Pharmacy Technology Blog

In this economy cutting back and prioritizing is necessity.  Life being as fast-paced as it is can make the previous goals somewhat difficult as it is not just your time you have to keep in mind.  Many people will throw their money at any pharmacy because they need their prescription right,?

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Congressman G.K. Butterfield Urges Chairman Of House Subcommittee On Commerce, Manufacturing, & Trade To Hold Hearing To Review Impact Of Proposed ESI/Medco Merger

Washington, D.C. – The Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! (PCPAN) coalition today applauded Congressman G.K. Butterfield for urging Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade to conduct a hearing to review the proposed merger between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions, two pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies.  Rep. Butterfield is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.

SIGN PETITION: http://preservingcommunitypharmacy.com/sign-petition/

McCracken’s Pharmacy’s use of Innovation’s PharmASSIST pharmacy automation system. Owner and R.Ph. Jeff McCracken comments on his pharmacy’s use of the technology and the many benefits they’ve realized since implementing their PharmASSIST Symphony+ system.

Let us know what interests you within our industry.

Todd Eury: teury@PharmacyTechnology.net

Kelsey Ripper: KelseyR@Pharmacechnology.net

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Join the Fight to Save Independent Pharmacy!

It has happened..Technology provider PDX has teamed up with MScripts, a mobile technology vendor, to create an offering that cannot and should not be passed up by any pharmacy that wants to stay open. Try keeping all of your physical pharmacy files and information in order to compete with the speed of mobile connectivity. In most cases it would be quite impossible.

 Do this no more!

 Keeping up to date with technology is not something a pharmacy should take lightly as we are in the year 2012 and moving forward. The future is associated with speed and advancement and it should most certainly offer both. If you cannot compete due to your paper trail or incorrect data receieved via fax then shame on you.

 This new partnership will eliminate much of the inefficiencies of the many common methods of information exchange in the pharmacy. It will reduce costs, increase pharmacy RX management, and customer adherence to name a few benefits. Young and old alike, we all carry a device that will connect us to the online world.

 Are your customers forgetting to pick up there prescriptions? Send them a message instantly!

 This is a great new service for the pharmacy industry and shows extreme potential. Keeping an open mind in an industry that has remained stagnant for years will more than likely put you ahead of the competition.

Read more about this awesome collaboration at http://mobileenterprise.edgl.com/news/PDX-and-mscripts-Expand-Mobile-Pharmacy-Capabilities77413

With the holidays passed and our wallets empty, it is now time to cut up the credit cards and hide away our last few bills. It can be quite a struggle to pull out that piece of plastic for anything else, however, as we are not all super-human the cold weather may have some negative affects on our health. Falling ill may require one to visit the local pharmacy where all prescriptions and friendly advice can be found.

This sort of spending is more than necessary and can be horribly expensive in some cases. The existence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers was developed in order to help customers avoid those ridiculous prescription prices. PBM’s are oh so important in healthcare when it comes to saving consumers money.

 Well….. they were.

Many recent concerns towards the Express Scripts-Medco merger are quite appropriate due to simple economics. We (most likely) have all learned in ECON 101 that less competition creates fewer options. Fewer choices for consumers means the market leaders control prices… enough said.

With two of the largest PBM’s in healthcare attempting to become one, what do you think will happen?

In the past, PBM’s have been in trouble for illegal practices where they were trying to make an extra dollar. Should we put our faith in Medco and Express Scripts to make healthcare more affordable once they combine forces? 

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/200797-pbms-not-the-friend-of-consumers

Hurry up 2012, the National Community Pharmacist Association is ready and cannot wait to welcome the start of the new year! Similarly, the new year brings new opportunities and realities for local businesses; pharmacy owners should very well feel optimistic in what the new year has to offer.

In the coming year the NCPA has scheduled a number of beneficial workshops for new pharmacists, current pharmacists, and pharmacists at any stage. A new year brings new obstacles that need to be tackled in inventive ways.

The Pharmacy Ownership Workshop along with the Jumpstart Your Pharmacy Business seminar will provide an abundance of knowledge a pharmacy should not pass up. These events will go in depth guidance in regards to pricing, approaching customers, bringing in new business, utilizing technology, and so much more. Lonny Wilson, NCPA president had said, “Both of these programs provide the tools to help pharmacy owners get started and tighten up operations, improve profitability and capitalize on new opportunities.”

There is no doubt when it comes to the efforts of the NCPA; these events will get the independent pharmacy community in tip-top shape and ready for business. They truly are giving it their all for community pharmacies through out the nation.