Every year, PioneerRx sponsors a pharmacy software survey from Direct Opinions, an independent market research firm. Pharmacy Software Reviews compiles the results of the survey, show here.
Powered by PioneerRx and Direct Opinions
Every year, PioneerRx sponsors a pharmacy software survey from Direct Opinions, an independent market research firm. Pharmacy Software Reviews compiles the results of the survey, show here.
Powered by PioneerRx and Direct Opinions
Blog: Your Guide to Choosing a Pharmacy Software
Read our blog for advice and best practices when researching a software system for your pharmacy. Learn about questions to ask in the buying process, what to be aware of when reading online reviews, and how to find a software that is right for your pharmacy.
How to Choose a Pharmacy Software
Choosing a new pharmacy software is an important decision. It’s like getting a new phone or a new car - you’ll be using it every day, so you want to make sure you do your research and make the right investment. Whether you’re opening a new pharmacy or looking to convert from your current pharmacy system, you should keep some factors in mind when evaluating your options.
What is Medication Misuse? + 3 Ways to Handle It
Patient care is more than filling a prescription on time. It’s also more than giving them an annual flu shot or COVID booster. Sometimes patient care has nothing to do with dispensing medications — sometimes it has to do with the exact opposite. Medication misuse continues to be an integral part of patient care. Handling it requires compassionate yet firm leadership. It’s never an easy conversation to have with your patient, but it’s your responsibility as a healthcare professional. It’s...
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Why You Should Consider Home Delivery Pharmacy Services
The pharmacy industry is constantly evolving. Independent pharmacies are expected to be more than just a place where patients pick up prescriptions. Likewise, your pharmacy software system should have features that further modernize your small business. As the industry evolves, so do ways for patients to receive their prescriptions. Sometimes the most efficient way to pick up prescriptions doesn’t involve the pharmacy. Enter the home delivery pharmacy program. You’ve almost definitely...
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How to Handle the Latest Pharmacy Technician Shortage
A pharmacy’s success can ebb and flow according to real-life events. Like any small business, your independent pharmacy must adjust to whatever comes its way. Conflict and adversity are inevitable, so planning ahead for the oncoming storm is essential. Shortages are a common part of modern-day businesses, mainly due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has hit the pharmacy industry in many ways. It has changed how you work, clean your pharmacy, and your entire...
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How to Get the Most Out of Med Sync Services
Pharmacy work goes beyond the pharmacy. As a healthcare professional, you know a patient’s health journey is neverending. Likewise, helping your patients achieve a clean bill of health can be a lifelong endeavor. Your patients lead busy lives, where picking up their medications can be too time-consuming. Repeat visits further exacerbate this. Your patients hold convenience in high regard. The more convenient you make their pharmacy visit, the more likely they will return. That’s what...
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How to Earn More Revenue With Clinical Pharmacy Services
The pharmacy industry is always advancing. New innovations in technology also offer new opportunities to generate revenue. Independent pharmacies are small businesses after all. You know that selling prescriptions is hardly the only way to make a profit in your independent pharmacy. Furthermore, you probably already offer a slew of clinical services that provide a big financial boost to your independent pharmacy. Progress is the name of the game, and you’ll want to take advantage of as many...
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What You Need to Know About Financial KPIs
In the world of business, success is a long game. A successful business enjoys sustained streaks of success, not settling for a short-term, flash-in-the-pan moment of triumph. With that in mind, it’s essential to know how your business succeeds and how you can harness that winning spirit toward other parts of your business. This is where key performance indicators (KPIs) come in. To run a successful business, you need to know your strengths and why they’re strengths. This is the case in the...
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What To Look For in a Pharmacy POS System
You’ve typed up the prescription. You’ve four-pointed it, filled it, and visually verified it. Now it’s time to give the medication to your patient. The process of selling prescriptions seems like a relatively simple one. However, there is more to the point-of-sale process than meets the eye. Selling a prescription goes beyond conducting a transaction. All sorts of factors come into play when at the last stage of the prescription process. Though there are a few lesser talked-about aspects...
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The Ins and Outs of ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations)
You spend money to make money. Likewise, you need to save money to maintain a genuine profit. As a healthcare professional, you want your money’s worth with all the services you provide and the prescriptions you sell. Accountable care organizations embody this idea. Overspending is common in all fields of business and healthcare, and ACOs are a direct response to this. Learn how ACOs work and how you and your pharmacy software system can reduce spending within the industry.
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Spring Clean Your Pharmacy With These 5 Tips
Now that you’re past the hectic holiday season, it’s time to take stock — literally. The new year and the incoming spring season are the perfect time to start fresh. Pharmacies are a chaotic environment: you and your pharmacy staff constantly fill and sell prescriptions, usually at an urgent pace. Before you know it, your independent pharmacy becomes cluttered with unnecessary products. Now that the ice is thawing, it’s time to clean your pharmacy and give it a light — but needed — facelift...
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What to Look for in a Pharmacy Software System Review Site
Picking a pharmacy software system shouldn’t be an impulse decision. Your software is essential in meeting your pharmacy’s long-term and short-term goals. It’s essential to be mindful and cautious of which software best suits your needs. There is no one-size-fits-all software. Each pharmacy software system has its own quirks and characteristics. Your final decision needs to be well thought out and definite. There are many ways to help you on this road of crucial decision-making. Almost all...
