Pharmacy 777’s Post

Peak Pharmacy invests in new technology to support staff and customers! Chesterfield-based Peak Pharmacy has invested in new, innovative equipment to speed up its processes, along with improving accuracy and capacity. The organisation recently moved to a new headquarters at the Horizon 29 development near Chesterfield and is now investing in an Austrian system provided by Knapp to improve the way it dispenses medications for customers. Managing Director, Joe Cattee explained: “Knapp partners with a number of organisations within the country already and supports with the ability to pick products by using fully automated and manual picking zones for speed and convenience. “The attraction to work with this provider was that they have designed a system that enables us to dispense patients’ medication at our site. This takes this workload out of community pharmacy and creates capacity within our pharmacy network for our teams to support patients in different ways. “The machine is significantly more accurate than human dispensing, and the speed in which we can dispense medication means that we can do approximately half of all the prescriptions we do on a monthly basis through our Hub. Clearly, there will be some requirements to support and educate both our pharmacy teams and patients, but it enables us to revolutionise what we do under extremely challenging conditions.” The new technology is helping Peak Pharmacy to revolutionise how it operates, enabling the business to continue thriving during a challenging economic climate. https://lnkd.in/eaGxeVG9 #LoveChesterfield #ChesterfieldNews

I had a chance to have a candid conversation with Bloomberg regarding the steps that major corporations like Walgreens and CVS Health are taking to “ address “ working conditions. Some of those steps are repurposing the physical placement of the Pharmacy, creating microfulfillment centers and also partnering with Deans of Pharmacy and offering sign on scholarships to students . I was pretty blunt with Bloomberg about those steps. For me, those are simply bandages on the deep wounds and not even pretty bandages . As they are parading those “ solutions “, desperately looking for a positive “ spotlight”, they fail so greatly to get to the core of some of those issues such as poor PBMs practices and a culture that does not focus on patient safety or the wellbeing of the employees. And it is even more disheartening that they actively lobby within their states to kill bills which would actually advance our profession like the recent bill in AZ, which would allow pharmacy employees to report unsafe practices or like bills in GA which will address PBMs. But here we are, talking about manipulating the public and “ pimping” (I really wish Bloomberg would have added this quote) the incoming generation of pharmacists with solutions which are only mere distractions. Thank God our students are much smarter to fall into those traps. So no, none of those ideas would ease the burdens of the heroes behind the counter. None of those would address why your pharmacies are unsafe. None of those. Your current Pharmacists, Technicians and Students are your most trusted and reliable sources which can lean in if you truly want to make changes. Why don’t you try starting there?

For contractors, Multiples, PM’s and Pharmacy teams. Myself and Lakey have a few dates left in the diary for our Pharmacy profitability workshop. Could be of interest to one or two especially in the current pharmacy climate. One is a successful contractor the other has a rich history in turning around poorly ran declining “pharmacy nightmares” Topics covered in sessions: Your PMR system - making it work for you (we both have extensive experience in optimising a number of PMR systems but especially ProScript and Cegidim pharmacy manager) Is a stock as important as a consultation room in modern day community pharmacy? Tenders - are VMTs the future? What is the VMT way of buying and how can it increase the long term profitability of your pharmacy ACTs v Locums What’s right for your business model, how to turn Locum shifts into a cash positive experience Pharmacy Services Cherry picking and how to improve your market share Access to our CliffsNotes on delivering PF (tried, trusted and repeatable) Supporting your PM Dispensary Supervisor it could just reduce your turnover of PMs/Pharmacist, how to make the change and how to make it cost neutral The dark art of marginal gains in community pharmacy How lessons from the 2007–2008 financial crisis can be applied to modern day community pharmacy Dispensing incidents How to cut near misses and improve dispensing accuracy across the team in a way that’s painless and time efficient Tales from the crypt Strategy mistakes in multiples that are commonly made, why they struggle to spin a decent GP/NP, how to avoid the same mistakes and how to capitalise and our legendary white board session on turning pharmacy negativity into cash flow positivity DM for availibility and pricing #PharmacyProfitability #ShowMeTheDividends

