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We all know pharmacy work can be tough. Whether you’re helping out the checkout line or handling the fill queue, pharmacy work requires you to be at your best and most efficient.
It’s human nature to hit a slump. Even in the most intense jobs, it’s inevitable that you go into autopilot. For better or worse, your brain gets used to the grind.
But pharmacy work rewards a fresh mind open to possibilities.
Psychologists call it a flow state, others prefer the term beginner’s mind. Either way, they are a product of effective work productivity. Great work productivity separates the good pharmacies from the greats, and we have the blueprint for greatness.
Here are ways to improve your work productivity.
Pharmacy work operates at a hectic pace. There’s always something to do, a phone to dial, a prescription to fill. There are days when there’s never a dull moment.
The workday flies by, which is usually a pleasant surprise. After a while, however, that break-neck pace puts a toll. All work and no breaks don’t mean you’re getting more work done — it just means you’re going to get burned out quicker. As a result, your work, physical and mental health will suffer.
Encourage your staff and fellow pharmacists to take scheduled breaks. Most independent pharmacies follow the “break/lunch/break” model, ensuring your staff gets a much-needed breather.
There will be days when taking a break won’t be possible. The holiday rush is pretty unforgiving. But taking breaks will refresh your work productivity in subtle but profound ways.
They say you can’t properly clean your room without first making your bed. For some reason, making your bed before vacuuming or sweeping the floor sets the tone for the rest of your room-cleaning journey.
The same can be said for your work productivity in your independent pharmacy. Make your workplace neat and tidy so your pharmacy operates more efficiently.
It’s a small act but it adds up immeasurably. Declutter your shelves (not just your medication shelves). Throw out any paperwork you don’t need and make space for more current and important documents.
Also, make sure your pharmacy is easy to navigate and walk through, especially during peak business hours. A typical pharmacy workday requires you to hastily walk from one area to another, so make sure the path ahead is a clear one.
Tidy up your independent pharmacy so you can successfully perform your tasks, free of unnecessary obstructions.
Check out our blog, “7 Tips for Cleaning Your Independent Pharmacy” for more information on how to leave your small business spotless.
The focal point of work productivity is time management. Whether you’re working behind the counter or a computer monitor, time is always of the essence.
That can’t be more true in an independent pharmacy. You have prescriptions to fill, deadlines to meet, and patients to care for — all within a small time window.
In some cases, however, you might not have done everything you needed to do. Pharmacy work is all about managing your time, making sure not a second is wasted.
While you mostly have to work around patient schedules and the unpredictable rush hours, you can still count on a few daily occurrences: the opening rush, when your medication order comes in, the post-lunch rush, etc.
Just about all pharmacists have some version of these daily events. Enhance your work productivity by planning ahead. You know the post-lunch or pre-close rushes are hectic, so make sure your pharmacy is in top shape to deal with it.
You can’t handle a rush if your fill queue is already at triple figures. Have a plan of action to prevent the pre-rush madness.
There are a few ways to achieve this work productivity tip. The easiest way is to delegate certain tasks to those who will effectively take care of them.
Assign your fill maestro to handle that mountain of a queue. Direct your customer service expert to handle the front end. Point your input specialist to the computer to type out waiting prescriptions or handle insurance claims.
Pharmacy work is not always pleasant. But an effective plan of action and delegation gives you the best shot at handling the daily and seasonal rushes.
For more tips on how to handle seasonal rushes, check out our blog, Cool Down the Summer Rush with These Tips.
As mentioned earlier, there is always something to do in the pharmacy. There is always a phone ringing, a prescription that needs filling, and a patient that needs counseling.
The key to effective work productivity is knowing when to do certain tasks. Let PioneerRx do some of that heavy lifting.
Need a new way to handle the vaccine rush? Our Bulk Patient Process feature lets you create entire patient profiles using an Excel or .csv file, making the hectic vaccine process a breeze.
Our Facility Cycle Fill feature makes long-term care more user-friendly by letting you manage the frequency of visits to a facility each month. This lets you focus on cycle fills at your own pace, letting you focus on other tasks in the meantime.
PioneerRx lets you customize your workflow however you like. Every pharmacy requires different solutions, and PioneerRx lets you care for your patients your way. Our customizable workflow solutions allow you to work smarter and more efficiently without sacrificing an ounce of quality patient care.
With PioneerRx, it isn’t a matter of maintaining your work productivity — it’s how you can enhance it.
Visit our Pharmacy Software page to learn more about how PioneerRx can transform your work productivity.
Effective work productivity requires you to work smarter, not harder. This goes double for pharmacy work, where time is of the essence.
Enhance your work productivity with these simple tips. It’s all about clear communication, consistency, and some healthy tunnel vision. See each task to the end, and move to the next one.
Like a puzzle or a blank canvas, the finished product gradually takes shape, resulting in a hard-working pillar of the community.
To learn more about new PioneerRx features that boost work productivity, visit PioneerRx University and subscribe to the Next Wave Newsletter.
