Pharmacies benefitting from technology

One pharmaceutical company executive stated that the challenges retail and outpatient pharmacies face in regards to the reimbursement and regulatory environment can be solved by technology.

Emilie Ray, president of McKesson's Pharmacy Technology and Services, said in blog post on the company's website that technology is quickly becoming the answer to those challenges, as more and more pharmacies are turning to workflow systems designed for pharmacies, automated programs for prescriptions and payments and software to help improve business.

Using technology benefits pharmacies by helping them deliver better patient care while also providing improvements in important areas, such as clinical, operational, financial and regulatory compliance performance, Ray wrote.

There is a wide variety of technology available for use by retail and outpatient pharmacies, which come in the form of simple to complex programs. By using systems such as automated filling and dispensing programs for prescriptions, business service and systems designed for point-of-sale, pharmacies can decrease the amount of time pharmacists and other employees spend performing these tasks manually, she said. Some of the tasks that can be sped up using technology are inspecting customer insurance information, status and financial obligations and counting pills and bottling them.

Pharmacy employees can use the extra time saved by using technology to promote and take part in clinical activities that emphasize patient health and their outcomes. This could include medication therapy management, adherence programs and vaccine services, Ray said.