Why Cloud-Based Pharmacy Platforms are Essential for Growth

Before discussing the specifics of pharmacy cloud solutions, it’s useful to understand what exactly is meant by cloud computing. A simple definition, offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), describes the concept as “the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.” Instead of “buying, owning, and having to maintain physical data centers and servers,” businesses contract with cloud providers to access technology services.

The 5 Essential Characteristics of Cloud-Based Platforms

Cloud-based platforms typically include five essential characteristics, which, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), include:

• 1. On-demand self-service

• • A user can directly access technology capabilities from the source. No interaction with the service provider is needed.

• 2. Broad network access

• • A user has the flexibility to access resources from anywhere the network (typically the internet) is available.

• 3. Resource pooling
  • Multiple users share the resources made available by the provider. CRS provides an analogy of homeowners and businesses using electricity, but without knowing which specific plant generated the power.

• 4. Rapid elasticity

• • Users can quickly increase or decrease their level of computing activity based on changing needs.

• 5. Measured service

• • Service providers can monitor each customer’s usage for billing and other purposes. Another analogy offered by CRS compares this to the metered use of electricity or water.

Cloud vs. Traditional Systems: Key Differences

Cloud-based solutions differ significantly from traditional computing systems in ways that include:

• Portability
  • Traditional systems require hardware components such as desktop computers that are connected to a server. Equipment is only functional when it is in proximity to the server, limiting a user’s ability to move beyond that physical space. Cloud-based systems allow accessibility from any internet-connected computer, with all software and data located in the cloud and quickly accessible.

• Software Maintenance/Upgrades
  • Traditional systems rely on costly, often time-consuming, and disruptive software upgrades. Cloud-based systems are automatically updated, with no disruption to a business’s operations. No need to invest in expensive servers or software packages.

• Scalability
  • Whereas traditional systems require a user to purchase a fixed amount of computing and storage capacity, cloud-based systems are based on a monthly fee. Businesses pay only for the bandwidth they need.
• Cost Efficiency
  • Traditional systems require costly investments in servers, software, backup services, and maintenance. With cloud-based solutions, these expenses are eliminated. Instead, a user pays a monthly subscription fee to a single service provider.
• Security
  • Traditional computing systems are susceptible to disruptions resulting from power outages, software glitches, and security breaches. Cloud-based systems avoid these risks since all data is securely encrypted and stored in off-site facilities.

What Cloud Technology Makes Possible for Pharmacies

Specific to pharmacies, cloud-based solutions improve operations and workflows, with direct benefits to patient care, cost efficiency, and overall pharmacy management. Imagine, for example, the flexibility to manage a refill queue or submit an inventory order from a remote location, or have real-time pharmacy access while delivering medications to patients’ homes. With a comprehensive cloud-based solution, these “nice to haves” become realities, along with other capabilities including:

• Prescription processing and e-prescribing.
• Drug interaction checks
• Regulatory compliance tools
• Customer transaction management
• Real-time data access from any location.