6 ChatGPT Pharmacy Hacks
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These 6 ChatGPT Pharmacy Applications will change your life

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is revolutionising industries across the board, and the pharmacy sector is no exception. As AI technology continues to develop, tools like ChatGPT are emerging as catalysts for change in how pharmacies operate.
a list of pharmacist and chat GPT related jokes told on the ChatGPT platform: Why did the pharmacy owner hire ChatGPT instead of a new pharmacist? Because it doesn't require coffee breaks or vacations! How do you know when ChatGPT is working in a pharmacy? The shelves are always stocked, and there's never a line at the counter. Why did ChatGPT make the perfect pharmacy assistant? It had a "prescription" for success. What did the pharmacist say when ChatGPT correctly identified a drug interaction? "I guess we'll call it a 'pharmACEutical.'" Why was the pharmacist impressed with ChatGPT's knowledge of medications? Because it had access to the entire "data-scription" list! What do you call ChatGPT when it's integrated into a pharmacy's software? "The Digital Druggist." What did the pharmacist say when ChatGPT predicted the exact number of pill bottles needed for the month? "That's a tough pill to swallow!" Why did the pharmacist never have to worry about ChatGPT running late? It's always on "cloud nine" and ready to work! How do you know when ChatGPT is working at the pharmacy? The staff meetings are unusually quiet! Why did ChatGPT become the pharmacy's most popular employee? It always had the right "dose" of information! Please note that these jokes are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as an indication that ChatGPT will replace pharmacists. The primary goal of AI tools like ChatGPT is to assist and augment human professionals, not to replace them.

Probably the worst application of ChatGPT I’ve ever done, asking it for jokes for this image. Comedians can sleep easy.

In this article, we explore 6 ways ChatGPT can integrate into pharmacy practice, streamlining processes, enhancing customer service, and optimising operations.

Can you start doing all these overnight? No.

Should you start a journey for integrating them today? Absolutely. Unless you’ve got plans with your kids. In which case, do that first. Then, and only then, should you start your pharmacy journey with GPT.

1. Automated Customer Support and “Virtual” ChatGPT Pharmacist Consultations

One of the key applications of ChatGPT in pharmacy practice is automating patient interactions – at least, the ones that happen all day every day. By integrating ChatGPT into pharmacy systems, pharmacies provide instant and accurate answers to customer queries, saving time and resources while maintaining a consistently high level of customer service.

Moreover, ChatGPT can also facilitate virtual pharmacist consultations, giving patients convenient access to professional advice without requiring a physical visit to the pharmacy.

We’re now exploring how we can use ChatGPT in your pharmacy website.

How would this work?

ChatGPT operates by processing and understanding data it’s given. By using Open AI‘s API, then coding a bespoke model/application for ChatGPT, it could understand your pharmacy’s data, such as the data held in your PMR system. Using this would enable it to respond to patient queries about their medication, including anything from asking when their prescription will be ready, to reporting side effects they’re experiencing and asking for advice.

The code could then tell ChatGPT to tell the patient to either seek the advice of a pharmacist or, potentially, raise a red flag in the PMR system based on the Patient’s interaction.

I think an initial issue is patients accepting that they were talking to AI – there are lots of trust issues there (You would absolutely have to be up front about it being an automated response). But this is a barrier to all new tech, and the more people used it, the more used to it they’d get.

2. Drug Interaction Checks and Prescription Validation

Patient safety is paramount in any healthcare setting, and pharmacies play a critical role in ensuring the safe dispensing of medications. ChatGPT can be employed to analyse drug interactions, alerting pharmacists to potential risks and helping to minimise the likelihood of adverse drug reactions. Additionally, ChatGPT can assist in automatically validating prescriptions, identifying potential errors, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Could Pharmacy PMR Systems then harness ChatGPT? We think so.

3. Inventory Management and Predictive Analytics for Demand Forecasting

Effective inventory management is essential to the smooth operation of a pharmacy. By leveraging ChatGPT, pharmacies can track and manage their inventory more efficiently, optimising stock levels and preventing running out of meds. Furthermore, integrating ChatGPT with external pharmacy data (such as the RPS, GPhC, PharmData) enables better demand forecasting, allowing adjusting inventory and staffing in anticipation of future needs.

4. Staff Training and Education

Pharmacies utilising ChatGPT as an educational resource to train staff on new medications, procedures, and regulations, ensuring a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce would be possible right now, with the right development.

This AI-assisted training can help employees stay current with industry developments and provide the best possible care to patients.

How can pharmacy owners trust ChatGPT enough to use it for training their staff?

Pharmacy owners concerns about relying on an AI system like ChatGPT for staff training are understandable.

Establishing trust in the technology requires:

  1. Validating the information provided by ChatGPT: Pharmacy owners can cross-check the information generated by ChatGPT with reliable sources, such as regulatory guidelines, drug databases, or educational materials.
  2. Combining AI assistance with human expertise: ChatGPT can be used as a supplementary resource alongside traditional training methods, providing staff with a comprehensive learning experience.
  3. Monitoring and adjusting: Pharmacy owners can regularly review and assess the quality of the training materials generated by ChatGPT and adjust their approach accordingly.

Regarding the validation of the information provided by ChatGPT, it should be possible to code ChatGPT’s API to integrate with the resources you yourself as a pharmacist would trust…meaning it has access to all the right information.

So far, my partner, who is a tax advisor who hates ChatGPT conceptually, has begrudgingly conceded that it knows the tax legislation pretty well. It’s answered things it took her 20 minutes to look up, instantly. Of course, it’s human nature to want to double-check this, but overall, AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on.

Giving it access to the same data you have means it’s probably going to be fine.

5. Personalised Medication Reminders and Patient Engagement

Improving patient adherence to medication regimens is crucial in achieving better health outcomes.

Pharmacies can use ChatGPT to send personalised medication reminders via text or email, making it easier for patients to remember when to take their medications. Additionally, ChatGPT can help pharmacies engage with their patients through tailored content and targeted marketing campaigns, promoting specific products or services and fostering long-term relationships.

Sending personalised medication reminders via text or email using ChatGPT requires integration with the pharmacy’s software systems. Here’s how this can be achieved:

  1. Establish a secure connection between the pharmacy’s software and ChatGPT API, allowing the AI to access relevant patient data, such as medication schedules and contact information.
  2. Develop custom scripts or applications that utilise ChatGPT to generate personalised reminder messages based on the patient’s medication regimen.
  3. Integrate the ChatGPT-generated messages with the pharmacy’s existing communication systems, such as email or SMS platforms, to automatically send reminders to patients.

6. Continuous Process Improvement

Pharmacies can harness the analytical capabilities of ChatGPT to evaluate operational data and identify areas for improvement. By continuously refining workflows and customer service, pharmacies can ensure they remain competitive and provide optimal care to their patients. Again, this would require investing into custom development, but the investment would be a fraction of the value generated, especially since the investment is ad-hoc and the benefits are ongoing.

