If you’re workshop-averse, you’re not alone. It’s difficult to find time to host workshops for patients—even if they can benefit your pharmacy.
But you might want to reconsider. Hosting workshops can boost your pharmacy’s bottom line by increasing word-of-mouth about your business, encouraging community partnerships, driving foot traffic to your store and improving your patients’ overall health.
Hosting a workshop can help you connect with your patients, engage with your community and build awareness for your pharmacy. From conventional to unique, here are five workshops to host.
1. Diabetes education classes
More than 9 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes. You likely have many diabetic patients already in your pharmacy. Offering diabetes education classes can help your existing patients manage their conditions, and draw new patients to your pharmacy.
Hosting diabetes education classes will get your patients involved in your pharmacy while showing off your health care expertise. You can go over blood glucose monitoring, coping strategies and healthy lifestyle changes. Or, you could just offer a session to allow your patients to ask questions and share stories.
(Get more ideas on starting diabetes education classes in your pharmacy.)
2. Nutrition workshops
A healthy diet is essential to managing chronic conditions—and to preventing them in the first place. Good nutrition can benefit all of your patients, so help your patients get started. Host a workshop for meal planning or explain the intricacies of food labels. Partner with a local nutritionist or chef to host the workshops. You could even incorporate a cooking demo—everyone loves free samples!
3. Heart health workshops
Offer a “heart health” workshop to educate your patients about blood pressure and cholesterol. Partner with local or national health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, or invite local physicians to share their expertise. Offer free screenings before or after the workshop and let your patients know you provide screenings in your pharmacy any time.
4. Anxiety and stress relief sessions
Don’t ignore mental health in your pharmacy. This is a huge area of opportunity for pharmacists. A 2012 survey administered by the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 43 percent of patients taking mental health medications don’t have a strong relationship with their pharmacist.
Show your patients you care about their mental health by hosting workshops on stress and anxiety management. Bring in a stress-relief expert to talk about different topics related to relieving and controlling anxiety.
5. Meditation classes
Meditation is increasing in popularity. Meditation can reduce stress, enhance sleep, and improve immune system and cardiovascular health. While experts agree that meditation can’t replace traditional treatment, it can be a great addition to your patients’ health regimens, or just a great way to relax.
Host a workshop about the different types of meditation, and offer a guided meditation session. You can invite a community partner to lead this, or you can do it yourself. There are several scripts to follow available online, such as these from McKinley Health Center. Hold the workshop at your local community center.
For more information on the health benefits of meditation, check out this fact sheet on meditation from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
A non-health-related event
Show off your pharmacy’s personality by hosting a workshop or event that has nothing to do with health or medication. Hosting alternative events such as an art workshop, game night or block party, can build your reputation in the community. These events give patients a welcome break from the stress of their daily lives or diseases, and may even bring new patients to your pharmacy.
Hosting workshops is a fun, unique way to market your pharmacy. Build your pharmacy’s brand—and your reputation as a health care expert—by planning something for your patients today.