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Be the Best Online Pharmacy with These Tips
The name of the game is adaptation. For independent pharmacies, being ahead of the curve is essential. Innovation is basically a prerequisite for running your small business. There are plenty of avenues you can go through to further modernize your independent pharmacy. All businesses are jumping into the online marketplace, which customers find more convenient than waiting in long lines. Though your independent pharmacy might not be as crowded as before, there are still plenty of ways to max...
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Which Pharmacy Software Do Customers Stick With?
That’s what some independent pharmacies end up asking themselves when it comes to their software system. They may have been satisfied at first, but it gets to a point where they realize their software vendor is no longer a good fit. With a bad software system, pharmacies can lose valuable, time, money, and resources. How can you ensure you don’t end up in the same situation? If you’re researching vendors to find a new software system for your pharmacy, it can be helpful to know which vendors...
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AI in Pharmacy: What You Need to Know
Is it a passing fad? Or is it here to stay? The pharmacy industry focuses more on automation and convenience than ever before. Patients have high expectations for their pharmacies and for good reason. You, your staff, and your independent pharmacy all play an integral role in your patient’s health. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest technological innovation that is taking the world by storm. Though AI has played a role in the tech industry for decades, it has never become more access...
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How Pharmacy Claims Reconciliation Can Impact Your Pharmacy
The business side of running a pharmacy is sometimes as important as the healthcare side. You’re operating a small business, so you must ensure that you’re getting properly compensated for your work. That’s what pharmacy claim reconciliation is all about. It’s making sure you’re properly reaping the benefits of your hard work. Just like the rest of the pharmacy industry, pharmacy claims reconciliation can look overly complicated and intimidating — which isn’t incorrect. Nevertheless, it’s...
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What Makes People Like Their Pharmacy Software System?
Picking a pharmacy software system is a long-term investment. You want to find a great match for your pharmacy and be satisfied with your decision, not find yourself regretting it. This software system will help shape your pharmacy’s workflow and overall success. It’s a decision of great consequence and responsibility. The best point to start is to figure out exactly what fellow pharmacists look for in software. Customer satisfaction scores are a powerful metric to consider when evaluating...
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What to Know Before Getting an Independent Pharmacy Delivery Service
There is room for innovation in all aspects of pharmacy. You can optimize your pharmacy’s filling efficiency, your patient adherence, clinical services — the list goes on and on. Operating your pharmacy to its full potential always leaves room for improvement. In some cases, it goes beyond filling a prescription, how many vaccines you offer, or the slew of clinical services you have. In this case, it’s all about how your patients get their medication. With the industry focusing more on...
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How to Make Filling a Prescription Faster + Easier
Modern-day pharmacy relies on clinical services and value-based care. The industry favors pharmacies that are doing more than just filling a prescription. Your independent pharmacy might have all the bells and whistles of the modern-day pharmacy, but sometimes you need to get back to the basics. You should be able to carry out all of the basic functions of a pharmacy: patient consultation, point-of-sale services, detecting drug-drug interactions, and — for the purposes of this blog — filling...
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Which Software Do Pharmacies Choose Most?
Choosing a pharmacy software system is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a pharmacy owner — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging. To simplify the process, you should consider why you’re looking for a new pharmacy software system in the first place. In most cases, there are two main scenarios in which a pharmacy installs a new system: 1. conversion at an existing location. A pharmacy currently open and operating with a pharmacy software system might elect to switch systems.
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What is Patient Literacy? + 3 Ways to Help Your Patients
Pharmacy work is a balancing act of efficiency and accuracy. Patients want their pharmacy experience to be as convenient and seamless as possible, while still receiving exceptional service. It’s the second part of the “efficiency and accuracy” equation that we want to focus on here. Your job as an independent pharmacist is to give your patients medications in a simple, yet accurate, way. In the hustle and bustle of the job, there needs to be room to improve accuracy with patient literacy...
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What is the CMS Star Rating System? + 2 Ways to Get to the Top
Many factors determine your pharmacy’s success. It’s more than just how quickly you can fill a prescription. There’s the location of your pharmacy, the kind of pharmacy software system you use, how you interpret market research, and so much more. Then there’s the Star Rating system by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Though not specifically tailored to the pharmacy industry, it wields a massive influence on your pharmacy’s success. Here are the basics about the Star Rating...
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The Importance of Patient Adherence and How to Master It
As an independent pharmacist, you are providing a service that truly impacts and helps people’s lives. The medication you dispense helps your patients live their lives healthier — that is, if they take it as prescribed by the doctor. That’s where patience adherence comes in. The concept of patient adherence e is a well-known element of pharmacy work. However, with the advancement of technology and more automated services, there are ample opportunities to ensure your patients are taking the...
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What to Expect When Changing Pharmacy Software Systems
Change is slow. It’s tedious, patience-testing, and at times frustrating. However, it’s necessary to progress and improve our lives. Working in the pharmacy industry is all about taking on new challenges head-on, and having the best pharmacy software system will make things a little easier. Change is scary, especially when it concerns your pharmacy’s software. Jumping ship to another software is more than a mere facelift: it will lead to your pharmacy changing, both in subtle and grand ways...
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The Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Pharmacy Management Software
Cutting corners is perhaps the cardinal sin in the pharmacy industry. Although much of pharmacy work is fast-paced and urgent, you’re required to make thoughtful and informed decisions in the heat of the moment. Knowing this, you’ll want all parts of your independent pharmacy to be greater than the sum of its parts. There’s arguably no aspect of your pharmacy work more important or consequential than your pharmacy management software. Picking a pharmacy management software is like choosing...