Conclusion

The integration of ChatGPT into pharmacy practice holds immense potential to revolutionise the industry and change pharmacists’ lives by automating key processes, improving customer service, and optimising overall operations. As AI technology continues to advance, the applications of ChatGPT in pharmacy practice will only expand, paving the way for a more efficient and patient-centric healthcare experience.

Much of these require additional development on the pharmacy’s own site. Using ChatGPT’s API as a foundation, however, this is possible.

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pharmacy design - a blueprint for success
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Pharmacy Design: A Blueprint for Success

How a well-planned pharmacy design can boost revenue, streamline operations, and enhance the patient journey.

An interview with Chris Jones of T3 Pharmacy Design.

Pharmacy design is a critical factor for the success of any pharmacy, but especially community (or retail) pharmacy.

The layout and aesthetics of a pharmacy not only influence its overall profitability but also play a significant role in shaping the workflow and patient experience.

In today’s challenging landscape, it’s more important than ever for pharmacies to optimise their physical space to facilitate efficient operations and ensure a comfortable and satisfactory visit for patients.

This article delves into the impact of pharmacy design on profitability, workflow, and patient experience, offering valuable insights for businesses looking to maximise their potential.

The Profitability Factor: Pharmacy Design as a Revenue Driver

The physical appearance of a pharmacy substantially impacts its profitability.

Think about your own shopping experiences. Where are the places you love to be? You’re more likely to visit them, making you far more likely to spend money there than anywhere else.

But pharmacies aren’t solely a retail space. You’re judged as a healthcare setting, too.

Especially when there’s pharmacy competition in your area, being a nicer place to be is a huge advantage.

It doesn’t only give a better experience, but gives a better overall impression of your professionalism. (Note, for those of you setting up Aesthetics Clinics, the importance of the aesthetic of your pharmacy is amplified.)

A well-designed pharmacy space allows for:

  • Increased capacity – or at least, more space for the people in the pharmacy, important for distancing from potentially infectious patients.
  • Better product visibility – obviously, the better the layout, the more visible your products are.
  • Enhanced patient experience – an aesthetically appealing pharmacy design is pleasing to spend time in.

How does Pharmacy Design enhance Patient Experience?

We now understand that design can have a huge impact on the experience our community has in our pharmacy. But what exactly improves it? Here are some of the ways you could look at improving your existing space.

Creating a pleasant shopping environment can be as simple as:

  • Comfortable seating
  • Accessibility Measures
  • Clear signage
  • Adequate lighting

However, more improvements which elevate you from bleak to chic include:

  • Clutter-free spaces
  • Integrated Technology (e.g. Digital Screens)
  • Having Private Consultation Rooms resemble professional medical facilities
  • Branded Colour Schemes
  • Outstanding Displays

The Workflow Advantage: How Pharmacy Design Impacts Operational Efficiency

Pharmacy design greatly impacts workflow efficiency. An optimised layout allows pharmacists to work seamlessly, reducing errors, saving time, and enhancing overall productivity. The opposite is like trying to organise an Olympic diving contest in a kitchen sink.

Key elements of great workflow design include:

  1. Dispensing areas: A well-organised dispensing area minimises errors, improves patient safety, and speeds up the dispensing process.
  2. Storage and inventory management: Efficient storage systems reduce stock discrepancies, minimise out-of-stock issues, and optimise space usage.
  3. Consultation areas: Private consultation rooms should be accessible, soundproofed, and comfortable for confidential discussions.
  4. Staff productivity: A well-designed layout reduces the time it takes for staff to locate and retrieve medications, leading to quicker customer service and higher prescription fulfilment rates.
  5. Staff wellbeing: Adjustable workstations, comfortable seating, and sufficient lighting create an environment that fosters productivity and reduces workplace injuries.
  6. Strategic equipment and supply placement: Logical, easily accessible locations reduce the time it takes for staff to complete tasks, allowing for quicker service.

The Patient Experience: Designing for Comfort and Confidence

Pharmacy design directly impacts patient experience, influencing their perception of the business and their likelihood of returning. A welcoming, well-organised space fosters trust, encourages repeat visits, and contributes to a positive reputation within the community.

  1. Signposting: Can patients navigate your pharmacy with ease? Clear signage, organised product displays, and logical layout contribute to a stress-free shopping experience, which encourages patients to explore the pharmacy’s offerings and make additional purchases.
  2. Privacy and confidentiality: Pharmacies must ensure that their design provides adequate privacy for patients, particularly in the consultation and dispensing areas. By incorporating private consultation rooms and separate dispensing counters, pharmacies foster a sense of trust and comfort amongst their patients.
  3. Accessibility and inclusivity: A well-designed pharmacy caters to the needs of all its communities, including those with disabilities or limited mobility. Incorporating features such as wide aisles, ramps, and accessible counters demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, which has reputational benefits, as well as opening your doors to a broader range of patients.

Rethinking your Refit?

Pharmacy design is a determining factor in a pharmacy’s overall profitability, workflow efficiency, and patient experience.

Like most “expenses”, professional design is an investment. The more you put in, the more you get out. It isn’t an expense to skimp and save on.

Remaining competitive in pharmacy’s ever-evolving landscape means recognising the importance of effective design and adapting your spaces to accommodate the changing needs and preferences of your community.

By prioritising pharmacy design, pharmacy business owners optimise the pharmacy’s foundation and framework for success.

Enjoyed this article? Sign up for our Newsletter below for more Pharmacy Growth Hacks, trends, comparison guides and get notified every time we release a new article.

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pharmacy business conference 2022

Pharmacy Business Conference 2023

The Pharmacy Business Conference is on 14th May 2023 and, as always, promises a wealth of insight, wisdom and knowledge from across the industry. Let’s explore what makes the Pharmacy Business Conference a unique opportunity for pharmacists.

Book Your Tickets for the Pharmacy Business Conference FREE

Why attend the Pharmacy Business Conference?

The Pharmacy Business Conference is laser-focused on value for attendees. It’s also focused on running your pharmacy as a business, as the name suggests. And it’s this side of Pharmacy which threatens many pharmacies’ existence right now.

At the conference, you’ll hear from multiple speakers, pose your own questions, network with other pharmacists, and come away with a sense of clarity and direction in what are presently murky waters for many Pharmacy Owners.

Who’s speaking?

The Pharmacy Business Conference has an incredible line-up of speakers this year, from a range of backgrounds and disciplines. Here are just a few of the speakers for May’s event:

  • Anne Joshua – Head of Pharmacy Integration at NHS England.
  • Bernadette Brown – Owner of Cadham Pharmacy, multi-award winning Community Pharmacist in Scotland.
  • Salim Jetha – Chairman of Avicenna, amongst many other career achievements.
  • Trevor Gore – Founder & Consultant at Maestro Consulting & Pharmacy Business Conference Chair.

