Today's pharmacy shelving is modular, endlessly configurable, and "mix and matchable," with a variety of colors and materials available so that you can create your own unique look.
Pharmacy shelving upgrade considerations
Cost and versatility
In some cases, you may not need to replace all of your shelving if you need to upgrade. Instead, keep sturdy pieces that still look good but replace others with new for a fresh new look and easy versatility.
While you may want to replace some pharmacy shelving, you can keep other components and simply mix-and-match with different materials and styles. You can often pair old with new when you buy new pieces and simply combine them with their already in service counterparts to both update your look and expand the amount of display and storage space you have.
Consider replacing these pharmacy shelving and fixtures during your upgrade:
- Gondola shelving, wall units, and end caps
The old workhorse, gondola shelving, includes the gondola shelving "island," wall unit, and end cap.
Made of steel, gondola shelving is almost endlessly adjustable, heavy duty, and reliable. You can configure it to just about any need, and you can actually set up your store's layout with it. Once in place, gondola shelving, end caps and runs look like they are permanent – but you can still break them down quickly and easily when you need to.
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Slatted gondola units
Another, newer option in pharmacy shelving is the slatted gondola unit. These are lighter than their old-fashioned counterparts, and you won't be able to use them for heavy duty displays. However, you can use them wherever you need to put smaller items up for display. Use them at checkout counters or anywhere you need to make the best use of space. They come with a number of display options like baskets, hooks, shelving and brackets to configure displays however you wish. In addition to being able to set them up as freestanding but stationary displays, you can also put them on wheels and move them wherever you wish.
Security
Both the updated 2013 HIPAA patient health information rules and the continuing worry about protecting controlled substances from theft mean that you need to build security features into your pharmacy shelving and fixtures whenever possible.
Use pharmacy shelving with appropriate security for the 2013 HIPAA regulations
Recent changes to the law now mean that any breach in security for patient health information must be reported to Health and Human Services. What that means is that any device that stores or is used to access patients' PHI needs to be securely protected when not in use; lock portable devices like laptops and tablets away behind the pharmacy counter and/or in lockable pharmacy fixtures, and secure access to them with strict protocols, login procedures, and secure authentication. Workstations should also be centrally located and strictly controlled.
Use pharmacy shelving that protects controlled substances from being stolen
It's a continuing struggle to make sure that controlled substances like Vicodin, OxyContin, and other narcotics are protected from theft and kept out the reach of unauthorized hands. Theft also presents a risk to your safety, as well, so make sure you invest in pharmacy options that allow you to lock the substances securely away at all times. Protect you, your customers, and your inventory.
Pharmacy shelving upgrades don't have to be prohibitively expensive, nor do they have to be done all at once. Although you do have to pay close attention to new regulations and security and upgrade accordingly, many other replacements can be done on a piece by piece basis. Mix-and-match, experiment, and enjoy.