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How You Can Master the Art of Pharmacy Advertisement
If a pharmacy delivers exceptional service and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Operating an independent pharmacy means you’re also running a small business. Marketing and advertising are both hallmarks of keeping your business afloat. In essence, you must deliver the goods while also ensuring everyone knows about it. Pharmacy advertisement can be a tightrope act, but it’s necessary to master. Your independent pharmacy won’t be the talk of the town if no one has heard of...
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5 Ways to Master Pharmacy Inventory Management
Getting rid of a little extra clutter never hurt anyone. Pharmacy inventory management is an essential element of your small business’s day-to-day operations. Whether you’re looking from a healthcare or financial standpoint, having a medication upon request is what a pharmacy is all about. As we enter a holiday season full of seasonal vaccines and vacation overrides, ensure that your independent pharmacy has all the medications, vaccines, and medical supplies that your community will need...
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5 Things to Know About Pharmacy Billing
Hardly anything in the pharmacy industry is straightforward. The same goes for pharmacy billing, which is a process that involves the pharmacy, the patient’s insurance plan, and the patient themselves. As an independent pharmacist and small business owner, you must ensure that your work is properly compensated — and that the patient is being billed accordingly. Pharmacy billing is yet another complex concept that shapes the entire industry. Nevertheless, knowing its in and outs is necessary...
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6 Essentials in Protecting Patient Information
Pharmacy operations go beyond dispensing medications. They even surpass offering quality clinical services or achieving high customer ratings. It’s easy to sometimes forget that your independent pharmacy holds extremely sensitive information about your patients. In this way, protecting patient information is critical to your operations.Knowing a patient’s health journey requires knowing them in a very personal and vulnerable light. Naturally, you’re held to strict HIPAA policies, and...
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The Power of Lab Testing
In the never-ending quest to expand an independent pharmacy’s capabilities, you need to look above and beyond what’s currently expected of the industry. You can look to automated services to make your work life a little easier or clinical services to bring in a larger customer base. Enter lab testing, an overlooked but potentially lucrative avenue for your independent pharmacy. Just like clinical services, direct-to-consumer lab testing can make your pharmacy a more attractive and convenient...
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6 Ways to Manage Drug Shortages
The independent pharmacy industry encourages you to be ahead of the game. The most successful pharmacies are the proactive ones that take action and take care of problems before they grow into something even more serious. Drug shortages are nothing new in the industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse. Shortages of maintenance medications and vaccines have become more frequent, making pharmacies scramble to figure out how they can fill their empty shelves. Your...
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5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Medical Translation Service
One overlooked aspect of pharmacy work is language. Not everyone in the world speaks English fluently, so it’s up to the pharmacy and its software system to give patients the attention and care they need, just like anyone else. Translation or interpretation can be a tricky thing, with different languages often butting heads with each other when trying to convey the same thought. As you’ll see, the consequences of leaving medical translation to chance can be fatal. Here are 5 ways your...
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6 Signs You Need to Change Your Pharmacy Software
You should never settle for less, especially when it comes to your pharmacy software system. Much is asked of you and your independent pharmacy, so you’ll naturally want your pharmacy software to help handle whatever comes your way. Choosing a pharmacy software system shouldn’t feel like you’re settling for “second best” or “good enough.” You should want to go above and beyond the call of duty, which means you’ll have to be brutally honest about whether or not your software is really working.
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These Are the 4 Pharmacy Services You Need to Try Right Now
It’s always important to stay ahead of the game, and there are several proven ways to do it, including trying out innovative pharmacy services. As you make your pharmacy as current and appealing as possible, adding new pharmacy services — and relying on your pharmacy software system to seamlessly integrate them — will make your independent pharmacy stand out from the rest of the pack. If you're looking to get ahead, try out these 4 pharmacy services, along with tips and tricks for...
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How Customer Relationship Management Creates Strong Connections
Ever find yourself asking why your pharmacy can’t quite keep repeat customers? Why people are opting for the competition down the street? Was it something you said? Or, rather, was it how you said it? All of these factors and so much more make up the essence of customer relationship management, a vital tool in helping prolong your independent pharmacy’s success. One of the most basic ways to ensure your business remains up and running is to develop a relationship between you and the...
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How to Make Market Research Your Best Friend
If you’re wondering how you can improve your pharmacy’s workflow or how your customers see your business, then look no further than market research. Defined by the Small Business Association, market research “blends consumer behavior and economic trends to confirm and improve your business idea.” Understanding the needs of your customers is extremely important, allowing you to invest and focus on elements that need a little more care and attention. It gives you a blueprint on how to...
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How PSAOs Empower Independent Pharmacies
In a previous blog, we went over what role pharmacy benefit managers play in the independent pharmacy scene. They are essentially negotiators meant to help pharmacies get the best services within their means. PBMs aren’t always on your side, however. They can make negotiations more difficult than it needs to be, making the process that they’re supposed to simplify even more convoluted. Enter pharmacy services administrative organizations. (PSAOs)...
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How to Boost Your Pharmacy’s Review Scores
Working at a pharmacy is demanding enough, but there are other aspects of the work that can easily go unnoticed. Customer reviews or surveys are a key factor in shaping your customer base and ultimately determining your independent pharmacy’s success. Reviews will determine if on-the-fence customers will choose to go to your pharmacy. You’re a local business, so it’s important to have the voices of your community heard, and you’ll want those voices to be positive ones...
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What You Need to Know About Pharmacy Benefit Managers
It’s hectic enough being an independent pharmacist. Every decision, no matter how big or small, rests on your shoulders. You’re highly involved in just about every single aspect of how your business operates. However, there is one part of the industry that is sometimes beyond your control: prices. Enter pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are defined as “companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers, Medicare Part D drug plans, large employers, and other...
