Operating a pharmacy is a complicated process. Every detail has to come together in just the right way. Otherwise, any number of problems can arise, not the least of which are understocks, miscommunications, medication errors, and leaving patients without their essential prescriptions. Those issues can certainly be costly for pharmacies, but the costs run far deeper than lost revenue; even a minor mistake can cause patients harm or even cost them their lives.
With that being the case, it’s important to streamline operations as effectively as possible. Improving efficiency in a pharmacy’s workflow can help prevent costly and potentially dangerous mistakes. It’ll certainly bolster consumers’ trust. It may also help the pharmacy to develop new revenue streams to take advantage of. Consider some of the premium pharmacy tools and helpful tactics that most effectively streamline operations.
Automation
In almost every industry automation can go a long way toward streamlining workflows. It also reduces manual administrative duties and minimizes the potential for human error. It can speed up many processes as well. Pharmacies aren’t exceptions to that rule. Though accuracy is more important than speed in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, automation can foster both elements without sacrificing either of them.
Automation has the potential to optimize pharmacy operations in many ways. For one, it can help with inventory management by tracking stock in real time, predicting reorder points, monitoring expiration dates, and coordinating suppliers. That ensures patients’ medications are always available when they need them. Automated dispensing systems can speed up the process of filling prescriptions while also ensuring patients’ orders are filled correctly. Billing processes can be automated as well. Those are only a few of the ways automation can help pharmacies operate more efficiently.
Training and Delegation
Training and delegation are also crucial for optimizing pharmacy workflows. With thorough training, and potentially cross-training, pharmacy support staff members can handle many routine tasks. Those include preparing and dispensing medications, checking out customers, restocking, handling routine questions from customers, answering phones, and updating patients’ information. They can also handle automated systems and equipment.
That, in turn, leaves pharmacists free to handle the tasks their support team members aren’t authorized for. That might include patient education, medication consultations, administering immunizations, and covering health screenings. Being able to delegate routine tasks to team members helps to reduce bottlenecks. It also keeps everyone on task. Having enough staff members on hand based on patient volumes and other factors further improves efficiency.
Comprehensive Digital Pharmacy Platforms
Digital pharmacy platforms are also immensely helpful for streamlining pharmacy operations. Numerous solutions are available for pharmacies, including medication databases, inventory management systems, claims management platforms, e-prescription systems, and CRMs to name a few. Of course, the more of a disconnect there is between each of those platforms, the greater the risk of errors and oversights.
Using a comprehensive digital pharmacy platform greatly reduces silos and their potential repercussions. These platforms provide multiple services in a single system. That creates a seamless experience for pharmacists, their support staff members, and their patients.
Improving the Way Pharmacies Operate
Running a pharmacy can be complicated. Though there’s little room for error in this field, there are also few ways to truly avoid them. Streamlining workflows and improving efficiency can be effective ways to eliminate many potential problems. The points mentioned here are among the best ways to do so. Properly training and delegating responsibilities to support team members and taking advantage of the latest technological tools can help pharmacies better serve their customers.