Tips for Improving Your Pharmacy Workflow

Efficiency can be the difference between a profitable or unprofitable pharmacy. It also impacts patient satisfaction and stress levels for all parties involved.

Where can you find opportunities to become more efficient in the pharmacy? Everywhere! Communication, physical pharmacy setup, inventory management and prescription processing all represent key opportunities for improved efficiency.

We sat down with our very own Nicole Bernabe — a finalist for 2016 PTCB Pharmacy Technician of the Year — to discuss pointers on what the modern pharmacy can do to become more efficient.

1. Optimize your physical workflow setup

Designing and executing an organized community pharmacy workflow will reduce redundancies, confusion and errors. Implementing systems like a directional assembly line (whether from left to right or vice versa) helps keep medication touch points clear in every step of the process for your pharmacy team. Color-coded baskets, a simple yet effective tool, also help reduce errors and enhance prioritization.

“Even simple changes like increasing the pharmacists’ proximity to specific touch points can help increase efficiency and enhance productivity in the pharmacy workflow and patient care services."

- Nicole Bernabe, CPhT

2. Streamline movement in the pharmacy

How many steps do your technicians and pharmacists take to get their work done and provide high quality patient care? No, seriously — how many? It may seem silly, but mapping the travel of pharmacy staff can help identify unnecessary steps. Does the pharmacist or technician have the tools needed to complete the task at hand? Is there any way to bring the work closer to the worker? Think small and see if you can uncover ways to save time by streamlining movement behind the counter.

“Observe your pharmacy on a typical day. Where are the bottlenecks happening? What can we move around to help staff members fill prescriptions?"

- Nicole Bernabe, CPhT

3. Convert your pharmacy to a telepharmacy

Telepharmacy software works to make pharmacies more efficient by optimizing the workflow. Here are some quick tips on how telepharmacy, or remote dispensing, can help improve your retail pharmacy workflow:

• Remote dispensing reallocates the task of prescription processing to the technician so that the pharmacist is no longer a rate-limiting step in the workflow.
• In a telepharmacy, prescriptions are filtered into virtual “smart queues.” Smart queues allow remote pharmacists to easily navigate the workload after they are done counseling patients and providing clinical services.
• The remote pharmacist can counsel patients via live-video call while standing at their workstation. Think back to streamlining movement in the pharmacy. The remote pharmacist can review telepharmacy prescriptions and counsel patients all without leaving their workstation.

“Telepharmacy software helps optimize the workflow by advancing the role of the pharmacy technician. Telepharmacy also increases the time a pharmacist can spend with patients.”

- Nicole Bernabe, CPhT

Through thoughtful planning, you can develop efficiencies in your pharmacy. Each of these tips can help improve pharmacy workflow and positively impact your bottom line.

“Always look to improve your pharmacy workflow, and using your staff is a great place to start. Ask pharmacy staff to take a step back and observe all your pharmacy’s key processes. Do they see issues? Are there any delays? Have your team brainstorm ideas on how to become more efficient.”

- Nicole Bernabe, CPhT

Within the intricate symphony of pharmacy operations, inefficiencies and challenges can disrupt the harmonious flow, affecting revenue potential and overall success. Today, we explore the orchestration of a pharmacy in perfect harmony, where seamless workflows and optimized processes create a virtuoso performance. By addressing key issues and leveraging the power of Outcomes®–Rx30, ComputerRx, and Outcomes clinical platform, we can delve into the depths of workflow challenges, revenue impacts, and the transformative path to operational excellence. 

Dissonance in the Workflow 

Let's dive deeper into the specific issues that commonly plague pharmacies, hindering their ability to operate seamlessly and efficiently.

• Manual Tasks

  • Excessive reliance on manual tasks introduces inefficiencies and the potential for errors. Pharmacists and pharmacy staff often find themselves burdened with time-consuming activities like manual data entry, inventory management, and paperwork. These manual processes are prone to human error and can significantly slow down the workflow, impeding productivity and accuracy.

• Inefficient Prescription Processing

  • Pharmacy workflows can be plagued by inefficiencies in prescription processing. This may include bottlenecks in prescription verification, excessive wait times, and miscommunication between healthcare providers and pharmacies. Such delays not only hinder patient satisfaction but also impact revenue generation by reducing the number of prescriptions filled within a given timeframe.

• Unsynchronized Medication Refills

  • Lack of synchronization in medication refills poses another challenge to workflow harmony. When patients have multiple prescriptions with different refill dates, it becomes difficult to manage inventory, coordinate pickups, and ensure optimal medication adherence. Unsynchronized refills not only disrupt the workflow but also result in wasted resources and potential revenue loss.