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4 Ways to Maximize Your Pharmacy’s Profits
Owning an independent pharmacy is ultimately a business venture, so having a mind for the financials is an absolute necessity. That’s especially true when it comes to the world of independent pharmacy. It’s a field that’s always changing, ever-evolving to new scientific breakthroughs and adapting to the latest market trends. The best way to maximize your pharmacy’s profit is to stay current with the latest developments or trends. Customers will almost always opt for the most convenient and...
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What to Look for During a Pharmacy Software Demo
Your time is valuable, especially when trying to figure out what software system fits your pharmacy’s needs. As an independent pharmacist, the software you choose to help your day-to-day operations will greatly shape the success of your business. Your software needs to be easy to use and intuitive but also able to handle the hectic demands of the holiday season and rush hour. But how can you find the right one for your pharmacy? That’s where demos come in. Demos allow you to try out a pharmacy
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Everything You Need to Know About EnterpriseRx Pharmacy Management Software
In the healthcare space, McKesson is a well-known name. Taking its nearly 200 years of experience in the industry, McKesson creates technology, solutions, and systems designed to improve efficiency for healthcare workers — pharmacists included. Among McKesson’s many solutions for pharmacists is EnterpriseRx, its standard pharmacy software system. But does McKesson’s software system live up to its reputation? Read on to learn more about EnterpriseRx, including its prices, features, functionalitie
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An Inside Look at SRS Pharmacy Systems
On your hunt for the perfect software system, you’ve probably done your fair of scouting out options, comparing prices, and considering which system will be the best fit for your pharmacy. Maybe you’ve kept a notepad, made a spreadsheet, or created a mental list of all your options. By now, you’ve probably looked at larger vendors — including PioneerRx, McKesson, and Micro Merchant Systems — but have you considered smaller, well-supported options, like SRS Pharmacy Systems? SRS Pharmacy Systems
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A Complete Breakdown of BestRx Pharmacy Software
Independent pharmacists strive to give the best care, at the best price, with patients’ best interest in mind. In return, you deserve the best technology to ensure the success of your pharmacy. Sitting in the top spots for pharmacy software systems is BestRx Pharmacy Software, which is chosen by over 1,3000 independents across the country. But how does BestRx compare to other systems when it comes to price, features, and functionalities? Read on to learn more about BestRx, including how it's....
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Looking to Buy Liberty Software? Read This First
Picture bright white lights, red textured floors, and slot machines lining the aisle. Imagine roulette wheels, pool tables, poker chips, and plenty of cards to go around. You’ll see people scratching coins, cutting decks, and crossing their fingers that luck’s on their side.Here, at the casino, you’ll see winners; you’ll see losers; but no matter what, you’ll see people who are willing to take a gamble.But gambling isn’t just for the casino. Every day, you take gambles in life and business...
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Your Guide to NRx Pharmacy Management Software
There’s something to be said about being the first to do something new. You’re the first to invent, innovate, and bring something totally new to the table. You’re ambitious. You’re original. And if you do it right, you’re bound to see success, even after everyone else falls in line behind you. Enter the world of QS/1 Pharmacy Management Software. Today, there are hundreds of independent pharmacy management systems on the market, but only one gets the claim to fame for starting it all. QS/1 has..
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All About Computer-Rx Pharmacy Software
There are plenty of fish in the software sea: big and small, the industry sees them all. But as you sail to new shores, you need a software system that can ride the waves of change and keep your pharmacy afloat, in good times and bad. But not all systems are created equal — so if you want to find the right fit for your pharmacy, you should weigh your options accordingly. As you start your search for a new pharmacy management system, it’s important that you get the facts, read the reviews, and...
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Read This Before You Buy PrimeRx Pharmacy Software
Whether it’s buying your dream car or taking a trip to your favorite far-away destination, if you’re going to be spending big, you want to make sure you’ll be happy with your purchase. In anticipation, you’ll weigh options, read reviews, and call up friends and family to get their input. You’ll spend some time thinking, debating, contemplating — and then, after some time, you might decide to pull the trigger. After all, big purchases come with even bigger stakes, so you want to make sure you....
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Everything You Need to Know About Rx30 Pharmacy Management Software
On every street corner, you’ll find a different store offering a different product or service. In a quick skip down the road, or in a short stop online, you can find any number of foods, fun experiences, or other products you can’t seem to be without. You can fill your cart, add to your bag, and walk away happy with the products you’ve bought. And if something doesn’t suit your fancy, you can simply stop at the next store and find what you want. That’s because, in today’s market, options are....
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The Complete Guide to PioneerRx Pharmacy Software
As you start your search for a new pharmacy management system, it’s important that you get the facts, read the reviews, and weigh your options appropriately. To aid you in this effort, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about PioneerRx Pharmacy Software. Read on to learn all about PioneerRx, from its founders to its features to how it’s rated among pharmacists — and find out if this system is the right pick for your business. PioneerRx Pharmacy Software is one of the newest systems on...
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What Are the Benefits of a Pharmacy Management System?
Take a minute to think about the people on your team. From cashiers to clerks to trained pharmacists and techs, each of your employees brings a different set of skills to the table. It might be clinical expertise, it might be customer service, or it might be a commitment to showing up every day and trying their best. No matter the role or responsibilities, each team member is valuable. You need them all to succeed. Even still, you might be missing a final team player to round out your roster....
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What are the Features of a Pharmacy Software System?
