Page 20 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants - October 2020

18 INDUSTRY EDUCATION FROM PAGE 17 in which e-prescriptions will be commonly used across Australia. Of course, this depends on the patient. However, Minfos believes pharmacies face two key challenges in adopting digital technology: implementation costs and managing the process of change. “That’s why we chose to make the e-prescriptions update within the Minfos workflow a no-cost upgrade for our customers,” Ms Benjamin said. “Our e-prescription functionality is also developed based on the belief that pharmacies are more likely to adapt to change when the functionality is easy to use, familiar and follows a well-known dispense process. “Minfos is focused on preparing our customers, so they’re ready when the first patient with an e-prescription walks through the door. As part of that, we’re recommending customers look at our ‘How to manage e-prescriptions’ video to understand how simple the dispensing workflow is.” Take a proactive approach One of the changes with e-prescribing is the loss of the scripts-on-file feature that guaranteed a pharmacy future business. Now, pharmacies need to be proactive, finding alternative ways to drive loyalty and repeat business. “One of the ways they’ll be able to do this is through be the active script list,” Mr Richardson said. “Many people believe it’s the closest thing to scripts on file that the digital world is going to offer. “With the token method of e-prescribing, the token goes to a patient’s phone, and they can take it wherever they want. However, the active script list changes that narrative slightly, because it’s very much permissions based, and that’s an opportunity pharmacies must grasp. “While there’s no replacement for scripts on file, pharmacists and the \\\[Pharmacy\\\] Guild are encouraging pharmacies to push the active script list, as it’s the only model that will go some way to replacing that. In particular, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants should take every opportunity to ask patients presenting scripts if they’ll grant the pharmacy access to their active script list. “Pharmacist adoption should be pretty strong, as they’ll have both an incentive and the ability to register people for an active script list while they’re talking to you. We made sure we built that into the Corum Dispense software. “If somebody turns up with a token, you have no control, but if they have an active script list, you have a little more control. The view is that pharmacists will have that conversation to try and get patients registered and move them onto an active script list. “That’s where we believe pharmacists can start to drive more adoption. “From a consumer perspective, the active scripts list is seamless and easy. Once you’ve given permission, all you do is turn up, identify yourself and then the pharmacy will have access to everything they need to be able to select your scripts.” Treasure your valuables Maximising the profitability of your existing dispensary revenue is a step that can have an immediate impact. However, taking steps to protect what you already have is also key. An effective strategy for this is the provision of DAAs, as these enhance patient retention. However, the provision of DAAs can be time-consuming, particularly if you have a significant number of patients requiring them. Fortunately, automated packing is a cost-effective solution that not only saves time but offers an opportunity to go beyond just your existing patients and explore aged care dispensing, too. Meditec Business Manager Andrew Finster discussed the best way to approach automation. He suggested dispensing can be considered as a front-of-house or back-of-house function in terms of automation. “When we think about it, we see the front-of-house dispensing as the retail element, dealing with the people who come in off the street,” he said. “The back-of-house dispensing is catering for the DAA packaging and aged-care medicines. “With the front-of-house dispensing, the focus is typically on the way whole packs can be quickly, efficiently and simply received by the pharmacist to be able to share with the patient. “Under that scenario, there are robots that talk to your main dispensing systems, such as Minfos, Corum or FRED, and the dispensing system tells the robot what you’re dispensing. From there, the robot picks it, takes it to a chute near where you’re doing the dispensing, and drops it down, so you’re able to give it to the patient. “The front-of-house is quite different from the back, where the skill set and the requirements are all about individual doses of multiple medicines, as opposed to complete packs. “In a robotic sense, I guess you can say that in the back there’s a packing infrastructure, and in the front there’s a picking infrastructure, while the software is the glue that helps it all to function. “What we’ve observed is the better pharmacies understand dispensing is their lifeblood, they see technology as a path to continuing to evolve and grow.” Picture this When it comes to dispensing, technology in the form of both software and robots has become a powerful aid for pharmacies. So, will you face the future boldly, exploring the opportunities and building your business in new ways? Or will you hold on to the existing picture, not realising it might be your very own Kodak moment? RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • OCT 2020