ROUNDTABLE: Pharmacy’s future in sync with technology
Where is pharmacy technology headed, and how will it be put to use by pharmacists and the companies that employ them?
In the era of health reform, evidence-based medicine and health information technology, those questions have become fundamental for pharmacy leaders. How retail pharmacies invest in technology and harness the flood of patient and drug utilization data it generates will determine, in large part, the future of the profession and its relevance to a fast-changing health system seeking new cost-saving solutions and more effective approaches to patient care and disease prevention.
Technology vendors continue to boost the power, ease of use and connectivity of hardware and software. To get a better sense of how technology is enabling community pharmacy to play a greater role in health care in the age of reform, DSN invited some leading healthcare technology executives to share their opinions on the evolution of pharmacy technology and what the next few years should bring.
What are the most significant technological developments that you forsee being used in retail pharmacy organizations in the coming years, and will these technologies enhance or replace what exists today and why?
Frank Sheppard, CEO of Ateb
Making data more available and actionable for retail pharmacy teams will be the biggest technological development in the coming years for retail pharmacy. Pharmacy already uses data every day for multiple dispensing related tasks, but the ability to use that data in new and innovative ways that bring value to a broader set of constituents will be the key in how pharmacy evolves over the next few years. IMS reported that 2012 was the first year that prescription dollars declined year over year; this sets the stage that everyone already knows, pharmacy must find new ways to create and provide value to patients. The good news is pharmacy is in the best position to help solve the growing problem of access and affordability in health care. Using the data pharmacy already has and potentially integrating in new sources of information allows pharmacy to proactively assist patients to achieve their healthcare objectives. Solutions like Ateb’s Time My Meds medication synchronization solution and our Patient Management Access Portal organize pharmacy data in a clear and actionable manner that facilitates the pharmacy team to make a dramatic, positive impact on adherence and improve patients’ health. Ateb is actively working with our pharmacy partners to develop new paths (e.g. payers, employers, hospitals and third party administrators) for the pharmacy to be remunerated for these incredible results.
Doyle Jensen, executive VP global business development at Innovation
Retail pharmacy will continue to implement technologies that help to unburden pharmacists from their traditional tasks, enabling them to be “front-and-center” in their patient-centric wellness programs. To support this, we currently see an evolution in the production areas to virtualize pharmacist prescription verification steps. Pharmacies can use technology to balance the verification workload and to centralize this task, helping streamline workflows and increase efficiencies. We also see aggressive development of will call technologies for patient pickup, which will help reduce patient wait times, improve customer service and free up staff for other revenue generating activities. And lastly, with patient adherence a huge part of the Affordable Care Act, we’re seeing the introduction of all sorts of technologies to help drive compliance and increase positive treatment outcomes. We need to continue to find the most effective ways to engage patients and empower them to take an active role in their own care.
Christopher Thomsen, VP business development for Kirby Lester
There are a lot of technologies that handle pieces of the pharmacy's workflow, but not all are properly and completely connected. In short, we lack uniformity and integration. Several systems handle order entry, DUR, adjudication and patient information; one system prints labels; one system runs the IVR; a different system controls the robotic dispenser; and yet another handles will call and then POS. Technology providers use the term “plug and play” a bit too loosely and flippantly, but the reality is that all technology providers strive to differentiate their products — different applications, benefits and results. And, the situation is further complicated by the continual release of new operating systems, updates and versions. I think we are facing an inevitability; we need universal technology standards, and it’s going to take time and common ground from everyone. But, when this does happen, we will find that it will be a much easier task to interface, integrate and communicate between all of the different software and hardware solutions. At some point, technology vendors will write code with an ability to be more adaptable, yet still differentiated, but better and safer for the end user and the patient. It is in everyone’s best interest. So in a few years, pharmacy management will be able to take inventory: if they have systems that don’t interoperate, throw them out and bring aboard technologies that are truly connected.
Michael A. Ziegler, senior manager marketing and analysts at QS/1
I think an important issue in the near future is medication synchronization and other adherence tools. Synchronization enables the customer and the pharmacist to coordinate the refill dates of all of the customer's medication to the same day, so the customer doesn't have multiple pickup dates. The customer should have the ability to select a due date that fits his or her individual schedule. In addition to aiding adherence, the tool should help pharmacies maintain great star ratings in the future.
David M. Williams, VP RxMedic Systems
Pharmacists will continue to move to automation that will improve prescription workflow and overall operations. As reimbursement rates are reevaluated by the various payers, pharmacists will focus on controlling their costs in part by maintaining existing staff levels. Automation, primarily robotics, handles the inventory, counting and labeling as well as photo verification for the prescription. Automating these parts of prescription processing frees staff for interaction with patients and other tasks. An investment in automation, properly implemented, can result in hundreds of hours of time saved every year.
Mike Coughlin, president and CEO of