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The statistics tell the story. Pharmacist burnout rates in excess of 60%. Nearly half of pharmacists are dissatisfied with their jobs, and 75% percent citing increased work volume as the primary reason. Even worse, 60% of pharmacists said that job pressures could jeopardize safe patient care. A visit to a local pharmacy can be unsettling. Phones unanswered. Lines to pick up prescriptions, ask the pharmacist a question, or check in for an immunization, and clearly not enough staff available to help. In today’s community pharmacies, something clearly has to give.
It could be, though, that an extra team member is waiting in the wings, in the form of a pharmacy management software system. Systems such as PrimeRx offer user-friendly functionality that automates pharmacy workflows, allowing pharmacists to recapture critical time and breathe a little easier knowing that all systems, such as prescription intake, inventory management, dispensing, clinical services, medication adherence, and claims processing, are operating seamlessly and accurately.
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Is Pharmacy Burnout a Workforce Problem or a Technology Problem?
A report by the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Retzky College of Pharmacy cited several reasons for pharmacist burnout, including “a high-stakes, high-workload environment, staffing inadequacies, and inefficient work processes, including cumbersome documentation requirements.”
As serious as these factors certainly are, none is insurmountable. In fact, each can be addressed through pharmacy workflow automation, helping pharmacies streamline operations. With just a few keystrokes, pharmacists can accomplish routine tasks that previously required significant chunks of time.
Surescripts, for example, reports that its electronic prior authorization solution eliminates roughly 10 minutes of work for each patient request. And by identifying alternative medications that don’t require prior approvals, Surescripts estimates that its Real-Time Prescription Benefit solution eliminates more than 132,000 hours of wait time each month!
What Does Pharmacy Workflow Automation Actually Do?
As these examples make clear, automation can be a real game-changer in today’s busy pharmacy. But in choosing a pharmacy management software system, a pharmacist should carefully review each system’s capabilities to ensure it offers comprehensive automation capabilities. Not all systems are the same, so buyer beware!
From Intake to Dispensing: How PrimeRx Handles Prescription Processing
The industry-leading PrimeRx, for example, is a good example of a system that offers tools for pharmacy workflow automation, contained within a single platform. The system’s automation functionality kicks in the moment a prescription arrives in the pharmacy.
With most prescriptions arriving electronically, PrimeRx automatically reviews each document, validates patient, prescriber, and payer information, identifies any potential medication conflicts, and moves each request into the dispensing queue. Patient records are updated, labels printed, inventory adjusted, and when medication dispensing is complete, patients are notified via an automated text or email.
The entire process is seamless, eliminating the manual work that eats into valuable staff time. And the results are win-win: Improved patient outcomes, improved accuracy, and improved pharmacy efficiency.
Taking the Guesswork Out of Inventory Management
The same is true with PrimeRx’s inventory management functionality. The system seamlessly tracks and manages the pharmacy’s inventory, which allows managers to know the precise content and value of their inventory at any given time. Additional capabilities include:
- Full compliance with all Drug Supply Chain Security Act technology requirements.
- Expiration date tracking with an alert generated whenever medications need to be removed from inventory.
- Ability to maintain separate inventories, including listings for 340B participants.
- Compounding accommodations, whereby supplies of drugs used to produce a medication are adjusted automatically.
- Identification of the most popular medications, with the ability to adjust reorder levels so that supplies are continually replenished. Similarly, the system facilitates orders of less-utilized drugs that may be too costly to keep in stock, but must be available when a patient is in need.
- Automatic Reordering. Once the quantity of a medication reaches a predetermined level, PrimeRx will automatically submit a reorder request.
- Purchase Order Generation. The system allows pharmacies to create online purchase orders that are electronically transmitted to a supplier.
- Drug pricing/ordering within the dispensing workflow. Inventory management becomes even easier with the PrimeRx MARKET solution, which is an online marketplace that allows pharmacies direct access to dozens of wholesalers and suppliers. The solution works within the pharmacy workflow to quickly identify all sources that have a particular drug in stock. PrimeRx MARKET quickly generates a side-by-side cost comparison from which a pharmacist can place orders.
