Moving beyond dispensing: Exploring various pharmacy services to diversify revenue

One of the most rewarding chapters in a client’s automation journey comes from those in-depth conversations and brainstorming on how pharmacists and pharmacy techs can use the freed-up and returned time that leveraging the power of automation and centralized fulfillment can provide. By implementing fulfillment solutions, the regular, daily routine for staff can be reimagined. This may be unfamiliar territory for some leadership teams. In many cases, clients might already have a vision for programs and clinics that provide helpful services to customers across their local, regional or national footprint; however, a driving force in these decisions should always be revenue diversification.

 Retail pharmacies are implementing various patient care offerings that, in turn, increase or add a new stream of income directed back to the company. Revenue diversification can help to ensure greater viability of pharmacy locations and the future ability to properly meet the needs of the communities that these locations serve. With pharmacists being the most accessible healthcare professionals for much of the general public, and with a large portion of dispensing and administrative work potentially offloaded once centralized fulfillment is in place, the opportunities are endless.

 Some ideas include:

 ● Quick + Convenient Care: Often offering treatment and care for lower scale injuries, sickness or ailments, these clinics operate more rapidly than typical urgent care locations providing remedies and treatment (liquid stitches for minor cuts, tests for common ear, nose and throat conditions and treatments for topical or localized rashes and infections).

● Health Management: Connecting with customers to review their condition, family history, diet and exercise regimen, and lifestyle choices. Pharmacists can advise on concerns and goals surrounding weight management, alcohol and tobacco cessation, blood pressure monitoring, diabetes care, and reducing stress and anxiety, just to name a few. Some pharmacists even have specializations in certain conditions such as diabetes or geriatrics. Providing care in this setting can create stronger one-on-one relationships and trust between the patient and healthcare provider.

● Medication Therapy Management: Pharmacists provide medication therapy management (MTM) by reviewing a patient’s entire medication regimen to identify and resolve medication-related problems, ensuring safe and effective use of medicines. Through MTM, pharmacists educate patients about their medications, empower them to actively participate in their care and collaborate with other healthcare providers to optimize outcomes. These appointments help to prevent adverse events, improve medication adherence and can reduce hospitalizations and healthcare costs.

● Immunizations: One of the most popular selections for revenue diversification as the pharmacy setting offers a quick and easy way for adults and children to receive vaccinations to reduce or prevent the most common diseases (tetanus, annual flu, MMR, meningococcal and Covid-19). Appointment scheduling can be much more convenient than finding time and commuting to a typical primary care provider.

 Two other potential offerings that have caught my attention include further support for substance abuse and reproductive health/wellness. Drug Topics shared a Q&A perspective pointing to how pharmacists can support understanding of reproductive health and proper use of over-the-counter birth control, both contraceptive/emergency contraceptive options. Substance use is another avenue that pharmacists can weigh in on, with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation releasing a study in March pointing to pharmacists' potential to play a worthwhile role in supporting individuals battling addiction.

 In what ways do you hope to see retail pharmacy further evolve to meet the needs of patients? I’d love to hear your thoughts on program expansions and how you're seeing retailers create opportunity and diversify their revenue streams.