Concise, precise advice

Your biggest commodity is time, specifically spare time. The Pharmacy Business Conference starts with breakfast at 10am and ends with lunch at 14:30.

In that time, you’ll hear about:

  • The NHS’ plan for Independent Prescribing as part of integrated Pharmacy
  • Technology and automation, and the real world application of these in community pharmacy
  • Best practice for implementing clinical services into your existing pharmacy model.

You’ll also get a chance to put your questions to any of the speakers, which is a unique opportunity considering the line-up.

It’s a really focused four and a half hours, packed with value.

Networking at the Pharmacy Business Conference

In the Pharmacy Industry, networking really pays.

Collaboration, support and advice between friends and colleagues is more important now than ever, and the Pharmacy Business Conference gives you the chance to make new relationships as well as develop existing ones.

There are specific breaks in proceedings for you to network, both for a mid-session refreshment break and at lunch.

Q & A Panels

I personally love panels, I think they’re some of the most insightful formats for these types of events.

The Pharmacy Business Conference 2022 has two panels, the first around developing and delivering clinical services, and the second assessing the next 12-18 months of Community Pharmacy, The panels will answer questions from the audience, each member giving their unique insight and perspective on each query.

We’re attending!

At Pharmacy Mentor, we’re proud that we’re always on the cutting edge. Developing digital innovations helping Community Pharmacies with the problems they’re facing right now is what we’re all about.

It’s our belief that the pharmacies who’ll adapt and survive are the ones who take the time to work on their business, not just in their business.

Making time for the Pharmacy Business Conference is smart time-economy. The clarity and direction you’ll get will save so much thinking time down the line.

Can’t make it? Make time to watch the recording at a later date. It’s not quite the same as being there, but it’s better than nothing at all!

Book Your Tickets for the Pharmacy Business Conference FREE

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how blockchain will transform pharmacy
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How Blockchain will transform Pharmacy

Blockchain is next up in our series of articles on how future technologies will impact Pharmacy. In this article, we’ll examine how other industries use Blockchain, how Pharmacy can adopt it, and how its impact will grow as technology advances. For a “Too Long; Didn’t Read” summary, scroll to the bottom.

Blockchain technology is a network of computers storing data transparently.

What is the Blockchain, and how does it work?

Blockchain technology is a network of recorded and verified transactions. It’s an auditor’s dream, because it tracks everything.

From a technical perspective, it’s quite complex, so let me explain it in layman’s terms.

Think of a big notebook that everyone can see, and anyone can add to. Every time someone adds a new note to the notebook, everyone can see it and know that it’s true. No one can change anything that’s already written in the notebook, so everyone knows that the information is secure.

Now imagine that instead of a notebook, we’re talking about a digital ledger. This ledger is stored on many different computers all around the world, and each computer has a copy of the ledger. When someone wants to add a new piece of information to the ledger, they have to get agreement from all the other computers in the network. Once everyone agrees that the new information is valid, it gets added to the ledger and can’t be changed.

This is what blockchain technology is all about – it’s a way of storing information on a network of computers that is secure and transparent. Because the dataset is distributed amongst many different computers, it’s almost impossible for anyone to hack or alter the information. And because everyone on the network can see the same information, there’s no need for a central authority to verify transactions. This is what makes it a powerful tool for all kinds of applications, from finance to healthcare.

How can Pharmacy harness Blockchain in the future?

The most obvious impacts of Blockchain on Pharmacy will be:

  • Blockchain Prescriptions
  • Increased Data Security
  • Audit Trails & Accountability
  • Secure supply chain & eliminating counterfeit medicine

Blockchain Prescriptions: A more secure future

Blockchain technology has the potential to enhance prescription security in a number of ways:

  1. Preventing prescription fraud: By using blockchain to store prescription data, pharmacies and healthcare providers can create a tamper-proof record of prescription information that can’t be easily altered. This prevents prescription fraud and improve patient safety, especially if we transitioned to an electronic-only system. Similar to how Blockchain would prevent a lot of money laundering if we lived in a cashless society. Ironically, with no cash or paper prescriptions, there’s always a “paper trail.”
  2. Improving prescription tracking: Blockchain can provide a secure and transparent ledger of drug transactions, from production to dispensation, which could improve drug traceability and prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the supply chain.
  3. Enhancing patient privacy: Pharmacies guarantee that patient data is kept private and secure by using blockchain to store patient prescription data. The security of data and personal information is guaranteed for patients sharing data through blockchain-based systems.
  4. Streamlining prescription filling: Blockchain would allow quick and secure accessing of patient prescription data, allowing more efficient and accurate dispensing. This reduces errors and improves patient outcomes.
  5. Compliance with regulations: Using blockchain for storing prescription data means pharmacies comply automatically with regulations and guidelines related to prescription data storage and sharing.

Overall, blockchain technology has huge potential for improving prescription security. It requires significant investment, but the potential benefits for prescription security are more significant.

Increased Data Security

Reece Samani on Protecting Patient Data

Many of the great benefits that Big Data & AI offer have a common issue – data privacy & security.

But Blockchain provides a secure and decentralised database. Blockchain’s resistance to hacking and cyber threats, makes it the solution, protecting patient data and preventing data breaches.

Audit Trails, Authentication & Accountability

Reece Samani on Auditing Telemedicine Prescribing

A big issue within Pharmacy is practitioners going rogue: prescribing without need, overprescribing, under-dispensing and other fraudulent activities.

Blockchain, when combined with the Internet of Things, Big Data & AI, eliminates most, if not all the possibility for this to happen, especially not more than once.

Blockchain technology means that everything anyone does is traced back to them, or their log-in. It also tracks all the medicine across the supply chain, from source to dispensary.

The Big Data of the healthcare network includes the entire history of actions and behaviours by pharmacists across the industry in any particular network (e.g. the NHS).

Artificial Intelligence constantly scans this huge amount of data, learning what are and aren’t “typical” behaviours from pharmacists, suppliers, delivery drivers, you name it.

A fully blossomed Internet of Things links all devices across the same network and monitors activity, further increasing this paperless paper trail of actions.

All of these technologies working together combine in a way where, not unlike The Police’s creepy song about a stalker, every move you make, every step you take, the system is watching you.

It becomes very difficult to break the rules. For an industry which absolutely requires stringent regulation, this is only a good thing.

Secure supply chain & eliminating counterfeit medicine

Blockchain allows the tracking of drug movements all the way from manufacturer to the patient’s doorstep. This helps prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the supply chain and improves drug traceability.

By using blockchain technology, the pharmacy industry can ensure a secure and transparent supply chain, which helps to eliminate the entry of counterfeit medicines into the market. Since blockchain technology tracks every drug’s movement from the manufacturer to the patient’s doorstep, it becomes easy to trace the drug’s origins and detect any signs of tampering or counterfeiting.

Each time a new transaction occurs in the supply chain, it’s added to the blockchain. This creates an immutable record that cannot be altered.

