PDS BLOG
Pharmacy Growth Strategies
Ignite your pharmacy business with the most innovative growth strategies and ideas that produce real results.
PDS BLOG
Ignite your pharmacy business with the most innovative growth strategies and ideas that produce real results.
Prescriptions may be the number one reason patients come into your pharmacy (they are your most vital revenue source, after all). To maximize your pharmacy’s revenue potential even more, take advantage of the non-prescription sales opportunities available to you today.
Prescription profit margins have seen a decline in recent years. On the other hand, OTC or front-end product profit margins have remained consistent and strong. While prescriptions make up the bulk of your revenues, a good OTC sales strategy can be just as impactful to your profitability.
Through these seven easy-to-implement strategies, you can encourage patients to make non-prescription purchases and ultimately boost your pharmacy’s revenue.
Just because you like a particular product, doesn’t mean everyone else does too. Don’t rely on your intuition to figure out the best ways to grow your non-prescription sales. Review data and research to determine which over-the-counter and retail products are trending. A study by Hamacher Resource Group (HRG) revealed the cold & allergy, vitamins & dietary supplements, and pain relief categories represent nearly 43% of unit sales in health and wellness.
Be sure to review your sales figures to see which product categories are most popular with your customers and take steps to make these products easier to locate in your pharmacy.
An effective pharmacy layout is optimized to display merchandise that you want patients to see and buy. Some areas of your pharmacy probably receive more foot traffic than others. For example, areas next to the prescription counter and aisles leading to the checkout registers tend to see more traffic. Rotate products in and out of these areas and at the end-of-aisle displays to see which items result in increased sales when relocated to these highly visible locations. Test different floor areas. Move merchandise around. A little reorganization has the power to influence your patients’ purchasing decisions.
A large number of drugs dispensed can cause drug-induced nutritional deficiencies. Many of the patients that walk through your door are already buying nutritional supplements. Knowing this, you should ask yourself:
Upselling nutrient depletion supplements is a win-win. Patients who are buying supplements elsewhere don’t normally consult a pharmacist at the time of purchase, and are often not taking the correct nutrients their body needs. For example, you make $5 selling a patient a beta blocker, and then you make $15 selling them the CoQ10 his body needs to counteract drug-induced nutritional deficiencies.
Your pharmacy team is key to this “UpSolutions” strategy. Train them to build relationships with customers and make relevant product suggestions based off the drugs patients are picking up.
This can also work for any product you sell in your store. Coach your team to be helpful and ask customers what products they are looking for, thus opening the conversation to upselling. Check out the OTC Guide, which gives you specific product recommendations based on what your patients are already purchasing.
It can also be helpful to hold weekly team meetings to inform your staff of what inventory needs to be moved, marked down, or removed.
Idea: Hold a contest and reward staff members that upsell the most products each month. For more information on upselling non-prescription products, check out 7 Ways to Upsell Your Pharmacy Customers.
According to HRG research, customer service is overwhelmingly rated as the most important competitive advantage. Consumers who establish good, trusted relationships with their pharmacy are more likely to return compared to when visiting stores where they don’t have a personal connection. Your talented team is capable of creating an atmosphere of comfort and trust so be sure to train them to engage with customers and establish personal relationships whenever possible. Guide your staff to recognize repeat customers, greet them by their first name, or ask questions about their families, work or pets. Everyone appreciates a personal touch.
Knowing how products relate to each other can help your pharmacy increase retail sales. For example, people who are looking for a knee brace may also need joint cream. Customers with a cold might be looking for a box of tissues. Display related products next to each other so customers can easily find what they are looking for. Don’t forget to use your pharmacy floor plan to help you determine how to position related products for maximum sales impact!
Forget everything you know about your pharmacy and walk through the doors as a secret shopper. Walk the aisles with a fresh eye and ask yourself if things look inviting. Would you continue to shop in this store? If you are hesitant, it may be time to make some changes. Updating your decor, brightening the lighting, or simply adding a fresh coat of paint can go a long way.