You Reap What You Sow ... FYI ... This is going to hurt. This is a common theme recently in Walgreen's news. Hopefully, Walgreens pharmacy leaders do not actually believe their own PR. The Gallup poll of December, 2022 shows that medical doctors surpassed pharmacists circa 2016, dropping pharmacists to 3rd with nurses topping the list. More telling, of course, is that after a short term bump with COVID-19 for all three professions, pharmacists are rated at their lowest since circa 1980. Of course, comparing retail pharmacists to nurses and doctors is a bit of an apple and orange thing anyway from John Q Public's perspective. The same poll cited by the article also included some important, not to be overlooked, caveats: WOLTERS KLUWER, December 7, 2022 Customers worry about retail pharmacist burnout • Half of Americans (51%) worry about potential problems with their prescriptions stemming from understaffed pharmacies. • Gen Z and Millennials are even more likely (59% and 60%) to say they’re worried about pharmacy staffing gaps than Gen X and Boomers+ (44% and 38%). • Plus, half of consumers worry about getting the wrong dosage (50%), the wrong medication (50%) or the wrong instructions (47%). Altogether, these concerns highlight challenges that may be remedied by technology, workflow, and improved staffing. There is little doubt that the pharmacy shortage this time around was caused not only by years of profiteering at the expense of staffing and the disillusionment of pharmacists, but the antiquated process, layouts, fixtures, and engineering of the pharmacy. The intransigent state of retail pharmacy requires more than a facelift, a PR campaign, or recruitment programs to turn things around. And what is becoming clear is that drug chain pharmacy executives do not know how to reinvent themselves. Tim Wentworth and Rick Gates must eventually come to grips, amid the chaos, that 'adding on' is not going to fix the business model. It more likely to move it closer to the precipice. To be a viable, a leader in the future state, they must address the elephant in the room. As for pharmacy schools ... think about including retail process engineering as a required course to help young pharmacists better understand the business implications of layout, process, fixtures, equipment, inventory management, demand queues and queue management, among other things. #walgreens #unchealth #pharmacists #hospitalmanagement https://lnkd.in/gdnB-rmv

"Too many modern companies have replaced a person with a number and mistakenly called that number a customer," Simon Sinek. In recent news, we have seen the lack of staffing of pharmacists and technicians in big box retail chains, which has led to a lack of customer service and patient satisfaction. These companies treat patients and prescriptions as mere transactional numbers, focusing solely on revenue. However, the true essence of a patient-pharmacist relationship goes beyond filling a prescription. Each 'number' represents a unique patient with distinct healthcare needs, concerns and aspirations. As an independent pharmacy owner, my team strives to treat each and every patient with the utmost respect and quality of personalized care. My independent pharmacy team prides itself on treating each patient as if they are our family, greeting them by first name, and asking about their families and work/personal lives. We have strong relationships with all of our patients, which is why our patients continue to come back to our community pharmacy for all their prescription needs, despite their easy access to big-box retail chains. From my independent pharmily to yours, lets continue to promote personalized care and provide our patients with the service they deserve. #independentpharmacy #service #simonsinek #pharmacy #family

Our entire team have assisted with some legal aspect of our client Peak Pharmacy’s new, game changing pharmacy site. From the initial development agreement and construction documents, to our commercial department providing advice on the contracts for the systems, our employment department continuing to provide a full employment law service to the company as a whole and to our corporate team advising on their strategic sales and purchases. The pharmacy sector is not currently a buoyant one due to being vastly underfunded, against the rising costs that every business faces but with no way of recouping those. However, to see a local company, reinvest heavily to adapt, is inspirational! Well done to the whole team Peak Pharmacy, your resilience knows no bounds! We are sure this will be transformative in every way. #legaladvice #chesterfield #southyorkshire #employmentlaw #commerciallaw #contracts #contractadvice #law #lawyer #team #commercialadvice #constructionlaw #development #supplycontracts

With pharmacy closures from major chains like Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS, pharmacy deserts are emerging across the U.S. This trend is leaving many patients, particularly in rural areas, without easy access to essential medications and services. The pharmacy industry must adapt to ensure continued access to care, especially in underserved regions. Read more on the rise of pharmacy deserts and its impact on healthcare: https://bit.ly/3YGX2ns How do you think pharmacy closures will affect healthcare access in your area? Share your thoughts in the comments.👇 #HealthcareAccess #PharmacyChallenges #PatientCare #PharmacySolutions