This record includes details like the:

  • Date and time of the transaction,
  • Parties involved
  • Location of the transaction.

So any fraudulent activity can be detected quickly, and the drug can be traced back to its source.

As counterfeit medicines pose a significant threat to public health, ensuring drug traceability using blockchain technology can help prevent these dangerous drugs from entering the supply chain.

TL;DR?

There’s absolutely no question that technology enhances and enables better work from good pharmacists.

Blockchain technology however has enormous potential for reducing bad or illegal practice above all else. Especially regarding prescription security, supply chain transparency, and data security.

By leveraging blockchain technology, pharmacies create a tamper-proof record of prescription data that is secure, transparent, and easily accessible, while also complying with regulatory guidelines and providing better patient outcomes.

Although utilising Blockchain technology presents its own challenges, the potential benefits of blockchain technology for the pharmacy industry are more than worth it.

My only hope throughout writing this series of guides on future technology in Pharmacy is that the industry adopts them faster than they adopted digitisation.

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before and after the pharmacy digital revolution

Before & After: Pharmacy’s Digital Revolution

Few things altered the course of Community Pharmacy’s destiny more than the digital revolution. With the rise of technology and the ever-increasing use of the Internet, pharmacies offer more services to more people than ever before.

In this article, we’ll explore the pharmacy industry landscape before and after the pharmacy digital revolution, with a focus on the impact of digital marketing on patient behaviour and experience.

The Digital Revolution in numbers:

  • 721 million UK Prescriptions Dispensed in 2005 (Pharmaceutical Journal).
  • 1.14 billion UK Prescriptions Dispensed in 2022 (NHSBSA).
  • 56 UK Online Pharmacies in 2008/9 (Statista).
  • 375 and counting…UK Online Pharmacies (DSP’s) in 2022 (Statista).
  • 34.7million views of our Google Adverts for pharmacies since 2021.

Pharmacy in the good ol’ days…

Before the digital revolution, brick-and-mortar pharmacies provided medication and other healthcare basics to patients, with many supplementing this with convenience retail products.

Patients typically visited in person – purchasing their medication, asking pharmacist’s advice, and getting their prescriptions filled.

It was a simpler time, but it had its limitations.

  • People generally wouldn’t consider the pharmacy their first port of call for healthcare. The default for patients feeling unwell, was the doctors or the hospital.
  • Patients had absolutely no clue what was wrong with them. (Now they come in telling you the 10 different things they think it could be after they Googled it.)
  • Even if they visited the pharmacy, physically visiting can be inconvenient, and the pharmacy’s choice of products and services was limited. Pharmacies weren’t the one-stop health hubs they are today.

The Evolution of Margins on Prescription Items

Because there was only one accessible channel for prescriptions (visiting a pharmacy), the government had no option for decreasing margins on prescriptions, without risking pharmacies simply not renewing contracts and/or running them out of business.

Pharmacy was comfortable, profitable and safe.

Just because there are new digital ways of doing things, if your way of life is working for you, why change?

Three words.

Automation, Digitisation, & Competition

Any one of these on its own is enough of a driver for impacting Rx margins – and the digital revolution brought all three at once.

  • Automation, (think Prescription Collection Machines, Dispensing Robots and Packaging Machines) significantly decreases the admin, and therefore long-term expenditure on Rx work.
  • Digitisation similarly reduces the admin on many previously non-digitised tasks.
  • Competition from companies who adopt these methods earlier, especially bigger companies who can afford big investments and then lower their prices accordingly, means margins on smaller, community pharmacy independents are squeezed.

There is no solution but following suit. You cannot beat them. You have to join them. Advancing technology is inevitable.

Digitise. Automate. Compete.

And, concurrently, stop relying on prescriptions!

With margins so tight, most people are looking at private clinics now, for good reason.

But, because everyone is doing it, competition is there again.

So Digitising, automating and competing is necessary here too.

pharmacy automation: what you need to know - with a robot pushing a cardboard box

Read

Change is the only constant

With the advent of the digital revolution, or rather, ten years after every other industry digitised, pharmacies expanded their reach and began offering a wider range of services to patients.

Many pharmacies now offer online consultations and prescription services, making it even more convenient for patients to receive the care they need.

Increasingly, selling medication and taking clinic bookings online is growing evermore easier from an administrative point of view, making it even easier for patients to access the healthcare they need.

Pharmacy is now becoming contemporary. Many of the things the public take for granted (e.g., discovering services online through Google, booking appointments and paying for them online) are becoming standard across pharmacies.

Until your pharmacy does this, don’t be surprised if your clinics aren’t filling up.

Planning on becoming an Independent Prescriber soon? Talk to us about building an Online IP Clinic, which you can manage entirely through your website.

Changing with the times

One of the most significant changes brought about by the digital revolution was the impact of digital marketing on patient behaviour and experience.

With the rise of the Internet and social media, pharmacies reach a much larger audience than ever before. Some of the data we see from the pharmacies we help is staggering. Travel Clinics, PCR testing, Ear Wax treatments…they’re driving six figures, and in some cases, seven figures in annual revenue for the pharmacies who’ve embraced the new model and invested in proper digitisation.

Digital marketing techniques such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising help promote products and services. This enables reaching patients who otherwise wouldn’t know a pharmacy provides these services.

The altogether necessary digital revolution

With the ever-increasing population, the old model simply wouldn’t be viable. That’s partly why Prescription Collection Points are so popular with communities – they don’t have time for queueing behind countless other people collecting their prescription at the same time.

Whilst some mourn the loss of personal patient care, however, technology actually supports more face-to-face interactions.

Think about it, how much time would you get to talk to patients if all of your patients still visited your pharmacy?

Video consultations enable personal service for people who can’t access the pharmacy for whatever reason.

Digital marketing has also changed the way patients interact with pharmacies.

Patients search for and compare services online, and are more informed and empowered when it comes to making healthcare decisions. They research different pharmacies, compare prices, read reviews and testimonials, and even talk with pharmacists online.

You aren’t just competing with other pharmacies, you’re competing with modern expectations of a service business. Booking haircuts online is possible, so why isn’t your pharmacy taking bookings online?

For pharmacies who appear online, this new patient behaviour makes winning new patients easier than ever.

In addition to reaching a larger audience, digital marketing also allows better targeting of marketing efforts for pharmacies. For example, using data analytics and customer profiling to identify specific needs of their target audience, allowing for more effective marketing campaigns and tailoring of products and services, meeting the specific needs of patients.

(Hint: If you can’t be doing with the hassle of all that analysis, why not outsource to a specialist Pharmacy digital marketing agency?

Another plus of digital marketing for your pharmacy is building stronger relationships with your patients.

Pharmacies communicating with patients via email, social media, and other digital channels keep patients informed about new products and services, as well as any changes to their medication or treatment plan.