PrimeRx MARKET effectively raises the bar in terms of ease of use and functionality. Whereas other marketplaces have helped pharmacies facilitate the drug purchasing process, PrimeRx MARKET is the first system that allows this functionality within the pharmacy workflow. No need to leave the pharmacy management system and access another screen. PrimeRx MARKET is truly the next step in pharmacy workflow automation.
How does Pharmacy Software Free Your Team for Clinical Services?
Clinical services have become essential to pharmacy business operations, both as an important tool in providing quality patient care and in boosting the bottom line. But too often, clinical services trigger extensive compliance and reporting requirements that can deter an already busy pharmacy from pursuing additional opportunities.
PrimeRx, though, automates many of the requirements associated with clinical services, allowing pharmacies to offer important services with minimal effect on staff time and more opportunity for meaningful patient engagement.
Clinical Services PrimeRx Supports
- Automated immunization reporting
- PrimeRx facilitates automated immunization reporting by automatically transmitting patient records to state/local immunization information systems (IIS). In addition, the system identifies immunization opportunities among pharmacy patients.
- Medication Therapy Management (MTM)
- Pharmacists can create and manage comprehensive MTM plans that capture required information, including personal history, medication review, action plan, and follow-up notes, along with other supporting features.
- Patient Recordkeeping
- Regardless of the clinical service offered to a patient, the system allows pharmacists to maintain detailed records of every interaction. In addition to medication records, pharmacies can capture personal information that might be useful when engaging with a patient. Pharmacists can record notes and observations following each interaction.
- Other clinical services
- These benefits from PrimeRx include point-of-care testing, compounding, diabetes management, and smoking cessation, to name a few.
What Makes PrimeRx the Right Pharmacy Automation Solution for your Team?
A busy pharmacy needs a pharmacy management system that makes life easier. A system that doesn’t involve extensive staff training, or components that don’t “talk” to each other, or requires multiple steps to accomplish a simple task.
PrimeRx was developed specifically for the needs of today’s independent pharmacy. Pharmacists told us their pain points and how technology could help. And we listened, and designed a system that does indeed make life easier.
What Sets PrimeRx Apart
- The system is fully integrated, with all processes managed within a single operating platform. This means, for example, when a medication is dispensed, a record of the transaction is automatically reflected in a patient’s record, inventory is adjusted, compliance protocols satisfied, and business records updated.
- Key processes are visible via a customized dashboard, which reduces the risk of dispensing errors and the need for extensive training on multiple systems.
- The system can be customized to meet each pharmacy’s specific needs.
- Best of all, the system’s extensive functionality serves as an extra “team member” that is always on call, never calls in sick, and never makes a mistake. Your PrimeRx team member is always ready and willing to help!
A Better Way Forward for Your Pharmacy
Pharmacist burnout is a legitimate and serious concern in today’s pharmacies. An alarming number of pharmacists say job-related stress has affected their mental health, and even caused many to leave the profession. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Pharmacy workflow automation can be a game-changer in improving pharmacy operations, accomplishing tasks in seconds and freeing up valuable staff time. The benefits can be immediate and significant.
PrimeRx is ready to be that extra team member your pharmacy has been waiting for, one that works tirelessly behind the scenes so your staff can focus on what matters most: your patients. Reach out today to learn how PrimeRx can help your team work smarter, not harder.
FAQs
Can pharmacy workflow automation replace the need for pharmacy staff?
No, automation handles repetitive operational tasks, freeing your team to focus on clinical care and patient relationships.
Does PrimeRx help with regulatory compliance?
Yes, PrimeRx includes built-in compliance tracking and alerts to help pharmacies meet regulatory requirements with less manual oversight.
Is pharmacy management software difficult to implement?
No, PrimeRx is designed to integrate into existing pharmacy workflows with minimal disruption to daily operations.
Can automation improve patient safety in the pharmacy?
Yes, automated drug interaction checks and accurate medication dispensing tools significantly reduce the risk of human error.
Is PrimeRx suitable for independent pharmacies, or only large chains?
Yes, PrimeRx is built to scale, making it a strong pharmacy automation solution for both independent pharmacies and multi-location operations.