It doesn’t matter if you run a pharmacy or a ditch-digging company, everything begins and ends with customer service. Offering truly exceptional service is one of the best ways you can boost merchandise sales at your pharmacy. Ask the question, “Is there something we could do to improve your shopping experience and, if so, what would it be?” People love a listening ear. And their feedback is just what your team needs to make necessary improvements.
A pharmacy is so much more than just a place to fill prescriptions. It’s a place where people can find convenience products, supplements, food, souvenirs, and other household items. Knowing the most effective ways to increase sales of these items will pay off with a healthy bottom-line for your independent pharmacy.
Looking for more ways to drive your most lucrative patients to your door? Download our free eBook, Pharmacy Business Blueprint today to increase your profits while providing world-class healthcare.
PDS Members: Log in to PDSadvantage to get access to the Dare to Diversify, Marketing and Compounding Peer Group Discussions or detailed information about how to implement clinical services in your pharmacy.
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible exhibitors. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to introduce RxSafe. Read on for their blog post about pouch vs. blister in a COVID world.
This year has been full of changes and challenges for both patients and pharmacists. Coronavirus has increasingly led to many patients preferring “no-contact” or “touchless” services.
Independent pharmacists can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by limiting contact between staff and patients. Listen to Kyle Lomax and Traci Bayer, RxSafe customers, explain how they are meeting this new “contactless” demand.
When the pandemic first started, many people thought it would only last a few weeks. Since then, the rapid and sustained spread of the virus has increased patients’ desire for limited contact, especially with healthcare professionals.
It is clear that this pandemic will have a lasting impact on the way patients interact with pharmacists. Patients are likely to use pharmacies that offer pouch packaging and “no-contact” delivery services.
“Our delivery has almost quadrupled,” says Lomax. “I think that our commitment to this wide radius of delivery has really made us stand out in our role, especially in our rural communities.”
Even after the widespread distribution of the COVID vaccine — which will take the better part of a year — patients may be more likely to limit their contact in order to avoid any type of virus or illness.
Traditional vial filling involves many touch points that increase the risk of transmission. Even after the prescription leaves the pharmacy, there are many more touch points that occur with consumption. William Holmes, CEO of RxSafe, details how quickly the number of touchpoints can grow with traditional vials.
“Let’s presume now a family member might be assisting someone with opening and closing their vials, that’s 30 times a month that vial gets opened and closed and sometimes pills get poured out into a hand and then the bulk poured back,” explains Holmes. “With each touch, you’re increasing the risk of disease transmission.”
On average, there are 317,000 touch points per 1,000 patients using the manual card fill system. Using an automated pill packager reduces the touchpoints to approximately 1,140 touch points.
Pouch packaging automation, such as the RapidPakRx, can drastically reduce touch points. When consuming their medications, patients just have to tear open one pouch. Also, pouch packaging allows for a 31-day script to be filled, decreasing contact between patients and pharmacy staff.
“Even during COVID, we’ve had very few people go without their medications,” says Bayer, “because their prescriptions are ready almost a week before they’re due.”
Learn more about how you can create efficient operations in the midst of COVID with the PDS COVID Optimization Program. You can also get a sneak peek of the latest PDS member town hall to hear more about how independent pharmacies are adapting their operations to best serve their patients through COVID.
About
Providing an Immunization Program in your pharmacy is a great way to diversify your pharmacy’s offerings and revenue streams, while also filling an important community need. Help your patients and take control back from the PBMs.
Consider the clinical (and business!) benefits for your pharmacy.
State regulations determine which vaccines can be administered to what types of patients. Not all pharmacists can give all vaccines to all patients.
The first step is to know what’s permitted in the pharmacy’s own state. One of the most common restrictions is age as some states don’t allow pharmacists to administer vaccines to children under age 18.
Pharmacists need to be certified to administer vaccines in the pharmacy. They are required to take an ACPE-accredited immunization (like APHA’s course). Pharmacists must also be CPR certified and take a bloodborne pathogen or OSHA training.