Educating patients about various health conditions, treatments, and medications, helps improve patient outcomes and build confidence and trust in your pharmacy. All with the added benefit of letting people know that your pharmacy offers the solution!

What Next?

Whilst the pharmacy industry in the United Kingdom has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, the revolution isn’t over. If anything, it’s only just getting started.

If you’re interested in how new technology may further impact pharmacy, check out these articles:

Does your Pharmacy need to get online? Book in a consultation call with our Diagnose and Prescribe team, and start your digital journey today.

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how is wearable tech impacting community pharmacy?
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How is Wearable Technology impacting Community Pharmacy?

The surge in popularity of wearable technology extends well beyond retail Smartwatches. The technology continues revolutionising the way people lead their lives, and it has significant potential for revolutionising the healthcare industry. Community Pharmacies in the United Kingdom and beyond are no exception.

Wearable Technology in Numbers

  • 216 million global smartwatch users (Statista)
  • 1%/Year – The increase in growth of the population who own smartwatches in the US (Insider Intelligence)
  • 13 – Different categories of wearables. Smartwatches are almost synonymous with wearables, but there’s far more to wearables than watches. (Tesla Suit)
a graph showing the number of wearable technology devices globally

The number of connected wearable devices worldwide has more than doubled in the space of three years, increasing from 325 million in 2016 to 722 million in 2019. The number of devices is forecast to reach more than one billion by 2022.

Retail Opportunities for Pharmacies

Before we dive into the practical applications of how wearable tech can affect pharmacy’s day-to-day healthcare operations, a word on retail.

The vast majority of pharmacies in the UK still double-up as a retail shop, or a convenience store, for our American readers. Unless you’re based in a really remote location, you’re competing for little crumbs with multiple fish in the same pond as you.

Dress for the role you want, not the one you have

The way we change the public perception of what a Community Pharmacy is and does is by doing different things. People don’t visit pharmacies for cheap plastic toys.

If Pharmacies became outlets for Wearable Health technology, suddenly the advice of the professionals in-store adds value, giving you a huge advantage over online retailers who can’t offer that same tailored advice.

Take NuroKor LifeTech, as a working example, the wearable technology which manages and relieves Chronic Pain, amongst other things.

Nurokor Lifetech Logo

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By offering continuous pain management consultations, having live demonstrations and group Q&A sessions on Living with Chronic Pain, you’re providing engaging options that add value to your community.

These products make sense for a pharmacy.

Applications of Wearable Technology in Medication Management

Wearable tech in medicine is still a new field. There’s still a lot of research being done, figuring out the best way for these devices for monitoring meds.

That said, the potential benefits of using them in the following areas don’t require much in the way of advancement of the technology.

  • Insulin – Monitoring blood glucose levels in people with diabetes and provide real-time feedback on insulin dosage and glucose levels.
  • Cardiovascular – Wearable devices can be used to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular indicators.
  • Pain management – Monitoring pain levels (through specific physiological responses) and monitor the effectiveness of pain management medications, helping doctors make more informed treatment decisions.
  • Mental health – tracking patients’ mood, sleep patterns, and other indicators of mental health.
  • Asthma medications – Monitoring a patient’s respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and other indicators of asthma control.

The main area for improvement is the integration of data into healthcare practice, as well as advancements in, and adoption of, the Internet of Things (IoT) into pharmacy practice.

Remote Healthcare, revolutionised with data

One of the most significant ways in which wearable technology could impact community pharmacies is through the increased use of telemedicine.

We’re already seeing an increasing number of pharmacy clients requesting Online Doctor features adding to their websites. This will continue growing, and remote consultations along with it.

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers collect and transmit data on a patient’s health, allowing for remote monitoring and consultation with healthcare professionals. This enables community pharmacies to provide more personalised, real-time care to patients, and potentially reduce the need for in-person visits.

Thinking about the practical application of this with elderly patients with mobility issues is incredibly positive.

Wearable technology improves Chronic Condition Management

Another area in which wearable technology’s impact on community pharmacies will continue to grow, is in the management of chronic conditions.

Wearable devices can track vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure, and provide alerts for any abnormalities.

This enables the proactive management of patients with chronic conditions and reduces the risk of potential complications.

Prevention is always better than a cure.

Improved Adherence with Reminders & Alerts

Wearable technology can also have a positive impact on medication adherence.

Smartwatches, for example, can be programmed to remind patients to take their medication at the correct time, and can even send notifications to the patient’s healthcare provider if the medication is not taken as prescribed. This improves patient outcomes and reduces the number of hospital readmissions.

Furthermore, wearable technology can also help community pharmacies to provide more efficient and convenient services. For example, by using wearable devices, patients can order their prescriptions and have them delivered to their home, reducing the need for them to visit the pharmacy in person. Additionally, some wearables can integrate with the electronic prescriptions system, making it easier for the pharmacy to manage and track prescriptions.

How far away is Wearable Tech from full integration into Pharmacy?

It’s important to note that the adoption of wearable technology in community pharmacies is still in early stages, and there are some challenges that need to be addressed.

Data & Privacy Concerns

One of the main challenges is data security and privacy, ensuring that patients’ personal and medical information is protected.

Making sure the technology is reliable and accurate, and that the data collected is of sufficient quality for clinical decision-making is another critical factor.

What’s to stop someone lending their smart device to a friend in order to qualify for POM’s? Of course, there are workarounds in our current system too, but this isn’t an immediate fix with wearables in their current guise either.

Investment Costs & Priorities

Another challenge is the cost, as wearable technology is expensive, if you were using it for every patient. Of course, the savings made, margins widening and revenue generating implications of the technology mean it’s a sound investment. But long-term thinking and strategy is a rare bird in healthcare. So it may be some time before widespread adoption.

Diagnosis of Wearable Tech in Pharmacy

In conclusion, wearable technology has the potential to revolutionise the way community pharmacies in the United Kingdom provide care to patients. We’re talking years not months, but it’s likely on the way.

The technology enables remote monitoring, improved management of chronic conditions, and improved medication adherence.

However, the adoption of wearable technology in community pharmacies is still in early stages, and there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as data security, cost, and reliability.

As always, Community Pharmacies should be ready to adapt.

Interested in digitising your pharmacy business? Book in a consultation call with our Diagnose and Prescribe team.

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Around 19 to 90 Travel Clinic Bookings in 30 Days
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Case Study: Around 19 to 190 Travel Clinic Bookings in 30 Days

This Independent Community Pharmacy in the Midlands were managing their own Google Ads in-house. Here’s what happened to their Travel Clinic business when we suggested that we should manage it for them

Before we begin, I want to make it clear – this is in no way a critique of the pharmacy who were originally managing their own Ads.

There aren’t many digital marketing agencies around who specialise in Pharmacy, and fewer still who deliver tangible results. The initiative of this pharmacy for doing Google Ads before discovering us is laudable.

