 social care assessments this year

When wellconnected talks about using software to improve the lives of community members who need help, this is what we mean.

A pilot project led by the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is demonstrating how community-based pharmacies can play a meaningful role in connecting people to social care.

Using the wellconnected 'allco' platform, participating pharmacies screened nearly 300 community members during the program's first several months and generated more than 80 closed-loop referrals to nonprofit organizations and social service providers.

Those referrals address challenges such as food insecurity, housing instability, transportation barriers and other social determinants of health that can significantly affect quality of life.

“Because community pharmacies are deeply embedded in local neighborhoods, they capture vulnerable individuals who may not regularly see a primary care doctor, injecting vital social data into the broader WNY healthcare ecosystem,” said Steven Butzler, wellconnected’s community engagement lead.

The initiative launched in late 2025 based on a simple idea: pharmacies are among the most trusted and accessible points of contact in the healthcare system. For many people, they are a regular touchpoint that can help identify challenges beyond medication and medical care.

Through allco, pharmacy staff conduct standardized social needs screenings and make secure digital referrals to community-based organizations equipped to provide assistance. The platform also allows those referrals to be tracked through resolution, creating accountability and helping ensure community members receive the support they need.

The project has gained momentum across participating pharmacies throughout Western New York. Vital Pharmacy currently leads the network in screenings, with strong participation from partners including Middleport Family Health Center and Black Rock Pharmacy.

The University at Buffalo is also working to connect the initiative to HEALTHeLINK, the region's health information exchange. That integration would allow social care needs and referral outcomes to be viewed alongside clinical information, creating a more complete picture of patient well-being for healthcare providers.

The early results demonstrate both the need for these services and the value of creating structured referral pathways within trusted community settings. By meeting people where they already receive care, pharmacies can become an important bridge between healthcare and social support systems.

We are grateful to the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and participating pharmacy partners for their leadership on this project. Together, they are helping create a more connected and responsive system of care for the people who need it most.