• Inadequate Patient Engagement

  • Pharmacies that struggle with engaging patients face challenges in promoting medication adherence and fostering positive patient experiences. Limited communication channels, insufficient educational resources, and minimal patient interaction can hinder patients' understanding of their medications and decrease their motivation to follow prescribed regimens. Inadequate patient engagement undermines patient outcomes and may result in revenue loss due to decreased prescription refill rates.

To transition from discord to harmony, pharmacies need to address these challenges head-on. By implementing strategic solutions and leveraging modern technologies, pharmacies can streamline their workflows, enhance operational efficiency, and create a harmonious environment where all components work seamlessly together. 

A Workflow with Perfect Pitch

Let's delve into the key elements of a harmonious workflow and envision the transformative power they hold.

• Automated Prescription Processing

  • Imagine a world where prescription processing is automated, eliminating the need for manual data entry and minimizing errors. Advanced pharmacy management systems seamlessly integrate with electronic health records (EHRs) and provide electronic prescribing capabilities. This automation expedites prescription verification, improves turnaround times, and reduces the administrative burden on pharmacy staff. By reducing manual tasks, pharmacists can focus on providing clinical expertise and patient care, ensuring prescriptions are filled accurately and promptly.

• Optimized Inventory Management

  • In a harmonious pharmacy workflow, inventory management is a well-tuned instrument that ensures adequate stock levels, minimizes waste, and maximizes revenue potential. Through sophisticated inventory management systems, pharmacies can track medication usage, set reorder points, and automate purchasing processes. Real-time inventory visibility allows for efficient stock replenishment, preventing stockouts and reducing carrying costs. This optimization in inventory management streamlines workflow, minimizes manual intervention, and enhances the overall operational efficiency of the pharmacy.

• Enhanced Patient Engagement

  • Patient engagement takes center stage in a harmonious workflow, fostering positive experiences and driving medication adherence. Imagine a pharmacy equipped with patient-centric tools and resources, such as medication therapy management (MTM) programs and personalized counseling. These initiatives empower patients to better understand their medications, adhere to prescribed regimens, and actively participate in their own healthcare journey. By nurturing strong patient-pharmacist relationships and employing effective communication channels, pharmacies can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and ultimately generate revenue through improved prescription refill rates and loyalty.

• Seamless Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals

  • The pharmacy workflow extends beyond the boundaries of the pharmacy itself. In a symphony of efficiency, collaboration with healthcare professionals is seamless, enabling coordinated care and maximizing revenue potential. Integrated communication platforms facilitate real-time information exchange between pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare providers. This collaboration ensures accurate and timely medication reconciliation, enhances patient safety, and supports comprehensive patient care. By aligning efforts with healthcare professionals, pharmacies can tap into new revenue opportunities, such as collaborative practice agreements and expanded clinical services.

Create a Masterpiece with Outcomes

• Rx30 Conducting Capacity, Speed, and Robust Capability
  • Like a skilled conductor, Rx30 harmonizes the operations of even the highest-volume pharmacies and chains. With lightning-fast speeds and unmatched capacity, Rx30 sets the stage for an efficient and seamless workflow. Its intuitive tools act as a symphony's melody, streamlining operations, maximizing efficiency, and keeping the workflow moving forward. From prescription processing to inventory management, Rx30 ensures each note is played flawlessly, minimizing errors and optimizing performance. With Rx30 as the conductor, pharmacies experience a crescendo of capacity, speed, and robust capability, delivering a seamless experience to both staff and patients.
    
    
• Computer-Rx Composing a Simplified and Intuitive Workflow 
  • Within the realm of pharmacy management, Computer-Rx composes a masterpiece of simplicity and efficiency. Computer-Rx integrates and expands productivity throughout the entire pharmacy workflow. Its interfaces are designed with intuitive precision, guiding pharmacists and staff through each step seamlessly. This simplicity enables pharmacies to achieve a melodic balance between high-level reporting and patient-focused efficiency. From prescription processing to customizable configurations, Computer-Rx's intuitive design creates a rhythm of productivity, where each task flows effortlessly and contributes to an overall optimized workflow.
    
    

When Outcomes solutions come together in perfect harmony, pharmacies experience the transformative power of an efficient workflow, achieving operational excellence, enhancing patient experiences, and maximizing revenue potential.

A Standing Ovation-Worthy Workflow 

It is time to embrace the transformative power of finding workflow harmony with Outcomes. Leverage the power of Rx30, the high-capacity solution that satisfies even the busiest pharmacies. Experience the simplified and intuitive workflow provided by ComputerRx, where productivity is seamlessly integrated into every step. Harness the patient-centric approach of Outcomes, identifying revenue-generating opportunities and fostering long-term loyalty. A standing ovation for your improved efficiency, enhanced patient experiences, and increased revenue growth awaits you.