That said, this is the difficulty sometimes with the perception of Google Ads. Mismanaged, Google Ads are a black hole for advertising budget. This burns people using them, and they write off the platform entirely.

About the Pharmacy

This Pharmacy based in the Midlands is a family-run Pharmacy single, who were keen on growing the number of bookings they were getting for Clinics. They’d already got a steady flow of bookings through their own SEO efforts.

They have a website with an integrated booking Calendar, showing patients live available times for appointment bookings.

The Challenge

This pharmacy understood the opportunity of Google Ads, but hadn’t had success managing the account themselves.

As you can see below, the Cost/Conversion line was averaging around £8. I’ve highlighted the very first conversion as a demonstration of how expensive Google Ads gets without proper supervision.

This means they were only getting a low amount of Phone Calls & Bookings, and paying a high price for each one.

Ideally, you want the opposite of that.

The Results

It becomes demonstrably clearer in this image what a difference our management made. Regular optimisations and refining of the account meant both that the Ad Budget was allocated properly, and the relevant audiences were seeing the advert. The results, displayed in the graph below, were obvious.

The conversions and phone calls soared up, whilst the cost of each conversion fell significantly. This all happened within the first month of us taking over the account.

The end result?

Over a two-year average, the monthly Travel Clinic bookings went from 19 to 190, and the profitability of each booking was also increased.

That’s around £11,800 in travel clinic profit, every month, according to Pharmadoctor’s Profit Calculator.

And a nice bonus, they’ve collected 240 Google Reviews, averaging 4.9 stars, reflecting well across the whole pharmacy for any future services and prescription nominations.

a graph showing the Pharmacy's Google Ads results, with a large spike after Pharmacy Mentor took over in Q1 2022

A Snapshot from the Google Ads dashboard

What’s next for this pharmacy?

The next steps for this pharmacy would be refining their website, as the user journey is solid for Travel Clinics but less so for the other clinics. Once that’s complete, there’s no reason they can’t replicate this success for their other clinics.

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Building a Pharmacy Culture You’re Proud Of

Your pharmacy business begins and ends with your people. As a Community Pharmacy, the numbers say that, on average, your people are probably unhappy. Let’s look at how to flip that script.
hands on a table signifying team culture

Get everyone bought in.

What do the numbers say about Pharmacy Culture?

  • Only 17% of Pharmacy Owners think every member of their pharmacy team operates with a unique set of values they want their pharmacy to be known for, according to our Perfect Pharmacy Scorecard.
  • Pharmacy technicians rate their career happiness 2.8 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 15% of careers. (CareerExplorer.com)
  • Just 16% of the 2,694 pharmacy students in a joint study between Health Education England and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society chose community pharmacy over hospital pharmacy.

This doesn’t paint a great picture of working life in a Pharmacy. There’s clearly a disconnect between top and bottom. Pharmacy Owners want their teams performing better, and the teams just don’t seem motivated.

So many pharmacists we speak to cite being short-staffed as the main problem they’re dealing with right now. Couple that with Locum rates being so high, and there’s something of a staffing epidemic in Community Pharmacy.

Changing the narrative

Most pharmacies are currently in a vicious circle. The work is stressful, the employees get stressed and demotivated. A demotivated, depressing environment isn’t appealing for prospective new team members and so you end up stuck with the demotivated, overworked team.

What we want is a virtuous circle. Creating an environment where your pharmacy team loves working makes that environment appealing for job applicants.

So how do we move from that vicious circle to a virtuous cycle? Implementing culture that incorporates your team.

Creating your Pharmacy Culture

Building a positive culture in your Pharmacy team can have numerous benefits, including:

  • Improved patient outcomes
  • Increased job satisfaction amongst team members
  • Reduced staff turnover

Here are 7 steps for building a good team culture in your pharmacy:

1. Clearly define the values and goals of the team

What kind of pharmacy do you want to be?

Remember that values and Pharmacy Culture aren’t about what you do, it’s about the way you do it.

If your team understands and buys into the mission and values of the organisation, their performance aligns parallel.

Your culture comes from the top, from your passion as a leader. This means you need passion for your values! People follow leaders for their passion and because they align with their vision. You’re the driving force of your pharmacy.

Do you show up with passion and drive every day, and lead by example?

2. Foster open communication and transparency

Encourage sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback openly and honestly throughout your team. Giving people agency and control in their role both helps their sense of worth and productivity within your pharmacy.

Do this by sharing your own thoughts and visions for your pharmacy’s strategy with your team. Sharing begets sharing.

3. Show appreciation and give recognition

Let team members know that their contributions are valued and appreciated. This is as simple as saying thank you or recognising their efforts in team meetings, but make sure it’s sincere. This small gesture goes a long way.

4. Encourage personal and professional growth

Offer your team opportunities for developing their skills and advancing their careers. People invest in their own development. Offering development opportunities makes them invest themselves with your pharmacy.

5. Promote work-life balance

Help team members find a healthy balance between their work and personal lives. This can include offering flexible work schedules or providing resources to support employee well-being.

Naturally, if you’re already short-staffed, you might feel this is impossible. You need them to work, right?

You have options.

Investing in technology and automating your team’s most repetitive or time-consuming tasks is a major solution here.

Talk to your team, let them know you’re grateful for their efforts and, whilst it’s a struggle hiring locums and/or new staff, you’re investing in taking the pressure off them.

6. Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment

Encourage team members to work together and support one another. This can include things like providing opportunities for teamwork and building strong relationships amongst team members.

Again, lead by example on this.

The junior members of your team aren’t there to lend the senior members help exclusively – and often the junior members of the team are the ones who need the most help.

7. Lead by example

I’ve said this about three times already throughout this guide, because it’s critical to your culture.

As a leader, it is important to model the behaviour you want to see in your team.

If you never take a break, it makes your team feel like they can’t take a break. That’s not setting the right tone.

Being open and transparent, showing appreciation and respect for team members, and acting with integrity? That’s setting a great tone.

We understand that life in Community Pharmacy is usually high-speed, and can be very stressful. There are external influences that make the job harder e.g. drug prices or the GP surgery not sending a patient’s RX on time. These are not within your control.

However, your “culture” is within your control, and you have the power to shape and nurture that. It’s not easy, but the rewards make it worth it for you, your team and your patients.

This article was written by JP, our Brand Content Editor who has been with PM since the early days and has extensive experience in working with multidisciplinary teams, with the help of Saam, a pharmacist by trade and our CEO, and who has extensive experience in leading teams in both the pharmacy and digital worlds.

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12 tiktok pharmacy tips
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12 Pharmacy TikTok Tips: The 2023 Beginner’s Guide

As a pharmacist, you’re 100% forgiven for not being “up” on TikTok. But these 12 tips will get you up and running with a Pharmacy TikTok account.

tiktok logo

Want to start a Pharmacy TikTok account? You’ve come to the right place.

Everything You Need to start posting on TikTok

  • One smartphone with a camera
  • The TikTok app
  • One TikTok Account (with unique username & profile picture)

And that’s it.

