Blog: Your Guide to Choosing a Pharmacy Software System
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 System
Choosing a new pharmacy software system 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.
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
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
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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Does Your Software Help You Document eCare Plans?
Gone are the days of pharmacists simply being known for filling prescriptions. A pharmacist can do so much more for a patient’s health and quality of life. They are clinically trained to offer an array of enhanced services that can improve their patients’ health outcomes and manage their disease states. This includes performing medication therapy management (MTM), identifying social determinants of health, monitoring vital signs, tracking progress through lab results, educating patients...
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Why You Should Join Pharmacy Organizations
Independent pharmacies may be small in comparison to the large national chains, but when these pharmacies join forces, they can strengthen their voice and widen their influence beyond a single store’s capacity. Pharmacy organizations and associations help bring pharmacy professionals together to advocate on their behalf and provide helpful resources and other membership benefits. Joining both local and national pharmacy groups is a great way to stay connected to what is currently happening in...
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Will Your Software Support Your Pharmacy?
If you are looking for a new pharmacy software solution, don’t just stop at the features. It’s true that the practical features and capabilities of a software are important - you need to make sure you check everything off your list from workflow customization and inventory management, to clinical documentation and more. However, a powerful software will get you nowhere if you can’t use it successfully.The quality of a vendor’s customer service will affect how well your pharmacy adapts to your...
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Software Integrations - Inventory & Will Call
So you’ve chosen the right pharmacy software - now what comes next?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...
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Software Integrations - Pharmacy IVR
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is an automated telephone system that can help handle incoming calls to your pharmacy. Think of IVR as your pharmacy’s own personal receptionist; it will interact with your patients and guide them to the information they need instead of always requiring an employee to stop what they are doing and pick up the phone. With an IVR system, you’ll be able to automate answers to common inquiries such as general store information or prescription status and refill request
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Software Integrations - Pharmacy Automation
So you’ve chosen the right pharmacy software - now what comes next?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...
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Opening a New Independent Pharmacy
Independent pharmacies aren’t going anywhere. Especially since the start of the pandemic, they have proved their value to their communities and to the United States as a whole. From continuing to dispense medication during quarantine to administering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, local pharmacies are getting their time in the spotlight and being recognized for the services they have been offering to their communities for years.While there has been a slight net decrease in the total...
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Key Trends in the Pharmacy Software Market
The classic characterization of a pharmacist is someone who just fills your prescriptions. For many people, this is the extent of their interaction with pharmacies - but this only scratches the surface of what they are capable of. Recently, pharmacy has been shifting towards value-based care models and focusing on taking services past just filling prescriptions, or “fill and bill”. Due to the pandemic, these additional services have become even more important. Pharmacists are looking to expand..
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Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Should I stay or should I go? 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. So how can you make sure 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 what vendors retain their customers best. It’s not just about...
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Which Software Do Pharmacies Choose Most?
Curious about which software other pharmacy professionals are choosing most?This decision can be influenced depending on why a pharmacy is looking for a new software system. To better understand this, we have to identify the 2 main scenarios where a pharmacy installs a new software system: Conversion at an Existing Location or New Store Installation. Let’s break these down- Conversion at an Existing Location: A pharmacy that is currently open and operating with a software system is looking to...
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What Makes People Like Their Pharmacy Software?
A new 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. So how can you visualize your experience and predict how satisfied you will be with your new software provider?Customer satisfaction scores are a powerful metric to consider when evaluating systems. What do the current users of a software really think about it? What are its strengths? Downfalls? This can give you an inside look...
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8 Things to Be Aware of When Using Review Sites
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that reading online reviews is only a part of the process. It is highly unlikely that these posts can be a full, even representation of all the pharmacy software vendors in the market. It’s just a small portion of people who happened to write a review - so what about the opinions of all the people who don’t go on review sites? You may just be seeing polar ends of the spectrum: very satisfied customers, or very angry customers writing...
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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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How to Choose a Pharmacy Software System
Choosing a new pharmacy software system 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...
Read Full PostHow to Choose a Pharmacy Software System
Choosing a new pharmacy software system 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...
Read Full PostWhat 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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