If you didn’t know, now you know: your pharmacy management system is the most important tool money can buy. It’s the backbone of your business and essential to every operation you perform, every day. In your independent pharmacy, you do a lot of things: from filling scripts to performing services to submitting claims. One tool, though, brings each task together and ensures your ship sails smoothly: your pharmacy software system. Different software vendors offer different capabilities, at differ
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What Are the Best Pharmacy Software Systems on the Market?
If you’re tired of sifting through reviews, sitting through demos, and feeling further and further away from finding the right software system for your pharmacy, your road ends here. Lights, camera, action: today, we’re presenting the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the top pharmacy management systems on the market right now. Forget the paid ads, the biased reviews, and the mix of misinformation that can leave you reeling. Instead, we’re giving you real reviews from real pharmacists....
Read Full PostHow Much Does Pharmacy Software Cost?
If you’re looking to rewrite the future of your pharmacy, look to technology. Whether you’ve been in the business for a few months, a few years, or even a few decades, you can count on technology to help kickstart your pharmacy, then keep it moving smoothly.Technology enables you to organize your data, automate your tasks, and ultimately spend more time with your patients. In the process, it creates an avenue for better care. That’s why, now more than ever, pharmacy is becoming a tech-friendly.
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The Power of Patient Reviews
A few words can make a world of difference, especially when it comes to bringing in business to your pharmacy. With a few clicks on a screen, a quick clacking of a keyboard, and a simple “send” button, patients can share their experiences at your pharmacy — for better or for worse. What’s more important, though, is that other people can read those reviews, then use them to fuel their buying decisions. We’ve always looked to other people to get input, but in the digital age, we trust strangers...
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Did You Know There’s an App for That?
Forget the creepy-crawlies and the heebie-jeebies: an overflowing pharmacy is enough to incite fear in the heart of any pharmacist. Phone lines are ringing, patients are streaming in, and techs are getting more and more frazzled with each passing minute. With slower service, customers are grumbling, pharmacists are scrambling, and, at the end of the day, no one goes home a winner. That’s why, for pharmacists, efficiency is key: in workflow, in automation, and of course, in the technology you...
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What Are You Doing to Fight DIR Fees?
It’s no secret that DIR fees leave pharmacies in the dark: harming your patients, your profits, and the viability of your business. For years, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have used direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees to penalize pharmacies and take the share for themselves — but now, pharmacies are fighting back. With the right measures, you can mitigate DIR fees and make a change in your pharmacy. “DIR fees are the result of a loophole in Medicare regulations. Often more than....
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How to Find the Right Pharmacy Wholesaler
Every week, you write up a familiar list. You gather your willpower, grab your keys, and make a trip to your local grocer. Once you arrive, you grab a basket and start your shopping — eager to get in and out as quickly as possible. If you’re a regular, you can sort through the shelves and wade through the chaos relatively quickly. You know where your items are, how much they are, and whether or not you’re getting a good deal. In no time, you can fill up your basket, buy up your items, and exit..
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How to Pick the Perfect Pharmacy Location
In the last few years, you’ve probably seen stores sprouting up in strange places: think supermarkets in small towns, brick-and-mortars buried in between other buildings, and retail stores sitting right next to their competitors. As stores grow and space shrinks, small businesses are stuck in less than ideal places. And, at the end of the day, it’s their customers who really suffer. This situation isn’t unfamiliar. You can probably think of a time you’ve tried to route yourself to a new place.
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How to Finance Your New Pharmacy
If you’re looking to break into the business of pharmacy, you’ll have to break open your piggy bank first. Ask any pharmacy owner — whether they’re new to the scene or a seasoned pro — and they’ll tell you that opening a new pharmacy requires time, energy, and of course, a considerable amount of cash. In fact, NCPA’s America’s Pharmacist reports, “Properly funded startup [pharmacies] can cost close to $500,000.” High out-of-pocket costs mean that, if you’re looking to get into pharmacy, you’ll..
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The 40 Products Your Pharmacy Should Be Selling
A tube of toothpaste here, a pack of pain relievers there. A simple box of Band-Aids, a bottle of cough syrup. A quick trip to your community pharmacy comes with an opportunity that lasts even longer: an opportunity to turn new faces into familiar patients. As a pharmacist, you know the power that comes with a simple shopping list: and that’s why you not only invest in prescriptions and patient care — but also in offering top-quality products your customers will actually want to buy. Your pro...
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7 Steps to Make Your Front-End More Appealing
Whether it’s the first date, first day of work, or first steps in a pharmacy, first impressions matter. In each situation, you have one shot to make a good impression — to turn a stranger into a significant other, a new coworker into a colleague, or a first-time visitor into a lifelong patient. With so much on the line, you decide to try to put your best foot forward. You do your research, rehearse the right lines, and tack on a smile. Out on a date, you make casual conversation and share funny.
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All Great Pharmacists Have These 20 Qualities. Do You?
Standing on the sidelines, thick clipboard in hand, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders aren’t born, they’re made. And they are made, just like anything else, through hard work.” Throughout his decades-long coaching career, Lombardi landed 5 Super Bowl wins and racked up an impressive 89-29-4 regular-season record — cementing his reputation as one of the greatest coaches in the history of American football. Leading by example, it seemed that Lombardi was right: great lea
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What to Expect from Pharmacy in 2022
Fasten your seatbelt: the New Year is in full swing, bringing along new changes, new challenges, and of course, new opportunities to improve your practice. Three weeks in, you’ve probably made plans, preparations, and predicted what the next 12 months will look like for you and your pharmacy. But what do the experts have to say? Every year, the American Society Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) weighs in on the industry and offers insight into what’s coming to the world of pharmacy....
