Workflow and Workflow Tips

[Pharmanaut]

All,
Would you share your dispensing workflow tips with the rest of the forum. Any short-cuts, timesavers etc would be welcome.
I'm thinking of the basic mechanics of what we do, so suggestions like "Just pick up any box at random, stick any label on and give it to any patient" are obviously not quite what we need to help!

Also any thoughts on the reception workflow - I'm trying to organise the patients as at the moment they organise us!

I'm toying with a 'fast prescription drop off box'.
"If you are calling back after more than two hours, the next day or later on in the week please put your prescriptions in the box".
Or something like that - help me refine the idea....

[Chirpy]

I've been toying with this idea as well. I've come to the conclusion that it would have to be checked at set times like a post-box - drop off before before ______ to pick up _____.

[Zoggite]

And it's very risky if no-one looks at the Rx when the Pt. drops it off: you'll find scripts for Nitrazepam issued 32 days ago in there, unsigned scripts, ones for Juvela fresh GF sliced bread, or for the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine, or for melatonin caps, etc...; And the patient the next day will be angry because you unwittingly "deceived" him or her into believing that it would be ready & waiting...

[exSAgrad]

Hi , I work in a doctors dispensary and I organised the patients to do the following.. When collecting their meds they tick off their regular repeat items and we put a date on the repeat slip for exactly 4 weeks time ie following 28 tablets in a box. The patient also writes down the return date, ,often on the medicines packet or in their diary. The repeat slip is filed in date order. This helps work flow enormously. If we are not busy we can have all the repeats done one week ahead of time. This takes care of hard to get items, or staff shortages. Patients are happy as they don't have to wait long to recieve meds. They know to inform us if their meds have been changed during the month..easier in Drs surgery as the doctors sometimes tell us too. Im sure it can be adapted to chemists ...ie pharmacy brings us repeat slips a month early for future signed scripts. How often do 48 hr repeat scripts still cause last minute signing panics?

[exSAgrad]

For acute items , you could have scripts delivered before 9 am due out at 2pm, in at 10am out for 3pm etc like the boots photo service. If its quiet, or an emergency it can be done straight away.

[johnep]

This the same as Express RPS by Lloyds and Boots.
johnep

[Chirpy]

Hi , I work in a doctors dispensary and I organised the patients to do the following.. When collecting their meds they tick off their regular repeat items and we put a date on the repeat slip for exactly 4 weeks time ie following 28 tablets in a box. The patient also writes down the return date, ,often on the medicines packet or in their diary. The repeat slip is filed in date order. This helps work flow enormously. If we are not busy we can have all the repeats done one week ahead of time. This takes care of hard to get items, or staff shortages. Patients are happy as they don't have to wait long to recieve meds. They know to inform us if their meds have been changed during the month..easier in Drs surgery as the doctors sometimes tell us too. Im sure it can be adapted to chemists ...ie pharmacy brings us repeat slips a month early for future signed scripts. How often do 48 hr repeat scripts still cause last minute signing panics?

I suspect our GP's would not be happy with that. We frequently put in requests for patients which are refused because it is not time for a refill yet - reapply in a few days! I've tried talking to them but they insist that they are trying to minimise waste......

[bobbin]

All,
Would you share your dispensing workflow tips with the rest of the forum. Any short-cuts, timesavers etc would be welcome.

When very busy, short-staffed and shop packed, unplug the phone

[Rafael]

This the same as Express RPS by Lloyds and Boots.
johnep

it is a good system when you have enough staff members! not when you are understaffed and normal dispensers are asked to clear this mess, process daily, chase up items with the surgery!

whoever is thinking to follow this system, please do not unless you invest in having minimum staffing level as it is time consuming, almost another dispensing system, but more complicated one.

usually you need to look for scripts, and check compass, especially if scripts issued in 2 different dates, to put them together when patient comes to collect.

you are responsible for any mess as you took patient consent to order their monthly items!

[bobbin]

The majority of patients should be able to order their own repeat medication. If they want the pharmacy to collect their script, they should telephone them to let them know..........assuming that the phone is not unplugged A lot of problems would be solved if certain multiples provided enough staff.