While the idea of undertaking a pharmacy remodel can be a daunting one, especially when maintaining store operations during the remodel is required, the advantages of a functional and aesthetic upgrade to your store should definitely be worth the time, trouble, and expense if approached properly and with eyes wide open.
Undertaking a pharmacy remodel is typically done to improve productivity and to increase store profitability, both of which are possible through the application of some proven principles of modern pharmacy design and layout techniques.
There’s much more to it than just a new coat of paint, upgraded display shelving, and some fancy new lighting, although these things all play an important role in the total picture. Budgetary constraints must be considered, of course, but a complete remodel can also be done in phases rather than undertaking everything at once. This can spread out the financial burden as well as the inconvenience factor. One way to logically split up a total store makeover is to separate the work being done on the front, retail end from the remodeling being considered in the back-end, prescription filling area.
Consider Hiring the Pros
Whether your aim is to reconfigure existing space or to add more floor space to what’s already there, the first phase of any pharmacy remodeling job will be the planning portion. Bringing in an experienced, competent pharmacy design firm during these earliest days of the project can ensure that your newly remodeled store space becomes everything you want it to be and, where HIPAA regulations are concerned, everything it should be.
Picking a design partner that has successfully been through the pharmacy remodeling process numerous times before can help prevent you from making time-consuming and costly mistakes that could otherwise be avoided. To this end, it’s important to work with a company that specializes in pharmacy construction and remodeling work, as they’ll have an insight into the specifics necessary to bring about a truly successful upgrade outcome in this particular type of environment.
New Trends Driving the Industry
Things have changed significantly during the past decade regarding modern pharmacy concepts and design ideas, and any pharmacy remodel would do well to take these new trends into account. In the store’s back end, new technologies like robotic dispensing equipment and other automated systems require dedicated space that must be incorporated into any remodel design. Workflow processes can also be greatly improved by designing work spaces that are more efficient and give workers everything they need within easy reach, rather than requiring them to take extra steps and make extra movements to complete a given task.
In your store’s front retail merchandising end, much can be done to make the space more aesthetically pleasing, more customer friendly, and even scientifically set up to create a customer's desire to stay in the store longer and to purchase more merchandise. Unique touches not found in run-of-the-mill pharmacies can help make your place of business truly unique, standing well ahead of the competition. Things like bringing in natural lighting from large windows or skylights, for example, can make a huge difference in the feel of your store environment.
These are just a few of the many choices to be made when undertaking any pharmacy remodel. When you’re done, the hope is that you’ll have created something you’ll be proud of for years to come.
