SHELF OBSESSED

Electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing, is simply a way to transmit prescriptions through automatic data entry with software and a transmission network. Ideally, it can greatly reduce prescription errors and streamline the prescribing process.

As an independent pharmacist, it happens. You get distracted at work, even while you're filling prescriptions. A customer needs something, the phone rings, or an important medication question can't wait. One study found that as you or your technicians are dispensing medications, you might be interrupted or distracted as often as every two minutes.

As an independent pharmacist, you have always taken care of your patients, providing personal care and attention with medication advice, proper dosing, and other services as required.

By now you should have implemented the new, more restrictive HIPAA regulations that took effect in September 2013. If you haven't and fail to do so, you could face significant fines. The future in pharmacy continues to evolve, and these and other developments, like the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, will continue to impact the industry.

These new regulations more stringently protect patient privacy and personal health information. You'll implement necessary protocols to ensure those protections, and as part of that you may need to invest in some new pharmacy shelving and fixtures that will provide more security.

If your pharmacy budget is tight, you can still upgrade pharmacy shelving and fixtures as necessary. You can comply with recent industry changes and new rulings – and refresh your look if you need to, as well. All it takes is some proper planning.

Think about your store's current layout for a minute. Can your customers see everything you have to offer without difficulty as they walk through the store? Do they complain that they can't find what they need? Would you like to make sure customers don't miss anything – a great sale, a hot item, or even just that staple they really need and can't find?

If your retail store is quite small, you might find it difficult to create displays that truly do their job. In a small space, large displays can actually make customers feel claustrophobic.

What does your retail shelving do for you? If you think it displays your merchandise neatly and efficiently so that your customers can find it, you'd be right – but it can do a lot more than that. It can actually help you both create and optimize your store layout.

You know that doing what is best for your customers must always be at the forefront for you, the independent pharmacist. That is just one way that makes you better than retail chains.

Take a look at your shelving inventory. Has much of it has seen better days? Is it old, chipped – even rickety?