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Ask These 10 Questions Before Buying a Pharmacy Software
Grab a pen, a piece of paper, and prepare yourself to ask all of the hard-hitting questions. Before you take the plunge and purchase your next pharmacy software, you should consider a few key questions. From matters of convenience to customer support to the long-awaited learning curve, it’s important that you ask the right questions to get the right answers. With this information, you can find the right software solution for you. As you start shopping and scheduling demos with different..
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Your Guide to Buying a Pharmacy Software in 2022
You’ve already got it written in big, bold letters on the nearest whiteboard: Lose a few pounds. Eat more greens. Take up hiking or rock climbing or crocheting. Go on that backpacking trip across Europe while you still have working legs. Since the clock struck 12 on January 1, you’ve resolved to start — and stick with — a handful of New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you’ve drafted out your plan, picked out your timeline, and put in place checks and balances to make sure you achieve your goals....
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The Price is Right | Competitive Pricing in Your Pharmacy
If you’ve ever stepped foot into a car dealership, you’ve probably been whisked away by a salesman and taken to a showroom in two minutes, tops. Here, the newest models of the newest cars are lined up, squeaky-clean and sparkling. They’re complete with all of the bells and whistles: from heated seats to back-up cameras to a touch-screen display so high-tech you’d need weeks to figure it out. You find yourself mesmerized. The salesman senses your excitement and asks, “Want to...
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Minimize Adverse Drug Reactions | Risk Scores
When you were a kid, before you mounted your bike and went out for an afternoon stroll, you strapped on a helmet. When you learned to drive, before you pushed the pedal and sped away, you clicked in your seatbelt. When you started your job, before you took out any spending money, you set aside savings and invested in a few funds. Your entire life, you’ve been taking the right measures to do one thing: mitigate risks. If you fell off your bike, your head was safe. If you got into an accident.....
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Manage Multiple Pharmacy Locations
If you have a passion for people and an entrepreneurial spirit, you might just be a pharmacy owner. Rather than serving on staff, owners take matters into their own hands and tackle their practice independently. On the road to ownership, they develop business skills to pair with clinical skills, and over time, they learn to make patient care profitable. Of course, owners face their fair share of obstacles along the way: from meeting state requirements to managing finances to leading a team of...
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Take Charge of Your Transactions | Integrated POS
When you pick up a Monday morning coffee or purchase a new pair of shoes, you make a familiar transaction. You swipe your card, enter your information, and receive a receipt detailing each of your expenses. In a few seamless steps, you can get out the door as quickly as you came in, toting along all of your new items. This transaction — now a staple in the lives of most Americans — is made possible by one powerful tool: the point-of-sale system. Point-of-sale (POS) systems have been around for..
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Tackle Prescription Drug Abuse in Your Pharmacy
Every year, an estimated 18 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. From swallowing a friend’s prescription painkiller to overdosing on opioids, prescription drug abuse runs rampant in the United States. In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on the ongoing opioid crisis. The declaration highlighted the abuse of street drugs as well as popular prescription drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. With the declaration, the problem...
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Streamline Prescription Delivery
In the modern world, convenience is key. In the past, patients looked to chain pharmacies to get quick and convenient care. In recent years, though, community pharmacies have stepped up to compete, giving patients a better option: quality care combined with convenience. Community pharmacies have taken a number of steps to do this: they’ve adjusted their hours, they’ve installed new technology, and they’ve modified their workflow to be more efficient. Of all the measures that they’ve taken...
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Any Time, Any Place | Direct Message with Patients
When patients take a trip to their local pharmacy, they have certain expectations in mind. When they step foot in the front door, they expect to be greeted with a friendly smile and a familiar, “Hi, how are you?” Upon approaching the counter, they expect to speak with a team member who is not only knowledgeable about products and services but who also helps them feel at home. And, when they get their routine prescription or their seasonal vaccine, they expect to meet with a pharmacist who knows.
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Protect More Patients with Vaccinations
During the last year, vaccines have become more important than ever. Nearly 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which amounts to almost 60% of the population. That number is only expected to rise in the coming months, as patients err on the side of caution and get both their COVID-19 and flu shots this season. Last year, a record-breaking number of patients also got vaccinated against the flu 一 50 to 55% of the population 一 and those rates aren’t expected to go....
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Create and Maintain Lasting Connections
At one point or another, you’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know that matters.” In many cases, it’s true. Whether you are a business executive, an engineer, or an independent pharmacist, your ability to create connections has a powerful influence on the course of your career. Especially in the world of pharmacy, connections are key. The right people can help you to learn, grow, and advance as a provider and a professional. With new opportunities, you can expect
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Keep the Pace: Pharmacy Software You Can Stick With
If you’ve ever participated in a competitive race 一 whether at a high school track meet or a community 5K 一 you’ve probably picked up on a few principles. You’ve learned how to monitor your pace, how to lengthen your strides, and how to control your breathing. Over time, you’ve mastered your technique and learned a few tricks of the trade along the way. And, if you’re a seasoned pro, maybe you’ve even figured out the secret to success: it’s not the runner who starts the fastest but who finishes.
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Start Off Strong: The Best Software for Your New Pharmacy
Whether you’ve been working in the world of pharmacy for two years or two decades, you may decide that it’s finally time to spread your wings and start your own practice. Opening your own pharmacy is an exciting opportunity filled with many possibilities. In your own practice, you can make your own rules, set your own services, and perform patient care the way you want. What could be better? Making the decision to start is only the first step, though. Between planning, purchasing, and setting...
