Clinic dispensing not only requires legal and financial considerations, as well as operational considerations, such as labeling and tracking–it also requires staffing and processes. What exactly does that entail?
Staffing Considerations
We hear from clinic decision makers and office managers that office medication dispensing will require a lot more effort on the part of staff members. The truth is that this does not have to be the case. We know that there are very few clinics that are overstaffed these days and that those in your practice definitely aren’t looking for extra work.
In fact, successful dispensing programs require minimal impact to staff, and this is not just an ideal but a real option. Northwind Pharmaceuticals has been able to help clinics implement physician dispensing without adding staff whatsoever. How? Fast labeling and streamlined processes make this possible.
When you are looking to dispense, you should narrow your formulary on frequent movers and keep your inventory to a minimum. By using the fastest labeling system you can find, you can 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.
What about Processes?
Another important factor to consider are the processes involved. 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.
Keep Reading…
Check back here soon to see the final blog post in the series, which will focus on patient considerations for the practice offering physician dispensing.
