Opening a pharmacy means a long list of decisions that need to be made—licensing, staffing, inventory, vendors, technology, and the day-to-day operations that tie it all together. Of these decisions, there’s one that will affect your daily work almost above all else, and that’s choosing your pharmacy management system (PMS).
Your PMS determines how your pharmacy operates. Comparing systems early in your process gives you plenty of time to think about how your technology will support your workflow, services, and business model before you even fill your first prescription. Any PMS can fill a prescription, but the extra features in each system matter for your daily operations and your unique needs. This is your guide to pick the best PMS for you.
Your PMS touches nearly every part of your pharmacy: prescription workflow, inventory, patient communication, reporting, and integrations. The system you pick can steer you on how you plan staffing, structure workflows, and decide which services to offer.
Choosing your system early gives you plenty of time for implementation, configuration, and training so your team is ready before the doors even open as opposed to learning while you’re taking new patients for the first time.
It all starts with the prescription. Think about intake all the way through fulfillment and pickup. The right PMS should make every step feel easy and natural for the staff and cut out unnecessary work. When you’re system shopping think of:
Make sure to request live demos of the systems you’re interested in and walk through a prescription workflow from start to finish. Even small friction points add up when there’s a line out the door and the phone won’t stop ringing.
A PMS rarely works independently. The connected systems can determine how smoothly everything runs.
It’s important to think about:
It’s easy to be motivated by the lowest price of a system, but sometimes you end up paying more later because of unexpected costs.
Don't forget to assess:
A PMS should do more than just keep costs down upfront. You want a system that saves you money in the long run with features and tools that support revenue-generating services. That means features that trigger profitable patient interactions and help mitigate DIR fees. The right system helps your pharmacy earn while it operates day-to-day.
Meeting federal and state regulatory requirements and protecting sensitive patient data is crucial with your PMS.
You need to evaluate:
Good reporting gives you important insights you can implement. That ability to pivot is crucial when it comes to starting a successful pharmacy.
PMS platforms either run on-premise on desktop or in the Cloud. You have to decide which is best for your pharmacy.
Here’s what to consider between the two:
A great system should come with simple implementation.
Your vendor should share:
RedSail Technologies is a proud technology partner for independent pharmacies. Rather than offer one system for every pharmacy, RedSail provides multiple intentionally built pharmacy management solutions so you can fit the best one for you.
RedSail offers three options for retail pharmacies: BestRx, PrimeRx, and PioneerRx. Each is designed to serve independent pharmacies depending on the workflows, deployment, and needed features:
Opening a long-term care pharmacy? Axys LTC is built for the specifics needs of LTC operations.
Want to see which RedSail PMS is right for you? Find Your Fit here.
The PMS you chose will affect your pharmacy’s workflow, finances, and patient experience for years. Take the time to evaluate your anticipated workflow, integrations, cost, compliance, deployment, and support. Then start your implementation and training long before opening day. Because with the right system and the right partner, your pharmacy is ready to grow and thrive.
