Pharmacy owners are continuously looking for ways to stand out in a changing industry. Patient needs are evolving, with many preferring services that simplify their prescriptions, while improving health outcomes.
Aimee Stuermer, PharmD, co-owner of Medicine Man Bonners Ferry Pharmacy in Idaho, has been serving her community since 2012. The independent pharmacy owner is committed to improving patient health, which is why she decided to invest in automation to enhance the patient experience.
“My pharmacy is known for doing what the competition doesn't do, for our fast, friendly service and above all things, just putting the patient first,” says Stuermer.
“I realized that the RapidPakRx would be a better solution for our pharmacy when I was not recommending my previous solution to patients,” adds Stuermer. “It was just something that I was shying away from because I didn't have the time to commit to it.”
Click above to watch the video.
More Time to Help More Patients
"Before the RapidPakRx we were dealing with a lot of time consumption, a lot of pharmacist time needed to complete blister cards for the patients and it was definitely time for a change,” says Stuermer.
Manually filling blister cards requires a significant amount of staff labor, and made it difficult for Stuermer to confidently offer the packaging to more patients.
“The RapidPakRx has transformed my business by freeing me up to do what's important,” adds Stuermer.
The RapidPakRx offers unmatched speed and accuracy. It runs bulk-loaded universal cartridges simultaneously, making it easy to integrate into the pharmacy workflow.
“After freeing up my time with the RapidPakRx, I've been able to focus on COVID vaccinations, MTMs and tips,” says Stuermer. “I've been able to really just put myself in the front of my business.”
Improving Star Ratings
“My Star Ratings have improved with the RapidPakRx,” says Stuermer. “I've noticed that our Star Ratings have gone up a lot of times to five stars.”
The RapidPakRx packages medications into small pouches, labeled with the time and date that each medication is supposed to be taken. The convenient design of the strip pouches makes it easier for patients to take their meds and improve adherence.
“A lot of the people that have started on my pouching service end up getting a lot of medications discontinued because their adherence is increasing and they are able to get much healthier and they just love it,” says Stuermer.
Improving adherence not only helps improve patient health outcomes, but can also help the pharmacy reduce DIR fees. Stuermer also noticed that more healthcare and insurance providers are interested in working with pharmacies who focus on medication adherence.
“Our insurances want to work with us more because of our adherence, which has really increased our profitability,” says Stuermer. “A lot of our physicians are actually sending over prescriptions, because they know that it's a time-saving solution for the patient and it increases their adherence and improves their health.”
Getting More Patients
With increasing competition, Stuermer believes it is important to stand out and offer patients the best service in the area.
“You've got Amazon’s PillPack out there trying to steal our customers, and you have a lot of preferred networks going on, so whatever we can do to set ourselves apart from the rest is really the right step to make,” says Stuermer.
“We've added about five to ten new patients per month that are interested in the new solution and are transferring in to get it started,” says Stuermer.
The RapidPakRx can complete packaging for up to 50 patients, using only one technician in an 8-hour shift. The all-in-one design makes it easy to quickly add new patients and complete the strip packaging in a timely manner.
“Our patients are so excited that they're telling their friends and family, and we're able to really increase our volume of patients that are interested,” says Stuermer. “Our chain pharmacy across the street actually sends patients to us for the solution because it's something that they can't offer.”
A Better Solution
“Since the pandemic started, patients don't want to come in as often, so getting patients on our sync program so that everything is due at the same time, and then getting them on our packaging service has just been perfect for them to feel comfortable,” says Stuermer.
“When it comes to independent pharmacies, there's just something that we offer that chain pharmacies can’t,” adds Stuermer. “We do everything better, so why not get a solution that helps you do that?”
To watch the full video, please click above. If you would like to learn more about the RapidPakRx, please visit our product page or call an adherence expert at (877) 797-2332.