Another regulatory consideration is reporting requirements. Some states require pharmacies to report the vaccines given and who received them to a state immunization registry.
It is also important to consider whether a state requires pharmacists to have collaborative practice agreements with physicians in order to administer vaccines. Collaborative agreements with physicians allow eligible pharmacists to administer vaccines to patients without individual prescriptions.
Independent pharmacies are hesitant to launch immunization programs due to complex and confusing reimbursement rules that dictate how pharmacies can bill for vaccines.
This is less of a barrier with the HHS order for Pharmacies to get paid for administration of the COVID 19 Vaccines.
If a pharmacy serves Medicare patients, it must go through the process of getting a PTAN as Medicare Part B provider in order to bill Medicare for vaccines including COVID Vaccines as a medical benefit.
It’s important you automate billing and collections for vaccine services through technology by outsource billing and collections through a third-party vendor. You want too be able to focus on providing clinical services. Hire the billing to professionals!
Consider the requirements before ordering your first shipment of any vaccine. For example, planning and ordering flu vaccines for the next flu season starts before the previous flu season ends.
Pharmacies should know the storage requirements for the vaccines they intend to administer. The CDC has guidelines for each type. Some require refrigeration. Others require freezing. That requires a way to monitor temperatures.
In terms of physical space, pharmacies should create a private area in which they administer vaccines to patients. A private room is worth the investment.
Pharmacies should think about and walk through their workflows prior to starting a vaccine practice.
As most experienced immunizing pharmacists can attest, actually giving a dose of a vaccine takes the least amount of time during the entire process. More time is spent by patients and pharmacies completing medical history forms, filling out consent forms, checking and verifying insurance benefits, copying health insurance cards and identification cards, billing for services and arranging and making payments.
Pharmacies should assign the most appropriate person to perform each task, ideally having technicians and other staff do most of the non-clinical work and leaving the pharmacist to administer the vaccine. The goal is not to disrupt the normal workflow of taking, filling and dispensing prescriptions and refills but integrate this new service into the workflow seamlessly.
It’s important for independent pharmacies to promote their programs via multichannel marketing campaigns. Your first target should be your current pharmacy patients.
A note about COVID vaccinations – this opportunity is driving new patients to you for FREE!! Spend the time and money to make sure you are getting all contact information for later programs. Also be sure you are educating your staff on how to make these COVID Vaccine patients NEW patients to your Pharmacy.
Vaccine programs can serve as gateways for pharmacies to grow their clinical operations. They can learn what it takes to run a clinical program and become comfortable adding other clinical services to their business. In doing so, they can expand their businesses to succeed in today’s industry.
Learn more about how Community Pharmacists Make a Difference With Immunizations, written by PDS member, Travis Wolff, PharmD and Emma Leffler, PharmD. If you still need more help deciding if starting an immunization program is right for you, schedule a call with PDS and sign up for the 2021 Super-Conference in May.
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible exhibitors. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to work with Drug Topics. Read on for their sponsored blog post about the business landscape after COVID within pharmacies and 5 objectives for focusing on growth again, written by Ollin Sykes, CPA, CITP and Scotty Sykes, CPA, CFP.
Coming out of the sudden, severe lockdowns from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pharmacies are adjusting to a new way of serving patients and providing services. To build some positive momentum, here are 5 ways that current pharmacy owners are adapting their businesses to serve people.
#1. Crisis-Based Services
During a crisis, helping your patients and community can also lead to new services. Out of COVID-19, pharmacies have the opportunity to provide items like hand sanitizer, cleaners, safety garments, infrared thermometers, and more. By packaging and pricing a variety of products for the size of company or organization, you help customers quickly get the supplies they need from a local source.
Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees are typically the third largest expense in a pharmacy behind inventory and payroll costs. You can mitigate higher DIR fees by monitoring your Star Ratings, but also by exploring med syncing and compliance packaging. If you can reduce DIR fees by 1 to 2 percentage points through this investment, it’s easy to calculate how such technologies can pay for themselves and more — plus result in happier patients and families.
