Clinic dispensing requires a number of operational considerations. I’ve talked about labeling and tracking medications. Other physician dispensing considerations include staffing and processes.
- Staffing – clinics often fear that office medication dispensing requires a lot more effort on the part of staff members. This does not have to be the case. Few clinics are overstaffed and no one is looking for additional work. A successful dispensing program requires minimal impact to staff. Northwind Pharmaceuticals has been able to help clinics implement physician dispensing without adding staff. Fast labeling and streamlined processes make this possible. When looking to dispense, narrow your formulary on frequent movers, keep your inventory to a minimum, use the fastest labeling system you can find and limit the steps in the patient check-out process. Handing the patient his/her bottle while delivering medication instructions puts very little overhead in the transaction and emphasizes your directions.
- Processes – A streamlined dispensing process requires one touchpoint for giving the medication to the patient and one for completing the transaction. If the prescription is dispensed to the patient while they are receiving medication instructions, then payment for the meds should occur when the patient is checking out as he/she normally would. Requiring patients to pay cash for their medications will make dispensing even more efficient by avoiding submissions for reimbursement. If you specialize in occupational health and make work comp claims, a limited formulary and understanding of your carriers policies will make dispensing much more viable for your practice.
My next post will focus on patient considerations for the practice offering physician dispensing.