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Make a Change: Pharmacy Software You Should Switch To
You might have used the same pharmacy software system for a month, a year, or even a decade before you realized it wasn’t cutting it anymore. When you first started out, you might have thought your software could work for you. It probably had basic features, decent functionalities, and a support team that could help you get by. With a bit of a push, you were willing to take the plunge. As you started working with the software more and more, though, you started to see its shortcomings. Maybe it..
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Find the Right Fit: Software That Keeps You Satisfied
Before you buy any new product, you probably get input from other people. You might talk to a salesperson, a trusted friend or family member, or even someone online 一 but the fact remains that, prior to making a purchase, you want to hear from others. In the digital age, online reviews have made giving and receiving your opinion easier than ever. With the click of a button, you can get input that can make or break a product for you. However, you may find it hard to find (and trust) the right...
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Reward Your Top Patients | Loyalty Programs
Any patient who walks through your pharmacy’s front doors is worth celebrating, but there may be a few who stand out. Whether they are long-time supporters or new to your pharmacy, some patients go out of their way to do business with you. They come to you for routine appointments, tests, vaccinations, and supplies 一 relying on you to help meet all of their health needs. After they have made a few trips to the pharmacy, you may have started to recognize their face, gotten to know them, and.....
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Keep Your Team Organized and On Task
A critical part of managing your pharmacy is managing your staff. Your staff is made up of many different people, with different backgrounds, skills, and experiences they bring to the table. In your pharmacy, each person takes on their own roles and responsibilities, which allow you to keep your business running smoothly. Your staff may dispense prescriptions, they may schedule appointments, or they may simply offer a helping hand where needed. No matter how they go about it, each of your staff.
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Easily Manage and Order Inventory
To keep your doors open, you have to keep your supplies stocked. In any given week, your pharmacy will go through a number of different supplies: medications, tools and equipment, and OTC items. Depending on the demand, these supplies may vary at certain times, but you are still responsible for keeping up with anything and everything your patients may need 一 at all times. Inventory is a key part of any business’s success, but it is essential for your pharmacy. In order to meet demand and keep...
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Save Big on Your Next Software System
In your community pharmacy, you expect your software system to do a number of things: accurately record information, provide useful insights, and give you the necessary tools to stay on top of patient care. Even with all of the capabilities your software gives you, though, you still expect it to fit in your budget. It’s no surprise that finances are a major deciding factor for pharmacists looking to switch to a new system 一 and it’s one that you should take note of, too. Everyone is looking to..
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Make Your Software Your Own | Custom Features
No two pharmacies are exactly alike. While many facilities offer similar services 一 from filling prescriptions to administering vaccines and more 一 they each adapt to meet their own needs and reach their own goals. Some pharmacies, for instance, may focus on optimizing their dispensing process; others may be looking to expand clinical care. Some may keep their services in a central location; others may branch out and offer them at clinics and outside areas. Some pharmacies may be interested in..
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Does Your Software Listen to You?
In your community pharmacy, you are responsible for treating your patients and helping them to achieve optimal health. Before you can meet patients’ needs, though, you have to figure out what those needs are. Whether in a casual conversation or a scheduled appointment, your first priority is to listen. When you listen to patients, you can better determine their struggles, their goals, and how to get them on the path to health. In the process, you can build your rapport, strengthen your relations
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How Up-to-Date is Your Software?
Your pharmacy is constantly adapting to meet your patients’ needs. Whether it be making a minor adjustment to a medication or implementing a new program in your store, you and your team work around the clock to innovate your workflow and better serve your patients. With so many changes taking place in your pharmacy on a day-to-day basis, you need a software that can keep up. The best pharmacy software systems recognize the evolving needs of your pharmacy, your community, and the industry as a...
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Take Advantage of Free Demos
If you are in the market for a new pharmacy software system, you have probably put in the time and effort to do your research. With so many options on the market, you have likely done your due diligence in learning, examining, and comparing some of the top software systems and all of the capabilities they have to offer. In your search, you have probably visited your fair share of websites, read a number of customer reviews, and talked with fellow pharmacy professionals to get their input. Maybe.
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Switch Software Systems with Ease
It’s no secret that the software you choose greatly impacts the way that you run your pharmacy. In fact, your pharmacy software is the single most important tool that you can have in your storefront: it enables you to treat your patients, monitor your team, and keep track of your finances in one convenient location. Not all systems are created equal, though. The best software systems grow with your pharmacy in order to keep it running at the optimal level. They are regularly updated with new...
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Is Pharmacy Ownership Right for You?
As independent pharmacies continue to grow and expand, more and more pharmacy professionals are looking to make the transition from pharmacist to pharmacy owner. Entering the world of ownership is an exciting time, filled with possibilities that are otherwise unmatched. Ownership allows you to branch out from other pharmacies, make decisions for yourself and your business, and create a plan for how you want to serve your patients — all according to your vision. At the...
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Run Reports from Your Software
If you are looking to maximize your pharmacy’s operations, increase your profits, and provide your patients with quality care: run reports on a regular basis. Whether you decide to complete them on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, running reports can help you to quantify the ins and outs of your pharmacy — from your finances to your workflow to your team’s productivity — in a methodical and actionable way. With the right reporting, you can get better financial and operational...
