The healthcare industry is always evolving. New medications and solutions are constantly being developed to optimize your patient’s health in new and innovative ways. In the same way, pharmacy technology helps you take your work to the next level.
Whether we’re talking about pharmacy software (such as PioneerRx), artificial intelligence, or pharmacy automation, pharmacy technology is constantly evolving.
The constant change in technology means new and plentiful ways to care for your patients. What’s more, they can help increase your pharmacy’s profits.
Here’s what you need to know about current pharmacy technology.
One of the key determinants of a pharmacy’s success is its ability to adapt to new situations. This applies to multiple levels of pharmacy work. You need to adapt to any and all workflow changes throughout the day, whether that be the morning/evening rush or a technician calling in sick.
Thinking on your feet is an absolute necessity in assuring your pharmacy’s long-term success.
Then we get to the tech side of things. Pharmacies are expected to be modern examples of what the healthcare industry is all about. That means the latest and greatest in vaccines, clinical services, and other avenues of patient care — and it all ties back to technology.
Embracing new pharmacy technology offers new avenues for patient care. A wider array of vaccines, more advanced clinical services, and more testing programs ensures that your pharmacy is truly taking care of your patients.
It’s no secret that patient care goes beyond putting pills in a vial, and pharmacy technology is an essential tool in caring for the whole patient.
Check out episodes from the Beyond the Scripts Podcast to learn how you can expand your patient care reach beyond the traditional sell-and-fill model.
Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is here to stay. AI is the latest technological advancement that will change nearly all aspects of work and even everyday life.
AI has the potential to transform the pharmacy industry. From analyzing vast datasets that expedite drug development to identifying potential drug interactions, AI can enhance your workflow like never before.
AI-driven systems can predict medication demand, ensuring efficient inventory management. Virtual assistants and chatbots powered by AI engage patients, providing medication information and reminders, which improves adherence.
AI also personalizes treatment by analyzing genetic and health data. As we become more familiar with it, AI can revolutionize your pharmacy’s workflow, changing how we approach patient care.
Pharmacy technology not only shapes the future of patients’ health journeys but it also shapes the future generation of pharmacists. With the constant innovations in technology, education technology is going through an intriguing change.
As mentioned earlier, AI has and will continue to play an important role in the pharmacy industry. Before long, pharmacy students will know firsthand the power of artificial intelligence.
Several pharmacy schools are offering courses focused on how they can utilize AI to improve their practice. For example, the University of Florida is integrating AI into its curriculum, stating that they are “training the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists to leverage AI in the workforce.”
The future of pharmacy technology doesn’t exclusively revolve around new inventions or products. Much of its progress has to do with systems that already exist. Case in point: your pharmacy software system.
Your pharmacy software system is your pharmacy’s right-hand man, setting the groundwork for your pharmacy’s workflow and its efficiency. As pharmacy technology advances, so too does the need to update your software features.
PioneerRx, for example, continuously makes feature updates that further enhance your pharmacy’s workflow, resulting in greater revenue streams and healthier patients.
The benefits of pharmacy technology are two-fold: it helps your independent pharmacy — a small business — stay financially afloat by offering modern methods of patient care. Secondly, it can help patients reach parts of their health journey they hadn’t thought of before.
Make sure you have a pharmacy software system that helps you — and even your patients — innovate. Click here to schedule a demo with PioneerRx.
Automation is another example of innovative pharmacy technology. Automation is all about streamlining your pharmacy’s workflow, letting you and your staff focus on more urgent tasks.
Chances are your pharmacy already has some kind of automation services in place. As mentioned earlier, the world of pharmacy technology — and automation, by extension — is constantly evolving. As such, pharmacy automation will only grow and continue to assist your pharmacy.
Pharmacy automation takes many forms: many high-volume pharmacies employ the use of automated dispensing robots. Many pharmacies use automated communication — such as calls or text messages — to automatically notify patients about their prescriptions.
All in all, pharmacy automation ensures your pharmacy is providing exceptional care while attending to the urgent task at hand.
Like with anything new, growing pains are expected. Such is especially the case with pharmacy technology. Learning new technology is always difficult, so give your staff time to adjust and learn their way around the tech.
Most tech companies offer tutorials and demos for users to see the product at work. For example, PioneerRx offers scheduled demos to any and all prospecting users (schedule one if you aren’t already using PioneerRx).
Use those resources to their fullest. They ensure that you and your staff are using the tech to its full potential.
Pharmacy technology is constantly evolving. In this case, current and future evolutions can change the industry for generations to come. Make sure you’re keeping up with the latest advancements in technology, whether that comes from your pharmacy software system or your pharmacy’s workflow.
Moving forward is the name of the game, so be on the move with the latest and greatest in pharmacy technology.