Did you know that pharmacy operations with strategic retention programs build a more stable workforce and report up to 30% higher productivity and 21% greater profitability? More than simply keeping people happy, strategic retention efforts build better outcomes for patients, staff, the organization itself and the communities they serve. Here’s how to improve your pharmacy retention. https://loom.ly/et1Bens

A massive thank you to Vimal Mistry for leaving us this incredible 5-star review Seeing the real impact that our PMR system TITAN PMR Ltd is having on the day-to-day lives of our customers is truly rewarding. ✅ Improved Safety ✅ Enhanced Efficiencies ✅ Paperless Operations ✅ Freedom for Pharmacists ✅ Stress-Free Dispensary Most importantly, we're freeing up valuable time for pharmacists to support their communities with NHS and private services. Knowing that we’re making a difference keeps us motivated to continue improving and innovating. Thanks again Vimal for your kind words and support. “I've been using Titan PMR for over three years now, and it has truly transformed our pharmacy operations. The system has significantly freed up our pharmacist's time, allowing them to focus on essential services, stock management, and other crucial business tasks. It's astonishing that many pharmacies still rely on manual checks for dispensing accuracy. Titan PMR completely changes the game, bringing the dispensing process into the 21st century. Since adopting Titan, we haven't experienced a single error, which speaks volumes about its accuracy and reliability. The end-of-month claiming process, which used to be a time-consuming chore, now takes just 10-15 minutes. Everything is automated and accurate, eliminating the need for tedious NHS admin work. I can't imagine going back to the old, outdated dispensing systems—they're simply too time-consuming and prone to errors. The workflow is intuitive and easy to manage, and I’ve noticed a significant improvement in customer service over the past year. The team at Titan PMR has been incredibly responsive to feedback, making continuous improvements that really make a difference. One of the best aspects is the ownership of hardware. Unlike traditional systems like Cegedim, EMIS, or Positive Solutions, which charge exorbitant fees for computer terminals, with Titan PMR, you purchase your own hardware. This flexibility means you can even opt for second-hand equipment if budget is a concern, and Titan PMR will take care of the rest. Switching to Titan PMR may require some adjustments, but it's well worth it. Our staff love it, and it has undoubtedly improved our overall efficiency and accuracy. Vimal Mistry PHARMACY ONE MANCHESTER” www.titanpmr.com #CustomerFeedback #PharmacyTech #Innovation #ThankYou #Pharmacy #HealthcareInnovation #TitanPMR #Efficiency #PatientCare #PharmacyInnovation #pmr #HealthcareEfficiency #CustomerSatisfaction #DigitalPharmacy #Safety #Pharmacist #CommunityPharmacy #Services #NHS

🚨 Struggling to keep your community pharmacy's operational health in check? Feeling the squeeze with overwhelmed staff, diminishing profits, and increasing patient frustration? You're not alone. Community pharmacies across Wales are facing these very challenges, trying to balance it all but often finding themselves stretched too thin.   🌟 Good news is on the horizon, though! We're thrilled to announce Lynette Roberts, Director of Captivating Training Solutions Ltd Training Solutions and an award-winning pharmacy trainer, as a speaker at the upcoming Welsh Pharmacy Trade Show. With her deep expertise and a passionate commitment to transforming pharmacy operations, Lynette is on a mission to help you turn the tide.   🔍 In her must-attend talk, Lynette will delve into improving Operational Health and efficiency by focusing on three critical areas: People, Processes, and Platforms. Here's what you can expect:   People: Enhancing your pharmacy team's capacity, capability, and care to ensure they can thrive, not just survive. Processes: Overhauling dispensing efficiency, tackling stock management headaches, and streamlining service management for smoother operations. Platforms: Leveraging cutting-edge technology to boost your operational efficiency, making your workload manageable and more profitable. 📈 Whether you're grappling with operational challenges, looking to boost your team's morale, or aiming to improve your bottom line, Lynette’s talk will provide invaluable insights and practical solutions to elevate your pharmacy's health.   👥 Join us at the Welsh Pharmacy Trade Show to hear Lynette Roberts share her strategies for success. Let's empower our community pharmacies to not just meet but exceed their operational goals. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and excellence.   📅 Save the date and make sure you're there for this transformative session. Your pharmacy, your team, and your patients will thank you for it.   #WelshPharmacyTradeShow #PharmacyExcellence #OperationalHealth #CommunityPharmacy #PharmacyInnovation