As for generic effective rate (GER) challenges and potential clawbacks, which are not influenced by performance measures, make sure that you know which contracts, if any, include GERs or “effective rate guarantees” in the contract language. You can work with your PSAO on contract terms, and also consider a separate inventory for plans with GERs. The separate inventory could be sourced differently with a higher average wholesale price to lessen a potential clawback.
#3. Offering Cash Clinical Services
This is a pioneering area where pharmacists can identify ways to keep their patients healthier and prevent or manage larger health problems. It may include phlebotomy and clinical testing to identify and consult on the root cause of ailments that can be treated prior to or beyond medications. Whether that results in non-interactive private label nutritional supplements or food sensitivity solutions, you should explore cash clinical services that make sense for your pharmacy.
Explore a few private label providers before you move forward with patient testing and consulting. Build relationships with a few trusted vendors, and educate your team first so that you feel confident promoting probiotics or other supplements to patients.
Who are your target patients and customers? Take a look at who they are, the prescriptions they use, their family members, and common health care services. How can your pharmacy add value to their treatment experience and act as a resource?
For example, Nicolette Mathey, PharmD, a Florida-based pharmacist and a consultant to pharmacists through her company, Atrium24, identified elective surgeries as a trend in her community. So she developed a branded surgical treatment kit for cosmetic surgery clinics. The kits inform patients about surgery preparation and after-care. Often, the patients end up working with Mathey’s pharmacy on any medications or products related to their surgeries.
Another idea is to join — or have one of your team members join — public social media groups in the community. Interact with parents, coaches, or seniors on healthy living topics. Provide guidance if community members express a need that your pharmacy can solve.
What happens when your pharmacy becomes a resource in your community during challenging times? You are viewed as a health care provider and a friend, building a network of healthier, informed community members and patients who rely on your business. As a trusted resource, you gradually diversify your services and revenues, which improves your bottom line margins, profits and quality of life.
Coming out of COVID, make sure that your pharmacy is a part of the larger community and health care conversation. You matter.
To learn more about how independent pharmacies are adapting their operations to best serve their patients through COVID, get a sneak peek of the latest PDS member town hall.
About
Independent pharmacies are uniquely positioned to help their communities. COVID testing is still in high demand and there is a limited opportunity for our industry to provide the testing services their patients need and boost their profits.
At this point, COVID has been a significant issue in our lives for almost a year (doesn’t seem real!). Many pharmacies think it’s too late to get started with COVID testing – but it’s not. The sooner you start providing testing services, the sooner you will be able to help those in need, increase your patient base, and drive revenue into your pharmacy that the PBMs can’t touch.
Once you’ve decided to bring testing into your pharmacy, the first consideration to make is do you have a CLIA Waiver.
If the answer is YES:
You are ready to go! You’ll want to make sure you are registered as an independent lab for billing (if applicable). With the waiver, you can collect samples and process tests in your pharmacy. You’re also able to bill cash OR insurance for the tests.
If the answer is NO:
You will need to obtain a CLIA Waiver if you plan to process directly in your pharmacy or if you plan to bill insurance. Without a CLIA Waiver, you can only collect the samples and send them to a CLIA compliant lab to process. Whatever process you choose, it is highly recommended to get a CLIA Waiver to make sure you are compliant and things go smoothly. The good news is it’s easy and fast! NCPA has a great video that shows you how to complete the waiver.
Questions to consider
What options do you want to provide for your customers? Some employers or travel companies require different types of tests. Do you want to provide the Rapid Antigen Test? The PCR Test? Both?
What kind of laboratory experience is required to administer the test and what level of training is needed?
What is the test sensitivity and specificity? The more accurate the tests you are using are, the more confidence you will be able to instill in your in patients. Along with this, you will also want to think about the speed of the test and how quickly your patients need results.
