5 Steps to Transform Your Pharmacy into a Whole-Health Hub
Posted on Jun 27, 2024
Expanding your pharmacy beyond dispensing prescriptions ensures you’re able to best serve the needs of your community. Today, patients are increasingly looking to pharmacies for things like vaccines, point-of-care testing, in-depth medication counseling, and ongoing condition and treatment support. As your pharmacy grows, it’s also important that patients are aware of everything you offer. That way, both your store and its patients can thrive. Here are five steps you can take to transform your pharmacy into a whole-health hub.
1. Identify Care Gaps in Your Community.
Your pharmacy is as unique as the community it serves. What may be needed in an urban setting may not work in a rural community. So, trying to mirror another store’s “recipe for success” may not be effective. Instead, spend some time assessing your direct competitors and the other health care providers in your area. This will help you determine what services are currently available, how accessible they are, and any gaps in care that may exist.
2. Expand Your Offerings to Address Those Gaps.
Next, turn your focus inward. Is your pharmacy up to par with others in the area? What services can you add to differentiate your pharmacy and address areas that are lacking? By answering these questions, you’ll be able to design a strategic business plan that’s tailored to your store and the needs of your customers.
3. Market Your Pharmacy and its Capabilities.
Once you’ve added new services, it’s important that both your current patients and the broader community are aware of them. Start by notifying your existing customers. This can be done by sending quick email and text alerts or posting marketing collateral, like posters, around your store. Then, think about ways you can build awareness within the community as well. Some options include posting announcements on your website and social channels, local advertising, or reaching out to other health care providers in the area to generate new referrals.
4. Seek Ongoing Feedback from Your Patients.
Once you’ve implemented a new service, be sure to check in with your patients to gauge how things are going. This way, you can ensure that the care you’re providing is meeting their needs and expectations. It also can help uncover areas that may still be lacking, so that you can continue to enhance existing services and add others moving forward as well.
5. Stay Nimble and Responsive as Needs Evolve.
It’s also important to keep an eye on industry trends as well. Staying informed about the latest OTC products, vaccines and point of care testing, legislative requirements, and other care services that emerge will enable you to quickly adapt when needed. Not only will this help you continue to grow your business, but it strengthens patient trust, positioning your pharmacy as their go-to destination for all their health and wellness needs. Afterall, the healthcare industry is always evolving, which means your pharmacy should as well.
As you expand your store’s capabilities, it’s important to have software that has the latest integrations and tools to grow with you. That’s why BestRx has remained committed to continuous improvement, ensuring our award-winning software not only supports your pharmacy’s needs today, but as things evolve in the future too. Request a free demo to learn how BestRx makes it easy to adapt to meet your patient’s changing needs.