Technology is causing swift transformations in the methods that pharmacies now use to manage and dispense drugs and medications. Advances in diagnostics, automation, and analytics help pharmacists provide better customer service, while also improving patient outcomes and logistical efficiency. The good news is that many of these new technologies are scalable and flexible, which means that pharmacies can gradually integrate new functions into the systems they already use. We put together SmartSense’s top 11 technologies that pharmacies should consider implementing in 2018—if you haven’t already. Pharmacy Management Systems What is it? Pharmacy management systems include software applications that track adherence and flag non-adherent patients who may require interventions. Software can …
Posts about Pharmacy (6)
The Viability of Pharmaceuticals in the Supply Chain There’s a chain of responsibility that comes into play when proper storage of pharmaceutical products is on the line. Product viability ensures the intended effectiveness of the product, which then maximizes the health and well-being of the recipient or the consumer. The integrity of many products can be affected if left outside room temperature, while others can risk consumer safety if not properly—and consistently—refrigerated. The product viability of pharmaceuticals starts at the source. All suppliers have an obligation to ensure proper storage conditions at their sites and to ensure that shipping processes maintain product integrity throughout product receipt by healthcare professionals. Those healthcare professionals monitor …
This is a 2017 news post. For current vaccine and medication cold-storage practice, start with Shipping Vaccines without a Cold Chain?. In 2017, we took a look at our top pharmacy blog articles of the year. That year, we saw a rise in stricter regulations for storage and handling, stricter regulations for the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program, and a larger shift to continuous monitoring. Check out our top posts from 2017 as we review how pharmacy asset temperature monitoring has evolved over the years. Which pharmacy safety articles mattered most in 2017? Vaccine Storage: The Importance of Maintaining the Cold Chain - Learn about the importance of maintaining the optimal freezer temperature of vaccines during the manufacture, storage, and delivery steps along the cold chain. Are You …
This is a 2017 news post. For current vaccine and medication cold-storage practice, start with Shipping Vaccines without a Cold Chain?. Beginning January 1, 2018, all Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers will be mandated to meet new storage and handling requirements. Are you prepared? Background: VFC and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) The VFC program was implemented to address a specific measles epidemic that occurred during 1989–1991. Over this three-year period, tens of thousands of cases of measles were reported, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Upon investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that more than 50 percent of children affected had not been immunized, despite having seen a health care provider. Responding to this critical …
In an article in the New York Times, journalist Walecia Konrad reported a personal story concerning her 10-year-old son’s medication. While vacationing in New Hampshire during a heat wave, the boy’s allergies kicked up. As usual, she gave him a dose of an over-the-counter remedy that usually brings him quick relief. However, this time the drug had no effect—day after day. When she returned home, she asked a pharmacist about it. Was her son becoming immune to this particular medicine? Were his allergies getting worse? The Culprit? Extreme Heat At the time, it never dawned on Konrad that there might be something wrong with the medication rather than with her son. The heat wave degraded the allergy medication to the point that it lost its potency. According to Skye McKennon, clinical …
Disasters like the recent hurricanes can be costly for companies that rely on power to keep their products protected. Using both temperature and power outage data, our pharmacy clients were able to assess both product and revenue loss in ways that allowed them to continue to assist patients to the best of their best ability. We evaluated power outages across 1,200 locations we monitor in Florida to generate a time-lapse map that shows the power loss impact of Hurricane Irma. To generate the map, we looked at over 1,200 pharmacies with gateways installed. Each gateway reports over the cellular network every 15 minutes, letting us know if it is on AC (wall) power or its backup DC (battery) power. The map was colored by dividing the state into "regions of influence" for each pharmacy. Each …