Questions to consider
Are you going to charge your customers directly or bill insurance? You will need to take requirements into consideration. Many pharmacies have found that their customers WILL pay directly or with FSA/HSA. Patients are also able to submit for reimbursement through their medical insurance, and you can support them by providing the proper documentation.
Will you use a manual / paper process or set yourself up to operate online? A manual system works well for low volume testing but if demand is high, an online system will help you to automate processes and minimize disruptions to the pharmacy’s overall workflow. The advantages of using an online system are it allows you to implement an appointment-based model with automated scheduling, encourages contactless online payments, and it opens the window for vaccinations moving forward.
Steps to take
Every state has their own requirements and they often differ, especially on the reporting side. We recommend that you start with your local county health department. They are normally very accessible and they will provide you will reporting requirements, specific forms for testing documentation, and requirements for waste generation.
Next, check with the board of pharmacy to ensure you are compliant. With the high demand for COVID information, you can often find information in their FAQs or on their website.
Once you have the logistics figured out, the next steps are to focus on education and workflow for your pharmacy and then execution. You can download the COVID Testing Implementation Plan that will give you the full list of steps you need to take to start testing in your pharmacy.
Many independent pharmacies are successfully implementing testing in their pharmacies. By following a strategic implementation plan, educating your employees, and considering the needs of your community, you can provide testing and be profitable. One PDS Member, Carolina Pharmacy Group, started doing curbside COVID testing (both antigen and PCR testing) and saw immediate demand (and ROI!).
Since December, the Carolina team has done well over 6,000 tests. The pharmacy is not billing insurance and payments are made online. Currently they are experiencing an ROI of 10x.
“Honestly this is the best return the pharmacy has seen since generics hit our shelves.”
– Kavel Bhathela, PharmD and COVID Testing Lead at Carolina Pharmacy
Carolina Pharmacy is now offering services to help other independent pharmacies provide testing, help their communities, and increase their bottom line. Visit their website to learn more or place an order.
If you still need more help deciding if testing is right for you, schedule a call with PDS or watch our latest webinar: Your Blueprint for Successful COVID Testing.
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible media partners. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to work with Pharmacy Times. Read on for their sponsored blog post about the importance of immunization programs, written by PDS member, Travis Wolff, PharmD and Emma Leffler, PharmD. Travis is the manager and co-owner of Med-World Pharmacy in Sapulpa, Oklahom and Emma is a PGY1 community pharmacy resident.
There are many areas of patient care where pharmacists can have a direct impact, yet a number of them do not have the confidence or understand the potential magnitude of that impact.
If pharmacists want to continue to move the profession forward, seeking provider opportunities, they must gain that confidence and help stakeholders understand the important roles they play. These include conducting diabetes or point-of-care testing, but it is immunizations that provide the clearest snapshot.
Let’s go back to the years when pharmacists first saw immunization-friendly legislation being enacted from state to state. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores compared influenza vaccine rates from 2003 to 2013 to cover this period of pro-pharmacist legislation.
Understanding the impact pharmacists have had after receiving immunization privileges greatly boosts the case that they should be given additional responsibilities. After we shared these two studies with our federal and local representatives, they asked us about the local community we served. This led us to dive into our own initiatives.
We will start by laying out some important facts. Immunization is one of the most cost-effective means of preventing disease. Individuals can defend themselves against several diseases by staying up-to-date on all recommended immunizations. Additionally, as more individuals become protected from particular diseases, communities gain a collective immunity that aids in reducing complications, deaths, and hospitalizations. Community pharmacists can reach out to and educate patients in their communities, and administer these preventive immunizations to them.
Patient challenges range from access to reliable information, knowing which immunizations are recommended based on age or comorbidities, and remembering when to receive follow-up doses. By creating pharmacist-led immunization programs, community pharmacies can improve patient outreach, immunization rates, and follow-up doses.