12 Pharmacy TikTok Tips

Getting involved with TikTok is honestly pretty simple, because it’s a platform where no one expects perfection. But with these 12 tips, you’ll feel like a pro in no time.

1. It’s never too late

Whilst it might feel that the TikTok ship has sailed, it isn’t too late to jump on. The immediacy and short-term nature of the platform means that, provided your content delivers value, you’ll attract followers and views. When it comes to having a TikTok presence, there’s no time like the present.

2. Remember, you’re a pharmacy

Silly dances and pouting isn’t necessary for success on TikTok. Whilst showing a personal side is encouraged, it isn’t necessary.

Pharmacies can create TikTok content around:

  • Mental health issues
  • Correct Medicine Use
  • Product Demonstrations
  • Behind the scenes – pill sorting and cream mixing is incredibly popular on TikTok!
  • Common minor ailments and treatments
  • Healthcare myth-busting
  • And so much more!

Really, the skies the limit. Get creative, or check out other Pharmacy Content Creators for ideas (just don’t rip people off!)

3. Think about who’s watching

You might think TikTok is a young person’s game and that your audience is, well, the opposite. But anxiety, and associated prescriptions are, unfortunately, on the rise.

And Gen Z are the primary sufferers and most at risk of anxiety, with excessive use of social media central in theories as to why this is.

Exploring medicine use and offering helpful advice around this subject, as well as many other mental health issues, would be a fantastic and engaging issue for exploring with your content.

TikTok is no longer just for young people, either. Like most apps that start this way, the target market has expanded with its popularity. The app has been downloaded 2 billion times globally. That’s a lot more people than just children!

4. Be prolific, not perfect

TikTok users are familiar with handheld videos recorded on phones – Hollywood edited videos aren’t necessary for success on this platform. Posting more often is far more useful than worrying about appearing polished.

In fact, more polished videos seem less genuine and your audience won’t engage as openly with them as a result. In real life, not every sentence you say is perfect, and nor should it be on TikTok.

The whole point is building a relationship with your community, which doesn’t happen if you only show up every few months. The more regularly you post, the better your results become.

5. Have a goal in mind

Building an audience is always a solid marker, as the more followers you have, the better the perception of your brand when new people encounter you. But building an audience is not the end goal.

Ultimately the end goal is nurturing trust with your audience and developing engagement.

6. Utilise your team

Whilst the younger members of your pharmacy team won’t have as much pharmacy experience as more senior members, they almost certainly have more TikTok experience. Use that! Offer them a pay rise and make creating content part of their job description, or give them cash incentives per video. That goes for the stars of the video too, not just whoever’s filming it.

Many staff members might feel uncomfortable on camera, which is fine. But with the right incentives, they might feel more comfortable

Encouraging having fun with the videos suddenly makes the task more appealing.

However you do it, getting someone who’s comfortable with the platform makes the process much easier.

7. Engage with others

It isn’t all about creating your own content. Follow healthcare hashtags, follow other small businesses in your community and comment on their content.

Start conversations that aren’t in your own environment, and you’ll attract people back to yours.

8. Reuse your content on other platforms

If you’re considering entering the TikTok space, the likelihood is you’re already on at least one of Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. TikTok content works well on other platforms! Don’t be shy in spreading your videos across your other platforms.

Do you have digital screens in your Pharmacy? Get your videos playing on your screen and bring the fun into your pharmacy! This also helps boost your followers as people in your pharmacy realise you’re on TikTok.

9. Short, sweet, and straight into the good stuff

Jump straight into the content of your video and try to keep videos between 15-30 seconds. Longer videos are okay occasionally, but people can immediately see if a video is long, and it’s possible that deters them from watching any of it.

10. Link your website in your profile

Your digital marketing works best if things flow nicely. Someone sees your TikTok video demonstrating how lip fillers are professionally applied might want to use you for their treatment.

They’ll click on your profile, and find out more.

Optimise your profile, and maximise the exposure to your pharmacy services.

The Day Lewis Pharmacy Profile doesn’t include its website link, and it’s missing a trick.

11. Use Hashtags!

#pharmacy #health #advice #CityName #TownName #PharmTok

Without hashtags, the TikTok algorithm doesn’t know what your content is about, so it won’t show it to people who like content associated with those subjects. Always hashtag your location, especially as a local community pharmacy. You’re fostering a community, what better place to start than…people in your community!

12. Track & Analyse

If you’re not measuring what you’re doing, you’ve no idea if it’s going to be effective or not. You know this, you’re a pharmacist.

Check your videos and discover which type works best. Double down on what works, and ditch what doesn’t!

If something really doesn’t look great on your account, you can always delete it later!

TikTok has its own inbuilt analytics, but these are only accessible with “Pro” accounts.

How do you get a Pro account?

Manage my account > Switch to Pro account > Select “Pharmacy” Industry > Your TikTok account will reload with the analytics section.

And that’s a wrap!

Those 12 tips are more than enough to get any Pharmacy started on TikTok…so in the words of Shia Laboeuf…

what are you waiting for? just do it!

Interested in setting up a TikTok account and having the account managed by us? We can help. Simply get in touch.

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The Ultimate Prescription Collection Machine Comparison Guide
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The Prescription Collection Machine Buyers’ Guide

Prescription Collection Machines are exploding in popularity in the UK. So we thought we’d save you some time shopping around and write a guide. Hopefully it saves some valuable time finding the right one for your pharmacy.

As a digital marketing and development agency, with a goal of increasing patient numbers whilst improving workflow for pharmacies, we regularly discuss the use of Prescription Collection Machines to our clients.

In December 2021, we featured Prescription Collection Machines in our Ultimate Guide to Automating Your Pharmacy.

The industry is now reacting, and you’re probably on the lookout for a machine that impacts your workflow and patient experience in the same way.

If you’re already sure you want a Prescription Collection Machine, skip down a few headings to see providers’ offerings.

Will my pharmacy benefit from a Prescription Collection Machine?

If you are undecided on investing in a machine at all, you need only look at how it’s transformed the pharmacies who’ve introduced them.

During the course of the pandemic, we saw our clients experience a massive impact post-installation of Prescription Collection Machines in:

  • Attracting New Patients, especially when advertised online (links to Case Study)
  • Managing prescription workload and easing workflow
  • Reducing waiting times, queues and “Is my prescription ready yet?” questions
  • Maximising the convenience of prescription collection in general

The only way your pharmacy wouldn’t benefit from a Prescription Collection Point, is if you’re in an area so remote and sparsely populated that there aren’t the numbers to warrant it.

Most providers cite a certain number of items per month, which they say makes investing in a Prescription Collection Machine worth it. But the reality is, with the convenience of 24/7 collection for your patients, the machine will increase your EPS sign-ups, especially if you’re the only pharmacy in your area which has one. And as we continue into a more clinical model of pharmacy, any way you can free up the time of your pharmacy team and improve workflow efficiency is a good investment.

