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.

Industry compliance needs to happen first

As you plan your pharmacy budget for new shelving, make sure you're in complete compliance with September 2013's HIPAA privacy rulings. Here is what you should know and have implemented in your pharmacy:

• Patient health information must be protected against breaches with new restrictions on access and implementation of authentication measures
• Access can be controlled or restricted in part by investing in new pharmacy shelving and fixtures with security features that allow portable axis devices like laptops to be locked away when not in use

Decide what you can buy now and what you can buy later

Control your pharmacy budget costs by splitting your cosmetic or organizational shelving and fixture upgrades into "purchase segments." While you will need to get the compliance issues taken care of first, you can divide your budget into stages for the rest.

For example, you may decide that much of your gondola shelving, for example, does the job fine for now, but that you'll really need to invest in some new shelving and fixtures with security options both to be compliant with HIPAA and to make sure that your controlled substances are secure from theft.

Mix and match old with new

If some of your older pieces are in fine shape and just look dated, you can "refresh" their look without doing a thing to them. Instead, get rid of your truly nonfunctional fixtures and shelving, and replace them with new fixtures and shelving that will complement or accent what you already have.

Make the best use of pharmacy floor space

One of the best ways to control costs in your pharmacy budget is to make the best use of pharmacy store floor space. If you're leaving wall space empty, for example, you can use (relatively immobile) gondola wall units for stationary storage and display needs, while slatted gondola units can hold lighter weight merchandise wherever you need it. Slatted gondola units are also mobile and can be placed on wheels so that you can move them around as you need to -- no need to disassemble them.

Keep careful track of inventory

If your stock room is crowded and difficult to navigate, you may have difficulty keeping track of your inventory, which can lead to loss or overage. Part of your pharmacy budget should go to shelving and fixtures for your stock room that will help you keep things organized, easy to find, and stocked in the proper amounts.

• Use mobile shelving. Mobile shelving on wheels can increase available stockroom floor space. These shelving units move either on wheels or on tracks; you can "stack" them vertically, close together, then move as needed to access inventory.
• Go vertical. Shelving units should be as tall as practical; you'll increase storage space without taking up extra floor space.
• Use modular shelving. Modular shelving can be endlessly reconfigured at will. Choose from a variety of trays, pegs and bins to suit your needs. All of these options are available for use in sterile environments, as well.

If you need to do some shelving and fixture upgrades but your pharmacy budget is smaller than you'd like, you can still control costs. Do essential upgrades first, and then mix and match old with new fixtures for an updated look and fresh functionality with no waste.