From the most current data up to 2016, overall immunization rates for hepatitis A (23.7%), human papillomavirus (8.6%), influenza (70.4%), pneumococcal disease (66.9%), shingles (37.4%), and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (26.6%) have increased slightly. Pharmacists have the optimal opportunity to increase these rates around the nation. Our pharmacy targeted 1 specific immunization in 2019, the shingles vaccine Shingrix.
In 2019, we promoted Shingrix immunizations on our Facebook page and flyers, and through individual discussions with the patients we identified as being eligible to receive them. The determination of eligibility stemmed from our Sync+ program, which analyzes patient profiles to determine chronic disease medication adherence, immunization eligibility, and preventive screening opportunities. Patients aged 50 years or older were identified as eligible for the Shingrix vaccination. Our Sync+ patients were sorted through, alphabetizing by last name. This allowed for a staggered informing of eligibility versus a bombardment of vaccinations on a single day or week. When the program identified a patient as being eligible, we communicated a message through a written note in the patient’s Sync+ basket, as well as a typed note in the patient’s electronic profile. Pharmacy team members could then counsel patients at pick-up time about benefits, eligibility, and what to expect.
Because of the advertisements and 1-on-1 counseling, our pharmacy, Med-World, more than doubled its Shingrix vaccination rates in 7 months versus the rate in 2018. Of the 447 patients we have analyzed thus far through Sync+, 74% are eligible for Shingrix immunization, 26% of whom have received it. Numerous patients identified have yet to receive their 1-on-1 counseling, because of when their pharmacy system sync day falls during the month.
Many patients had questions about whether Shingrix is still given if they have already received the Zostavax immunization, and whether it is inactive or live. Patients who previously received Zostavax are still eligible, and we encourage them to receive the new shingles immunization. Although
Zostavax is a live immunization and carries increased contraindications and precautions, Shingrix is an inactive immunization, which means greater availability to more people. Additionally, Shingrix is 97% effective at preventing shingles in people aged 50 years or older, whereas Zostavax is only 50% to 64% effective at preventing shingles in that age group.
Once patients receive their first immunization, we document the date of their next follow-up dose on their comprehensive immunization spreadsheet and computerized profile note. Each month, a staff member calls patients within the 2- to 6-month period to inform them that it is time for the last dose of Shingrix. When patients have received both doses, the staff make the appropriate documentation. In 2019, our program completed 3.5 times as many follow-up doses versus 2018.
Based on our findings, community pharmacist immunization programs can have an extensive impact on immunization rates, especially regarding follow-up dose rates. Barriers to patient immunization initiation included the ability to contact patients, patients receiving the immunization at a different facility, and cost. Additional research and time are needed to determine the longterm impact that pharmacist-led programs have on immunization rates and follow-up doses. We plan to expand our immunization program to include other immunizations, such as hepatitis B, Pneumovax 23, and Prevnar 13B.
We hope that community pharmacists across the nation will gain confidence and better understand how to communicate their value to stakeholders.
If we can have this kind of impact on immunizations, what would the impact be across other point-of-care health services if pharmacists were entrusted with them?
Join the PDS Innovate in a Day event on February 11 where we will be talking more about immunizations and other strategies you can implement in your pharmacy now to propel your business forward in 2021.
References
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible exhibitors. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to introduce Wellness Works. Read on for their sponsored blog post about the business of nutritional sales and selling vitamins.
For decades, independent pharmacists have held an advantage when it comes to selling vitamins and nutritional supplements. First, as part of their undergraduate studies, pharmacists are the best educated healthcare professional to address the basic biochemical concepts of vitamins and supplements. Second, pharmacists have held a position of trust with consumers for decades. While 65% of Americans do search online for basic health information, the knowledge of and trust in the pharmacist is used to validate the health information found online. Lastly, as healthcare professionals, pharmacists are in daily contact with consumers exhibiting various metabolic diseases. These are diseases that have been acquired over time for which pharmaceutical offerings may not be the only options.
Today, vitamin sales account for $100 billion in revenue worldwide, and the U.S. accounts for 36% of that figure. What trends have driven that number?