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Use eCare Plans to Improve Patient Outcomes
As the world of pharmacy evolves, so does the technology it uses. From helping to manage business behind the scenes to treating patients at the front end of the pharmacy, technology solutions have allowed providers to work with greater accuracy, precision, and efficiency. In the process, they have improved the quality of care that patients receive and the qualities of life that they live. Of all of the technology that is helping to advance patient care, though, the Pharmacist...
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Use Your Software Like a Pro
Switching to a new pharmacy software system can be daunting. Between learning the ins and outs of the software, familiarizing yourself with the features, and optimizing them to work smoothly and efficiently in your pharmacy, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.Despite the initial challenges it may present, an innovative software system is essential to almost every aspect of your pharmacy — from managing your finances to controlling your workflow to providing quality patient care. In fact...
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How to Improve Your Cybersecurity
Some of the greatest threats to your pharmacy aren’t lurking around the corner — in the form of burglars who break into your storefront, or thieves who steal your front-end items. Rather, they are waiting in the shadows of the technology you use every day: in your computer, your mobile devices, and your Internet-powered pharmacy equipment. Whether it be in the form of malware, ransomware, or data breaches, cyber threats are everywhere, with hackers hoping to take something even more valuable...
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Discover the Benefits of Med Sync
When pharmacists dispense prescriptions, they expect that patients will take them in the right dosage, at the right time. Sometimes, though, this expectation is not met — as patients forget, neglect, or altogether abandon their medications. Whether it be due to busy schedules or barriers to access, improper use of medication can create complications for both patients and pharmacists, leading to issues like bad health, poor outcomes, and loss of time and resources.Given these consequences...
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In the News, In the Know: Resources for Your Pharmacy
In an industry as fast-paced and ever-changing as pharmacy, it can be hard to keep up. Breaking news, updates, and other important information come out every day, many of which directly affect your pharmacy and the way you do business. With so much to know, and so little time to do it, you may find yourself unable to stay up to date. To accommodate your busy life and busy schedule, you should be selective about where you choose to get your information — relying on leading voices in the pharmacy.
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Find Your Niche in Specialized Services
Pharmacies aren’t just for filling prescriptions. They are centers of clinical care, offering a variety of services that enhance patients’ health and overall well-being. These services can be general — from offering flu shots to selling OTC products — or they can be specialized. For independent pharmacies, though, specialized services are essential to stand out from competitors. In fact, independents’ ability to move beyond the scripts and offer personalized care is what sets them apart from...
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How to Tackle DIR Fees in Your Pharmacy
If you are familiar with the world of pharmacy, you’ve probably heard about PBMs and DIR fees. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) act as the middleman between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and health plans to manage prescription drug benefits and rebates. Through this intermediary management, small community pharmacies are often faced with arbitrary and extensive DIR fees. DIR Fees are money that PBMs collect after the point-of-sale which change the final reimbursement amount that..
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Streamline Vaccination with Your Pharmacy Software
Are you offering vaccinations at your pharmacy? If not, an immunization program is a great place to start expanding the clinical services you offer at your store. Especially during the pandemic, pharmacies have grown in their recognition as a valuable contributor to public health. Pharmacies have played an instrumental role in administering the COVID-19 vaccine and expanding access for all members of the population. Any additional enhanced service you can provide at your independent pharmacy...
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Using Your Software to Increase Patient Engagement
In the rivalry between small community pharmacies and corporate national chains, independent pharmacy’s competitive advantage is the personal patient experience. Unlike at a chain pharmacy, patients who go to local pharmacies get to interact with staff that knows them on a personal level. As an independent pharmacy, your focus should be on increasing patient engagement to create a quality customer experience that builds loyalty and customer stickiness. This will help expand and retain your...
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Software Integrations - External Hardware
Your software is the core of your pharmacy, but there are a variety of additional integrations that can supplement your workflow and help enhance your system. Along with choosing a software, selecting the right integrations that fit your pharmacy’s needs is another crucial part of growing your pharmacy business. Our Software Integration blog series will explore a few of the most common system integrations for independent pharmacies. This week’s Software Integration Feature is about Hardware...
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Evaluating the Features in a Pharmacy Software
Throughout the process of selecting a new pharmacy software system for your independent pharmacy, you’ll look at multiple factors such as customer support, pricing, and customer satisfaction. But the core of your software will be the features and capabilities that your pharmacy will be using on a daily basis. Most software vendors will advertise similar lists of features, but when you know how to break down these lists, you’ll be able to see the real difference between what each vendor offers...
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How to Break Down a Quote for a New Software System
If you are in the process of buying a new pharmacy software system, you will need to know how to evaluate a price quote. Each vendor will provide you with their own quote that shows how much you can expect to pay for the software, as well as what is included in that cost estimation. The components and layout of each vendor’s quote will vary, so you need to know how to breakdown each quote and equally compare your options. That way, you can make an informed decision and know what you are...
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How to Choose a Pharmacy Software
Choosing a new pharmacy software is an important decision. It’s like getting a new phone or a new car - you’ll be using it every day, so you want to make sure you do your research and make the right investment. Whether you’re opening a new pharmacy or looking to convert from your current pharmacy system, you should keep some factors in mind when evaluating your options. Managing your pharmacy business while providing quality patient care to your community is something your software...
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What is Direct Opinions?
Customer reviews can be difficult to screen for validity when there are usually other factors at play. Many review sites display paid reviews or even allow companies to bid against each other to get higher rankings. Reviews could be outdated and no longer relevant to their current state of the company. It’s also limiting in the sense that you are only seeing reviews from the type of people who would go out of their way to write a review. This may be skewed to people who are either very upset...
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