An organized pharmacy is a successful one.
Even if you don’t count organization as one of your personal strengths, it’s still imperative to create an efficient workplace.
Organization ensures that your pharmacy is under control and it helps increase productivity. Disorganization can lead to mistakes, which could prevent your pharmacy from reaching its full potential and even damage your business’s reputation.
Don’t let a lack of organization derail your pharmacy’s future. Lead your pharmacy to success by getting these six aspects of your business organized.
1. The front end
Don’t let cluttered shelves and disorderly inventory cost your pharmacy.
Your front end is the first thing your patients see when they walk into your store, so it’s important that it’s arranged neatly. A lack of tidiness can put off patients and dissuade them from making a purchase.
If you’re not sure how to merchandise and arrange your front end, utilize planograms. Planograms are diagrams that show how retail products should be shelved. They’re a useful tool in retail settings, and make it especially easy to organize your front end. You can design them yourself, or use ones provided by manufacturers or wholesalers.
2. Sensitive information
Your pharmacy is filled with important documents, like patient health data, employee information, paperwork from lawyers, and other private files. So, it’s essential that your pharmacy’s records be organized.
Keep your physical paperwork filed in an organized way, so you can access information when needed. For example, in the event of a HIPAA audit. And, prevent data theft from occurring at your pharmacy by organizing your files and safeguarding any sensitive information.
Keep track of the paper files you have on hand. It’s a good idea to purchase a paper shredder to appropriately dispose of any documents that may contain sensitive information.
3. Social media
Inconsistent social media posting may be one of your vices. But, do you really want your current and potential patients to see a stale Facebook page that hasn’t been updated in months? Or, a Twitter page with no tweets?
Organize your online presence by prescheduling your social media posts. Consider using Hootsuite, an online tool that allows you to manage all your social media accounts in one place. Or, designate a social media-savvy employee to handle all of your virtual profiles.
4. Your daily schedule
As an independent community pharmacy owner or manager, you have a lot on your plate. Without a predetermined schedule, it can be easy to waste time and not be as productive as you’d like to be.
Organize your schedule by planning your days ahead of time. You should have a general idea of what you want to accomplish each day.
Follow these tips to help you better manage your schedule.
5. Finances
Medicine is your strong suit. But how about when it comes to managing money?
Disorganized financials can harm your business. Make sure you’re maintaining a budget, spending smart and keeping an eye on your cash flow.
The good news is that organizing your financials doesn’t have to take all day. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that counsels America’s small business owners, offers easy-to-follow financial templates to help you manage your money.
6. Taxes
Although dealing with taxes may seem like a burden, it’s a necessary evil. And it’s all that much easier if you’re organized about it.
Keeping better records of your taxes will make it easier to prepare your returns. Be sure to track your business expenses, store and organize your receipts, and keep them all in one place.
Use a software program, like TurboTax®, that allows for electronic filing to help you stay better organized. Or, hire a professional.
Organization is just one of the many skills successful pharmacists share. Learn 20 other things productive pharmacists do.
A Member-Owned Company Serving Independent Pharmacies
PBA Health is dedicated to helping independent pharmacies reach their full potential on the buy-side of their business. Founded and owned by pharmacists, PBA Health serves independent pharmacies with group purchasing services, wholesaler contract negotiations, proprietary purchasing tools, and more.
An HDA member, PBA Health operates its own NABP-accredited secondary wholesaler with more than 6,000 SKUs, including brands, generics, narcotics CII-CV, cold-storage products, and over-the-counter (OTC) products — offering the lowest prices in the secondary market.
