If you didn’t know, now you know: your pharmacy management system is the most important tool money can buy. It’s the backbone of your business and essential to every operation you perform, every day. In your independent pharmacy, you do a lot of things: from filling scripts to performing services to submitting claims.
One tool, though, brings each task together and ensures your ship sails smoothly: your pharmacy software system.
But just what can your pharmacy software system do?
Different software vendors offer different capabilities, at different price points, but each feature brings ease and efficiency to your pharmacy. Whether you’re in the market to open a new store or simply looking to switch systems, keep these pharmacy software features in mind when you’re shopping.
These are the 12 must-have features for all pharmacies:
1. Rx Dispensing
The core of pharmacy management software is the ability to dispense and refill prescription drugs. Your software can help you to manage incoming and outgoing prescriptions with ease. It can also help you monitor patient profiles, receive eScripts, and adjudicate claims.
2. Inventory Management
Stocked shelves are essential to any business, your pharmacy included. To keep up with demand, call on your pharmacy software system. Inventory management tools like automatic ordering, usage-based ordering, and multiple wholesaler ordering can make sure your patients get what they need when they need it.
3. Integrated Point-of-Sale
Rather than purchase a separate point-of-sale system, your pharmacy software can manage each of your transactions: from prescriptions to services to OTC Items. Within your pharmacy software’s POS system, you can ring up items, take payments, and capture sensitive information in a secure way.
4. Workflow Management
Your pharmacy stays busy, which means that you need a comprehensive workflow to keep you in check. Your software system comes with tools to better manage your workflow, identifying steps that you can streamline and areas that you can improve along the way. Some software systems even offer customizable workflow, allowing you to add or skip steps from standard workflows.
5. Financial Reporting
After you make your transactions, you should use your software to evaluate them. Within your software, you can run financial reports that help you understand how your business operates, then make necessary changes. With some software systems, you can even create custom reports that target your desired metrics and goals.
6. Vaccination Tools
Vaccines are more important than ever, and your pharmacy software can help you get more jobs in more arms. Within your software, you can schedule appointments, enter patient vaccination information, report to registries in your area, and even submit claims for reimbursement. This technology can help you to streamline vaccinations and make more time for other services.
7. eCare Plans
eCare Plans allow you to properly document patient health interactions and share this information with providers and payers. Many software systems have eCare Plan integrations to make the process easier. These capabilities allow you to properly document interactions and communicate with third parties.
8. DIR Management
In the past 10 years, DIR fees have increased by 91,500%. One of the best strategies to soften the blows is to track and manage incoming DIR fees. Your software system can help you do it. Most vendors offer a variety of DIR management tools that can minimize unexpected costs. Learn how you can fight DIR fees with the help of your pharmacy management software.
9. Loyalty Programs
You should value all of your patients, but you should pay special attention to those who have been with you for years. In your software, you can keep detailed reports of each of your patients and find out which ones come to you, time and time again. Then, in the software, you can create loyalty programs that incentivize your best customers to keep coming back.
10. MTM / Risk Scores
Medication Therapy Management (MTM) helps you optimize patients’ medication regimens and identify whether or not they’re at risk. Your software system can not only enable you to keep track of your MTM patients, but also allow you to identify which ones are at risk of experiencing an adverse drug reaction. Incorporating this technology can help you to keep your patients safe and see better health outcomes.
11. Compounding
About 7,500 pharmacies currently offer compounding services. Compounding requires its own set of tools and technology, but your software system should offer them all. Depending on the vendor you choose, you can manage compounding recipes, make batches, and create custom labels.
12. Med Sync
Medication synchronization is the foundation for any pharmacy’s prescription program. Med sync can streamline your workload and free up time for other clinical services in your pharmacy. Your software can give you the tools to optimize your med sync workflow, as well as integrate with automation and robots to produce the accompanying med sync adherence packaging.
Conclusion
When you’re shopping for a new pharmacy management system, keep each of these features — and more — in mind. Take some time to think about the services your pharmacy offers and what particular features you need to do them.
Then, look to the top software systems on the market and find out which vendors offer which features.
With this in mind, make sure you choose a software system that not only offers the features you need but also offers the support and service you want.
With the right combination of features, support, and service, you can make the most out of your software and do more for your patients.