You don’t sell vitamins by just selling vitamins! By combining the pharmacist’s innate advantages with the strategic application of available technology and marketing, pharmacies can realize healthy nutritional revenue streams. Even in this competitive marketplace.
About the Author
Every year, Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is October 15 – December 7. The process of enrolling or updating plans can be frustrating for aging patients, resulting in many staying with a plan, even if it isn’t the best option for their healthcare needs. Helping patients navigate this process is an excellent opportunity for independent pharmacies to act as a healthcare resource for their community. Providing high-touch, personalized service improves retention and increases the probability of the patient enrolling in a mutually beneficial plan, one that saves them money and doesn’t hurt your pharmacy’s bottom line.
The truth in our industry is that business growth can only come from great patient care. Launching a program around Open Enrollment doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start by identifying two important groups of patients in your dispensing data, those who are eligible for the first time to enroll in Medicare and patients who may benefit from an Open Enrollment consultation to select a plan.
Once you’ve identified who would benefit from your expertise, start getting the word out, in your store and in your community.
AND
If the plan doesn’t decrease the out-of-pocket cost for the patient, we don’t recommend making the switch. The focus for any Open Enrollment period should be around improving outcomes and decreasing co-pays and premiums for your patients.
Conducting plan comparisons builds the relationship with patients and your pharmacy. If you can help your patients understand their options, save them money, and help them switch to a plan that suits their health care need, they are more likely to continue filling prescriptions with your pharmacy.
PRO-TIP: Create a PDF that highlights how much you patient stands to save on their prescriptions per month. Always try to quantify the value you provide when possible.
An often-overlooked segment of patients is those currently enrolled in or eligible for the Low Income Subsidy Network (LIS). There are four groups of people who may benefit from a consultation or assistance submitting the application for the LIS coverage.
The premium and co-pays for are often the same or comparable across these benchmark plans; allowing you to help them choose a plan that offers better reimbursements and lower DIR fees for your region. Additionally, helping patients who qualify, but aren’t currently enrolled can help in driving referral traffic. You and your team can connect with low-income clinics highlighting this service for vulnerable patients.
Some Medicare plans begin communicating with patients about their options before they turn 65, to shift their business to a chain or mail-order pharmacy. Reaching out to eligible patients before they are steered away from your pharmacy is critical.
Additionally, many Medicare members are eligible for an annual MTM review with a pharmacist. Reaching out for an MTM prior to open enrollment helps keep the patient and pharmacist informed, as well as identify opportunities to highlight ways to save your patient money during the open enrollment period.
PDS teamed up with Amplicare to help pharmacy owners discover Open Enrollment Tactics that they can implement NOW to protect (and increase) their profits in the coming year. Watch this webinar to learn how to compare plans for patients, identify and act on win-win opportunities for patients and the pharmacy, mitigate DIR fees, and hear about the Amplicare features available to help you this fall.
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible exhibitors. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to introduce Oceanblue. Read on for their sponsored blog post about the health benefits of Omega-3s.
Sometimes it can be hard to know exactly when the best time is to start taking steps towards planning for the future. The endless possibilities can leave us feeling lost, while the things that are important to us keeps us pushing forward towards a better future for ourselves and those we care about. In today’s fast-paced society there is no shortage of novelties or distractions, and we can easily neglect the one thing that cannot be obtained with the simple click of a button. We are, of course, talking about our health.
Good health is one of our most important assets and taking the steps necessary to maintain it does not have to be a complicated or difficult process. Luckily, science has come a long way and we now have a better understanding of how our bodies work than ever before, and while there are no miracle cures or magic potions to fix our problems overnight, there are supplements that can help us in the journey towards better health. By taking care of our heart, mind, eyes, and joints, omega-3s might be just the help we need to make great improvements in the quality of life we can lead.
