What to look for in pharmacy software…

Pharmacy software....It seems simple enough. You need to be able to do the following: Enter demographics for the customer--->Enter the prescription data (NDC, directions, date written, etc)--->effectively store prescription data with a database related to reports that can flag therapeutic duplication and drug-drug interactions --->file electronic claims to pharmacy benefit managers and receive e-prescriptions---->print labels … Continue reading What to look for in pharmacy software… →

10/31/2011…

Originally article entitled: "The Chase" A short blog written in 2011. As I reflect on this short blog, I feel that it has context for working folks looking to make it in the workplace. Posted by: Sam Blakemore 10/31/2011 @ 12:27AM We are all chasing. Yet, I'm very certain that if we were to really … Continue reading 10/31/2011… →

A B-school essay from a Pharmacist’s perspective

My Operations Management (OM) Professor in B-school had one question for our final exam. Explain if this course will or will not be relevant in your chosen profession or career path? I revisited my short summary a few days ago and considered the role of the Pharmacist in relation to the current healthcare model. How … Continue reading A B-school essay from a Pharmacist’s perspective →

Rebaked PIE…Pharmacist Industry Engineer

It's not always about how much money a business makes; oftentimes its more important to understand how much money the business can save. I asked a Pharmacist the following question: "Who is probably the most famous and richest industrial engineer? Your hint... he grew up in Mobile, AL?" He paused and thought about it for a … Continue reading Rebaked PIE…Pharmacist Industry Engineer →

Buckets in the Pharmacy? A look at pharmacy operations…

I'm a visual person. In the pharmacy, visual cues help me make quick decisions regarding prescription status. As a student at a "chain pharmacy" I would put prescriptions in blue buckets or red buckets. Blue buckets for folks picking up their prescriptions in one to two hours, and red buckets for folks picking up in … Continue reading Buckets in the Pharmacy? A look at pharmacy operations… →

What to consider when your child is prescribed a compounded medication

Extemporaneous preparation of oral suspensions, creams, and ointments by pharmacists is of great importance for the pediatric population. Why? The "one size fits all" model doesn't work for kids. Dosing for kids is mostly weight-based and is calculated milligram(drug)/kilogram (child's weight) or dosed based on the child's body surface area. Most compounded preparations for pediatric … Continue reading What to consider when your child is prescribed a compounded medication →

Pharmacy workflow—what’s yours?

Business Management folks love discussing LEAN and KANBAN among ways to ensure quality and inventory control in manufacturing. The overall gist to these concepts is to make things work efficiently, accurately, limit waste, and ensure safety to a manufacturing process. Thus, cost of goods for the consumer can be competitively priced. So, lets take a … Continue reading Pharmacy workflow—what’s yours? →

Prior Authorizations: what can you do to help your prescribers

Prior Authorizations (PAs) are forms that are completed by the prescriber or prescriber's agent (person that completes the form for the prescriber's signature) for the patient to receive his or her medication. Reason's for prior authorizations include: cost of the medication, the quantity of medication prescribed, early refills, off label use of a medication, or … Continue reading Prior Authorizations: what can you do to help your prescribers →

Medication adherence: how parent’s can keep track of their child’s medicine

“Medication adherence” has become a big topic of discussion. A quick Google search of medication adherence as it relates to rising healthcare costs will lead readers to thousands of news articles. In this article I will discuss some tips on how to help your child adhere to his/her medication regimen. 1. Pen and paper - If … Continue reading Medication adherence: how parent’s can keep track of their child’s medicine →

The cost of pharmaceutical compounding…

"Ya'll charged me $45, and the pharmacy up the street said they were gonna charge me $400!" When searching for a pharmacy that compounds; ask the pharmacist if they're able to file a claim for the prescription under the patient's pharmacy benefits policy. If a member of the staff states that the pharmacy can not … Continue reading The cost of pharmaceutical compounding… →