7 Steps to Implement a Pharmacy Management System that Works
Summary: This article discusses the steps involved to implement a pharmacy management system that is specifically designed for long-term care pharmacies.
Table of Contents
7 Steps to Implement a Pharmacy Management Systems That Works
1. Choose the Right System for Your Pharmacy
2. Ensure the System Is Updated Regularly
3. Let an Onboarding Team Do the Heavy Lifting
4. Customize to Align with Your Workflows
5. Access the Right Amount of Training
6. Double-Check Everything Before Launch
7. Make Sure Customer Support Is Available
The right technology can be transformative for a pharmacy poised for growth. With that said, finding the optimal solution and support can be challenging—especially for long-term care (LTC) pharmacies, which are inherently different from the standard retail pharmacies many people use on a regular basis.
In order to truly reap the benefits that pharmacy technology can bring, you need a solution that works the way you want it to. Here’s what you need to know to implement a pharmacy management system (PMS) that works.
What Is a Pharmacy Management System and How Is It Used?
A pharmacy management system is technology designed to help pharmacies eliminate manual work, improve efficiency, and streamline operations.
Nearly all pharmacies use some form of a PMS to automate manual tasks, but not all pharmacy software is created equally—especially as far as long-term care is concerned.
Long-term care pharmacies have unique needs that simply cannot be met by solutions designed for retail pharmacies. Retail pharmacy software that’s built for big-box and independent pharmacies is ill-equipped to manage unique LTC nuances, such as frequent medication changes, billing preferences, and facility-specific requests.
That’s why if you’re in the LTC pharmacy business, you need to select a pharmacy management system that’s purpose-built with long-term care in mind.
Finding the right pharmacy management system is critical, but there are certain steps you can take to find the ideal solution for your business:
One of the most important steps when implementing a PMS is determining the right solution—with the right features—for your pharmacy. Ensure the system you choose can grow and scale with you and has all of the features and integrations you need to be successful. For long-term care pharmacies, that means looking for a platform that offers:
Workflow automation capabilities
Real-time data and reporting
Facility-centric customization
Sophisticated billing functionality
Quality checks and balances
Scalability to support growth
Seamless system integrations
Regulatory and auditing support
The pharmacy industry is ever-evolving, with factors such as emerging technologies, medical breakthroughs, market trends, client expectations, and regulatory requirements changing the game all the time. For example, vaccine management is becoming a top priority in pharmacy as a result of medical breakthroughs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s why it is important to select a pharmacy management system that is updated and enhanced on a regular basis by a vendor with a commitment to continually improving their technology. After all, the last thing you want is to switch platforms every few years as the industry and your business evolve.
Of course you want to choose the right software in terms of features and functionality, but the vendor you choose to partner with matters as well. You need a dedicated onboarding team to guide the implementation process rather than trying to do it yourself, which can be complex and time-consuming.
For example, when you partner with FrameworkLTC, you’re immediately guaranteed our Concierge Onboarding Experience. That means we do the heavy lifting, from managing hardware and IT requirements to validating your setup before launch. This way, we can help you maximize the full potential of your FrameworkLTC platform of solutions.
Your vendor should also help you set up your pharmacy management system based on your unique workflow. Customization capabilities are essential, in terms of both the software you select and the vendor’s support during configuration. By configuring your PMS to align with your business model and workflow, you can set your LTC pharmacy up for success from day one with your new technology.
Even the best tools are ineffective when they’re not used properly. Look for a vendor who offers both on-site and remote training on all key features and workflow steps, such as labels and packaging, facility toting, system integrations, and final review.
If your pharmacy management system vendor offers additional training on any topic to help maximize your results, even better! Also, make sure comprehensive billing training is included. At FrameworkLTC, our billing guidance coincides with the first and second billing cycle to ensure the process is running smoothly from the beginning.
Look to incorporate a setup “validation phase” to make sure everything is properly configured for launch. This step, which can easily be overlooked, is a quality check to ensure everything that has been implemented is error-free before your launch. With the right vendor partner to support your efforts, this will already naturally be a step during the onboarding and implementation phase.
Once implementation is complete, you can launch your solution and get started—but what if problems arise or questions come up after the fact? Even with a great setup configured to align with your business model and workflows, you need access to ongoing support. That’s why you should be sure to pick a trusted partner with top-notch customer support and a self-service Help Center that’s available on a 24/7 basis.
Implementing the Ideal LTC Pharmacy Management System
When implementing a new pharmacy management system, your choice matters when it comes to both the technology itself and the vendor you partner with. Our team at SoftWriters ensures you have the proper tools, training, and support available to fully maximize your results and set yourself up for long-term success in long-term care.
Curious about FrameworkLTC and our onboarding experience? Schedule a demo to see the benefits and the process firsthand.