Omega-3 has various health benefits – ranging from cardiovascular health, cholesterol reduction, to anti-inflammatory properties that help improve brain function, amongst others. These benefits undoubtedly created consumer demand, and the food and supplement industries responded by marketing omega-3s in everything from gummy vitamins to eggs and yogurt, and even in food and supplements for our four-legged friends.
With so many options available, the question then becomes: Which omega-3 product is right for me? By selecting a high-quality omega-3 supplement that fits your lifestyle, you can proactively start to improve your health. When selecting an omega-3 supplement there are a few things to remember:
There is no definite right way to start taking care of our health, the important thing is to be conscious of our bodies and make a habit out of healthy choices. Omega-3s can be the foundation in which to build a better version of ourselves and enjoy the benefits of a long and healthy life.
About the Author
Oceanblue believes a great life starts with good health. Their omega-3 products are made using the world’s most advanced technologies to provide the most potent and best tasting omega-3 products available. Visit their website to see the full line of products and to learn more about what omega-3s can do for you!
Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible exhibitors. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to introduce Boost Oxygen. Read on for their sponsored blog post about how supplemental oxygen can be a unique way to diversify your revenue.
The human body needs three things to survive:
Nutrition
Hydration
Oxygenation
We can survive without food for 3-4 weeks. We can survive without water for 3-4 days. But we can only live without oxygen for 3-4 minutes. There are thousands of products available that address nutrition and hydration, but up until a decade ago few pharmacies offered oxygen-related products, besides the bulky tanks for medical-grade oxygen therapy.
The general public is learning more about the benefits of supplemental oxygen as an all-natural respiratory support product for athletes, senior citizens and people visiting or living at higher altitudes or in humid weather who experience shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches or dizziness due to oxygen deficiency.
Supplemental oxygen has recently become more important to offset the symptoms of facemask fatigue as people wear protective masks for longer periods at work or outdoors. Facemask fatigue can be compared to the effects of hypoxia as masks can restrict your normal oxygen intake.
Most people aren’t aware that the air we breathe contains only around 21% oxygen. At higher elevations, that number can be much less. That’s also not taking into account any pollution in the air. The majority of air is comprised of 78% nitrogen. Oxygen is vital for our cells to produce the energy to power our organs, and when you become oxygen deficient you can experience the symptoms of hypoxia.
Now, think about how much regular air you breathe when you’re outside exercising or working out. Every cell in your body is designed to burn oxygen – it’s the basic fuel for cell metabolism. Cut back on oxygen and all of those cellular processes become sluggish… you start to feel fatigued or short of breath. Less oxygen equates to cells losing the energy they need to repair DNA. Your immune system begins to weaken. Your risk of becoming sick escalates. Imagine how much the body could benefit from supplemental oxygen?
For pharmacies that fill prescriptions for bulky oxygen tanks, there is often little or no profit margin. The pharmacy owner is often just providing a basic service with no benefit to their business. However, providing portable supplemental oxygen for your customers creates a new profit center. From the consumer standpoint, not everyone qualifies for or needs to be on continuous prescription medical-grade oxygen, but many would like to increase their oxygen level and experience the benefits of supplemental oxygen for many reasons.
Supplemental oxygen is all-natural, unlike the stimulants and energy drinks you see at a gas station or grocery store, which promise a quick fix for drowsiness. What they contain are caffeine, sugars, carbs and calories that can be harmful to your health or cause you to crash after their effects expire – forcing you to drink even more to avoid that crash. The same can be said about the effect of coffee on your body. Supplemental oxygen has no caffeine, sugar, carbs, or calories. There is no sugar crash with oxygen. Supplemental oxygen is completely natural and more relaxing and restorative than energy drinks or coffee.
About the Author
Boost Oxygen provides 95% pure “Oxygen To Go” all-natural respiratory support in convenient and portable canisters for your pharmacy customers, no prescription needed. To learn more about Boost Oxygen, visit BoostOxygen.com. For info on carrying our Boost Oxygen products in your pharmacy, email info@boostoxygen.com or call (877) 375-2500.