Reach peak efficiency by overcoming these 5 challenges with pharmacy management software
It can happen slowly – the realization that it may be time to replace your pharmacy management software. It becomes clearer as you continue to face the same bottlenecks or workflow delays day after day, month after month.
Or it can happen suddenly and without warning, with the news of a product sunset.
In either case, it can be daunting to start exploring other software options. Where to begin? In this blog, we break down five of the most common challenges specialty pharmacies face and the best ways to address them as you search for a new solution.
1. Multiple, disparate pharmacy management systems
Time is precious, and in short supply for many specialty pharmacies. When staff must manage various parts of the workflow with different systems, productivity suffers. Jumping in and out of different portals, or having to hunt down patient information from different places is draining. At a time when 54% of pharmacists already feel they don’t have enough time to adequately complete their jobs,1 finding ways to remove friction from the process and improve efficiency is more important than ever.
If you’re using multiple systems to manage your pharmacy operations, you know that options abound. The key is to find the operational support you need in a single, end-to-end solution.
2. Manual tracking of patient prescriptions
There are multiple steps to process prescriptions from receipt to delivery. If you’re tracking these activities manually, using spreadsheets and emails, you’re missing opportunities to gain efficiency and accelerate time to fill. It’s also important to note that the more manual your process, the more vulnerable it is to human error.
Many pharmacies implement manual workarounds to compensate for software deficiencies. This may work for today’s business, but likely won’t support the rapid growth predicted in the industry. In the next three years, 65% of new drug approvals are expected to be for specialty products.2
A specialty pharmacy software that employs a data-driven, persona-based workflow will improve efficiency today and support the ability to scale seamlessly in the future. Driving the right work, to the right user, at the right time optimizes staff resources and eliminates delays and rework.
3. Limited, or no system connectivity
Another challenge for specialty pharmacies is the need to collect data from multiple sources. Often, users must ‘swivel’ between systems – performing multiple outreaches and duplicate data entry – leading to increases in cost to fill and time to deliver.
In today’s patient ecosystem, pharmacy management software must have the flexibility to integrate with other applications to seamlessly and securely share data. With a robust set of established APIs, these integrations happen with less effort and in less time, driving efficiency and improving patient care. Interoperability is crucial to address the complexity of patient therapies, as well as the patient’s demand for digital engagement.
4. Poor reporting capabilities
It’s hard to manage operations and improve efficiency without visibility into real-time metrics. Can your pharmacy management software respond to the requests of internal and external stakeholders with customized reporting views that meet their needs and yours?
Producing evidence of performance, workload balancing, and providing external reports should never be difficult or vulnerable to limited access to real-time operational data and inferior data collection capabilities. Many pharmacy software solutions are partially cloud-based to address these concerns, but what about the part that isn’t? A cloud-native, HITRUST-certified software provides secure, reliable reporting, as well as support to ensure your organization is meeting regulatory and contractual requirements.
5. Patient data sharing roadblocks
Most specialty pharmacists would agree that during a typical day, they will spend time hunting down missing patient data and trying to verify its accuracy from various sources. These fact-finding missions at the beginning of the patient interaction will impact every task that follows.
Look for a pharmacy management software solution that connects you with rich, relevant clinical data with just a few clicks. Having medical history, allergies, and other EHR data at your fingertips helps inform care decisions so you can provide the best possible patient journey and the best possible outcomes for your patients. A pleasant patient experience starts with increased speed to therapy and informed engagement so they can start feeling better faster.
Elevate your operations with Inovalon’s pharmacy management software
If you’re ready to explore the next generation of pharmacy software solutions, Inovalon is here to help. ScriptMed® Specialty was designed with the unique operating challenges of specialty pharmacies in mind.
Unlike other pharmacy software solutions, ScriptMed delivers:
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- Configurable, persona-based workflows that operate at scale
- Real-time access to the industry’s largest primary source dataset
- The reliability and security of a fully cloud-based infrastructure
And best of all? These features come in a single, end-to-end application to support, streamline, and scale your specialty pharmacy operations.
Learn more about upgrading your pharmacy management software in our infographic.
Sources:
1 “2022 Medication Access Data Guide,” CoverMyMeds, 2022 Report
2 “Six Payor Tactics to Control Drug Spending,” Karen Blum, Specialty Pharmacy Continuum, https://www.specialtypharmacycontinuum.com/Policy/Article/06-22/6-Payor-Tactics-to-Control-Drug-Spending/67022
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