If you’re like most independent pharmacies, you probably have an involuntary shudder every time the topic of compliance comes up. With industry regulations constantly being added or changing, we get it. Constantly adjusting your workflow to account for new requirements can feel like a daunting task.

As a busy independent pharmacy, you rely heavily on technology and automation to keep your business running smoothly. That’s why selecting the right pharmacy management system – and utilizing it to its fullest potential – is critical to your success.

Operating one independent pharmacy can be hard enough, never mind trying to keep up with several locations. Let’s explore why – and what you can do about it.

When your days are filled with tedious, time-consuming tasks that take you away from patient care, you may start to lose sight of what drew you to pharmacy in the first place. Over time, not only will you become less passionate about your work, but your productivity and patient satisfaction are likely to suffer as well.

Rumors about DSCSA requirements have been swirling around the industry for a while now. However, between the original deadline extension and the FDA’s exemption ruling earlier this summer, many pharmacies have put their compliance efforts on the back burner.

Concerns over prescription fees and reimbursement rates continue to weigh heavily on the minds of independent pharmacies nation-wide. While there may be little you can do to change your profitability behind-the-counter, when it comes to the front-end of your store, the possibilities are endless.

If you’re primarily focused on your overall sales, reimbursement rates and acquisition costs to gauge your pharmacy’s performance, you’re only getting part of the picture. Instead, it’s important to regularly review a variety of metrics to ensure all aspects of your store are operating optimally.

Expanding your pharmacy beyond dispensing prescriptions ensures you’re able to best serve the needs of your community. Today, patients are increasingly looking to pharmacies for things like vaccines, point-of-care testing, in-depth medication counseling, and ongoing condition and treatment support.

When you made the decision to open an independent pharmacy, having business autonomy was probably one of the primary drivers. However, with local and federal requirements constantly changing, widespread inflation, shrinking reimbursement rates and a growing list of fees, there are many aspects of your business that can feel out of your control.

Staying connected to your patients and your pharmacy can be challenging sometimes – especially during the busy summer months. That’s why it’s important to identify ways you can keep patients engaged and oversee your store’s operations – no matter where you are or how busy life gets.

Adherence is driven by understanding. When patients feel confident about how to take their prescriptions, they’re more likely to stick with their treatment plan. Alternatively, if they’re given instructions that are overly complicated or in a language that is unfamiliar to them, they’ll likely struggle with compliance.

Audits can be time-consuming and stressful, especially complex business audits. Over the years, pharmacy audits have become increasingly common, making them virtually impossible to avoid, despite your best efforts. Plus, if your pharmacy is already stretched thin being audited can be even more challenging.