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The devastation caused by natural disasters is often unprecedented, and preparedness is key to mitigating their impact. With climate experts noting an increase in the frequency and severity of storms, such as Hurricane Helene and the incoming Hurricane Milton, it is more important than ever for your pharmacy to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. These disasters can disrupt operations, delay supplies, and leave many without power or essential resources.
In the face of such challenges, pharmacies must be ready to respond. Whether it’s adjusting for early refill restrictions, managing drug shortages, or ensuring communication with patients remains uninterrupted, preparation is critical.
Read on to learn more about how your pharmacy can prepare for future disasters — namely with your pharmacy software — and how you can help those in need.
Pharmacies in affected areas have ample resources to explore. The NCPA Foundation’s disaster relief fund is a great way to help pharmacies in need.
The NCPA also offers a disaster relief grant through the Cencora Impact Foundation. Click here to learn about eligibility details.
PioneerRx users with the RxLocal app can communicate with their patients directly via text message, ensuring they are current with closures and updated hours.
Within the pharmacy, early refill restrictions can either be automatically bypassed or require submission clarification codes, depending on a patient’s insurance plan.
Drug or medical supply shortages are a certainty at this point. Be in contact with your inventory vendors to see the status of certain shortages and other inventory-related issues and be ready to fill a large number of partial prescriptions. A three-day supply is the usual standard for partial fills, but given the uncertainty of supply chain shortages, it’s best to bump it up to a week’s worth or more.
For your pharmacy technicians whose renewal deadlines are approaching, check the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board website for updates on license renewal deadlines or extensions. Most recently, the PTCB announced that those seeking renewal of their license will not be penalized by the impact of Hurricane Helene.
Make do with what you have at the moment and always communicate with your patients. Stay up-to-date on information and be fully transparent with your customer base.
In the event of future disasters, have a concrete evacuation plan for your pharmacy.
Keep important phone numbers such as your wholesaler and local pharmacy board in your phone in case you don’t have an internet connection.
If you do end up changing locations due to building damage, let your patients know about it. Update your answering machine/IVR message to inform your patients of the situation (also use the RxLocal app as previously mentioned).
To achieve a smooth transition from one building to another, check if your pharmacy software system has cloud-based capabilities.
Pharmacy software like PioneerRx backs up pharmacies’ data to an off-site cloud server every 15 minutes. This safeguards patient information while ensuring a smooth transition process in times of disaster.
Keep in contact with your PioneerRx support team in case your independent pharmacy is affected by a natural disaster. Our support team will assist you in setting up a mobile hotspot for your independent pharmacy so you can keep your doors open for patients.
Check out our blog, “Prepare Your Pharmacy for Natural Disasters” from the RedSail Technologies blog, for more information on how you can prepare your pharmacy for a natural disaster.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, are unpredictable but preparing ahead of time can make all the difference. Having a disaster plan in place can help ensure your pharmacy remains operational and that patient care continues seamlessly.
Consider donating to the following organizations and charities:
Our thoughts go to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene.
