No matter how much you may wish for it, you can’t add extra hours to your day. The more important goal is to get the most productivity out of the time available.
Your pharmacy productivity levels impact every hour you spend on your business. It shapes the patient experience, influences revenue, affects staff well-being, and determines your growth trajectory.
The good news? If you are looking for ways to augment your productivity, technology can help.
In this article, we’ll explore pharmacy productivity and what increasing it means to your revenue and your patient care. How can utilizing modern tools help you get more done in less time?
Allowing available technologies to streamline some of your operations can be like getting hours of your day back and revenue back in your pocket. We’ll provide some helpful tips you can use to get started immediately.
Let’s jump right into it.
How Productivity Impacts Your Pharmacy
In the context of a pharmacy, productivity means efficiently managing daily tasks and patient interactions. It’s maximizing output without sacrificing quality service or employee well-being.
Increasing productivity involves optimizing every aspect of your pharmacy’s operations—from how quickly prescriptions are filled to how staff handle patient queries.
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There are many common reasons your pharmacy might not be operating at its peak. Here are a few you may recognize:
- Inefficient workflows, poorly designed workspaces, and obsolete processes create bottlenecks, impeding service and response times.
- Cumbersome or outdated technology can prevent your pharmacy from processing prescriptions quickly and accurately.
- Insufficient, improperly trained, or disengaged staff can lead to errors and delays.
These are certainly challenges, but they also present opportunities for improvement. When productivity is optimized, your pharmacy succeeds. Here’s why:
- A productive pharmacy minimizes wait times and errors, leading to higher patient satisfaction and retention.
- Efficient processes allow you to handle a higher volume of prescriptions without additional costs, ultimately increasing revenue.
- Streamlined operations and better technology mitigate the chances of prescription errors.
- Efficient workflows can reduce stress, create a more positive work environment for your staff, and, in turn, increase engagement, inspire innovation, and decrease turnover.
5 Tools To Increase Pharmacy Productivity
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5 Tools To Increase Pharmacy Productivity
If you’ve noticed a decline in productivity, you may be wondering how to address it. One of the most immediate and reliable ways to increase your pharmacy’s productivity is by utilizing modern technologies.
Here are five to consider:
1. Inventory Management Systems
A pharmacy inventory management system is a tool that automates various aspects of handling inventory in a pharmacy.
It manages the ordering process to minimize manual management tasks and locates products to expedite prescription fulfillment. Then, when supplies are low, it automates restocking notifications.
The result? Your pharmacy is consistently stocked with the medications patients need, reducing the risk of having overstock or insufficient inventory.
2. Patient Engagement Tools
At heart, pharmacies are people-oriented businesses. The patient experience you provide sets you apart from your competition.
Patient engagement tools, like some software solutions, can help enhance trust and loyalty while increasing productivity. They handle routine communication and inquiries so that staff can focus on more complex patient needs.
Specific examples include the following:
- SMS messaging allows pharmacy staff to handle patient inquiries via text.
- Patient portals give patients access to their prescription information and allow them to make payments.
- Automated reminders let patients know their prescription status. They can be notified when prescriptions are received, filled and ready for pick up.
- Broadcast messaging can engage groups of patients simultaneously with vaccination reminders, promotional offers, and health tips, driving engagement without adding extra staff workload.
3. Digital Prescription Integration
Digital prescription software is also known as e-prescribing software. It integrates with your pharmacy management system and allows you to organize and process prescriptions electronically.
This technology enhances productivity by automating the entry, verification, and dispensing of prescriptions. It minimizes errors, such as misreading handwritten prescriptions.
Additionally, it expedites the process by instantly adding new prescriptions to your workflow.
Digital prescription integration also helps maintain regulatory compliance by checking prescriptions against current regulations and notifying pharmacists of potential issues.
4. Telepharmacy Solutions
Telepharmacy is part of the trend toward telehealth solutions involving digital tools that enable pharmacists to work securely and remotely with patients and providers.
Pharmacists can check prescriptions from any location and conduct consultations via video calls. Telepharmacy benefits pharmacies operating in multiple locations or those with limited on-site staff.
5. Digital Communication Tools
Digital communication tools like eFax and texting streamline many traditional processes.
With eFax, you can send and receive faxes securely over the internet, eliminating the need for fax machines, dedicated phone lines, and paper.
This service works on any device and network, offering flexibility and reliability. It allows pharmacists to communicate with healthcare providers and insurance companies without as many limitations.
Direct secure messaging options also allow pharmacists to communicate with providers quickly and securely, reducing time spent on phone calls and ensuring accuracy.
Since most people always keep their smart devices nearby, texting provides a direct and immediate way to communicate with patients and staff.
Text messages can be used for appointment reminders, medication alerts, and quick responses to patient inquiries. They reduce the need for phone calls and streamline patient service.
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How You Can Start Increasing Productivity at Your Pharmacy Right Now
Now that we’ve identified some common productivity challenges that pharmacies face and ways to alleviate them, you may be ready to implement them in your business. If you are ready to uplift your pharmacy productivity, here are actionable steps you can take now:
Leverage Data Analysis To Identify Bottlenecks.
Examine your current processes and pinpoint where delays and inefficiencies occur.
Use data analytics tools that integrate with your pharmacy management system to analyze workflows, prescription fill times, and staff performance.
Provide Targeted Staff Training.
Invest in training programs focusing on your pharmacy’s greatest needs.
Whether it’s training on new software tools, customer service skills, or efficient workflow practices, enhancing your team’s skills can supercharge productivity.
Collect and Act on Patient Feedback.
Create a system that collects feedback through digital surveys or direct communication. Use this feedback to fill service gaps and adjust delivery and operations.
Set Productivity Benchmarks.
Establish clear, measurable goals for different areas of your pharmacy’s operations. For example, you might set a goal to:
- Reduce prescription fulfillment time by 25%.
- Minimize patient wait times by using SMS messaging to inform them of prescription status.
- Automate administrative tasks by implementing management software.
Watch these benchmarks. Track your progress and make changes to your approach as needed.
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Research Tools That Meet Your Specific Needs.
Every pharmacy is unique, so finding technology solutions that cater to your specific needs is vital. Look for software that is customizable and scalable. Browse websites like Capterra to read reviews and compare your options.
It’s always wise to try before you buy. Some software solutions, like Updox, offer free demos so that you can see how they function in a real-world setting.