How do Prescription Collection Machines work?

Prescription Collection Machines are the ATMs of Pharmacy. Instead of queueing in the bank to withdraw money, ATM’s allowed the secure withdrawal of cash 24/7. Prescription Collection Machines do the same for Prescriptions. Freeing up staff time, allowing more time for value-adding actions, and saving the customers from unnecessary waits.

The core mechanics of how they work:

  • Step 1

    Script is Processed

    The prescription is processed in the normal way and bagged up

  • Step 2

    Scan the Barcode

    The barcode on the label is scanned before allocation in the machine

    Step 2

  • Step 3

    Place inside Prescription Collection Machine

    The prescription bag is paced into machine, ready for patient to collect.

  • Step 4

    "Prescription Ready" Text Alert

    The message can be customised, but always contains the PIN required to operate the machine.

    Step 4

  • Step 5

    Patient Collects Medication

    Using the PIN provided, the patient then collects their medication at a time convenient to them.

Of course, people need to sign up for EPS with you in order to use the service, as this service naturally requires their details.

The best part about the automation, in our eyes, is the ability to balance workload. When you know you’ve got a certain amount of prescriptions to load in for collections, you can wait for a quieter time in the day and load them in bulk.

Spreading the work over the course of the day instead of the manic rushes reduces the stress on your pharmacy team, and their stress as a result.

Managing the Cost of Investing in Machinery

It’s also worth noting that when investing in Prescription Collection Machines, you can deduct some or all of the cost of the machinery through your Capital Allowances.

Spreading the cost of more expensive machinery over a number of years can shave a lot of the difference off that expense, and leave you with a higher value asset in your business.

It’s worth discussing both financing plans and tax planning with your accountant and the suppliers, and comparing the options to determine the true cost to your business before investing.

Prescription Collection Machine Suppliers

Without further ado (because that was quite a lot of ado) here is your shortlist for Prescription Collection Machine comparison.

Pharmaself24

Pharmaself24, a product of Videosystems, and now being distributed throughout Great Britain by Omnicell, are the market leaders in Automated Prescription Collection. This dynamic is important because it couples the market leading machines with Omnicell’s vast experience in automating retail pharmacy.

The biggest thing that stood out for us is that the Pharmaself24 doesn’t operate like a converted vending machine. In a vending machine, there’s no way to access anything other than the items at the front. The Pharmaself24 Multi design (more like an ATM), allowing for more flexible layout configurations within your pharmacy space, as well as a massively increased capacity. (Think 10 x 10 x 10 capacity, rather than 10 x 10.)

The Pharmaself24 Compact works its robotic mechanisms on a cylinder, which again differs from the stock vending machine technology, increasing capacity.

When the whole point is automating the prescription process, increasing capacity efficiently is the biggest winner. I mention efficiently specifically, because, real estate is valuable, and some pharmacies won’t have room for multiple machines. The Pharmaself24’s effective use of its space is a standout difference.

It’s important too, that the internal front lighting is so bright. Patients collecting 24/7 need external lighting at night (or in the case of the UK, from 5pm-8am from November to February.) Incorporating this into the design is clever. The whole appearance looks slick, a hallmark of good design.

Not only is it slick, but it’s robust, with a certificated anti-vandal IK10 rating. IK is a measurement of how much impact it can withstand, from 0 to 10.

Omnicell Pharmaself 24 Features

  • Unrivalled Capacity
  • Works with both Standalone Software and PMR Integrations
  • Premium Hardware
  • Modular Feature & Colour Customisation Available
  • External & Internal Options
  • Routine Annual Maintenance Checks
  • Fast Loading & Intuitive Traffic Light System
  • Secure IK10 Certification (Anti-Vandalism Protection)
Book A Call with Omnicell

MedPoint

MedPoint is a really solid option, offering three unique model sizes, the i900, i1200, and i1500. (The numbers represent width in cm.) The one that struck us most here was the MedPoint SOLO, designed to be separate to the Pharmacy.

A unique opportunity with MedPoint SOLO

The reason that struck us, wasn’t its cold-chain medicine option (though that’s cool…literally), nor the fact that even pharmacies with no physical floor space available can get the technology. It’s the potential of increasing patient convenience even more.

Covering quite a wide catchment area means travelling to your pharmacy might still be cumbersome for many patients. But delivering to every single patient is also costly and not environmentally friendly. The SOLO could give your pharmacy an outpost – a more convenient location for a wider reach of patients to collect their medications. It would work similar to Amazon Lockers, where a delivery driver delivers to the Prescription Collection Machine and loads everything there, instead of at the pharmacy.

(This machine is a demonstration model.)

 

The MedPoint also integrates with a growing list of PMR Providers: Titan, Proscript, Positive Solutions, Cegedim PMRs and the BeWell patient app, with more in the pipeline.

Whilst MedPoint doesn’t have the large glowing logo on the front, they do show lighting consideration for users with their external light.

MedPoint’s unique barcode-led process helps minimise the risk of the wrong patient getting the wrong bag, significantly enhancing safety by eliminating human error.

MedPoint Features

  • Utilises width rather than depth, with three unique models
  • Developed MedPoint API works with PMR Integrations & other third-party apps
  • MedPoint SOLO offers a unique standalone solution
  • Secure – fitted with CCTV and alarm as standard
  • Completely customisable branding
  • Routine maintenance checks every 6 months
  • Manufactured in Britain
Book A Call with Medpoint

Pharmabox 24

The “affordable” option, the Pharmabox 24 is very much the no-frills solution.

It does the automation part, it’s simple to use, and it works. Whilst not as all-singing, all-dancing, it might well be the entry point for pharmacists on a tight budget.

“Yes our sensors allow each customer 1 minute to collect their package from the flashing collection drawer, and if something is still detected after this time the drawer door will lock. The alloted Pharmabox24 local manager/contact point will receive a service text message to say that there is a package needing to be removed. The “release code” is entered into the front panel and the package can be removed, and can identify obviously who the offender was!

Our internal CCTV records all the activity and the pharmacy’s own CCTV can also be used to show what happened.

Our experience is that this happens very rarely but is a necessary security option.

We recommend the backlit LED lighting for the front panel which provides just the right level of lighting for the customer collecting. Equally in some situations, we recommend a PIR LED downlight to be fitted in the vicinity of the Pharmabox24 in order that the right level of safe lighting is achieved. This is usually included as part of the survey and planning permission work.”

Pharmabox24 Features

  • Utilises width rather than depth
  • Available in a range of sizes
Book A Call with Pharmabox24

Summary

Ultimately, your pharmacy will have its own specific needs.

Whilst there are many variables between models, you might be constrained by available space, meaning you benefit from either a model that utilises width over depth or vice versa. It’s worth a chat with Chris at T3 Pharmacy Design if you’re struggling with space or the layout of your pharmacy.

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