Medication Tracking Software

I wrote this post nearly two years ago:

We frequently receive calls from physicians considering pharmaceutical dispensing.  A common theme among these calls is frustration with what it is often described as "a lack of professionalism and responsiveness" from various companies offering physician dispensing options.  Quite often, websites for groups offering to help implement dispensing systems for physicians are merely fronts for individuals selling part-time with no organization behind them.  I often hear folks say that Northwind Pharmaceuticals was one of the only companies to respond in a timely fashion.  There are a number of things a clinic/physician can do to avoid upfront difficulties:

1. Recognize that many websites are posted by brokers who are actually selling products for other suppliers.  These "firms" are often ran part-time by one individual who simply makes commission by marketing others' products.  Look for additional substance on the site geared to helping customers with the dispensing process.

2. Ask the firm if they distribute products from their own facility or just sell for a repackager.  As in any business, if there is a middleman, you are paying more.

3. Verify that they are licensed to distribute in your state. Many state pharmacy boards allow you to verify wholesaler license numbers online.  The DEA also verifies licensure for wholesalers.

4. On their website, look for an indication of how long they've been in business. There are a few repackagers that have been around for 20+ years and are proud to say it.  Northwind Pharmaceuticals has been around since 1981.

5. When you talk to the supplier, ask them about their business. How do they go about helping their customers? Do they offer software?  How do their labels work?  Do they make recommendations for a start up formulary?  You want to find a supplier that can get you the products you need but will also be a good fit for you and your practice.  Talking to them is the only sure way to make sure there is a fit.

Medication dispensing offers wonderful possibilities to a clinic and does not have to be rocket science.  Focus on finding a good partner, asking basic questions and getting a "feel" for the company before you buy.  A little diligence goes a long way.  Good luck!

The information is still relevant today.  I wanted to update it with a few more suggestions:

6. Ask about tracking dispenses.  Reputable repackagers/distributors will offer manual and electronic options for tracking the medications you dispense.  Northwind offers a logbook and a system called RxTracker.  Some other organizations pay a third party to manage their software and require you to purchase it.  Make sure their model fits your needs.  Northwind does not charge for our software.

7. How easy is it to order?  Your supplier should offer email, phone, fax, online and smoke signal as options for you to submit your order.  The point is, they need to make it easy for you to order.

8. What else do they offer?  Some organization don't have the buying power to get all medications or get them at the best prices.  You should be able to get prepackaged medications but what about lotions, creams, ointments, liquids, injectables, supplies?  Your supplier should be able to offer one-stop shopping if that's what you want.

9. What are some of the flags?  Start with their website.  Do they clearly explain what they do, who they are and provide additional information if you need it?  Do they offer insurance or other financial products?  These companies are often brokers that are trying to leverage relationships; they may be a good partner but you will pay more - make sure they are worth it.  Working with a sales person?  Are they are a direct employee or a broker?  Once again, more cost in the system.  How long have they been in business?

10. Who owns the company?  I like to know who I'm doing business with.  Is it a big corporation or a family-owned business?  How important is my business to them?  Thought: the bigger the company, the less important you are.  These questions will lead to fulfilling your preferences and ultimately help meet your expectations.

No worries, nothing a little due diligence won't uncover.  Sometimes it just comes down to what type of company do you want to deal with.  Do you like corporate?  Do you prefer small business?  Do you want to work through the call center or do you want to talk to the owner?  These are cultural questions that can only be answered by you.  Regardless, give medication dispensing a try - it is still one of the easiest add-on services you can find and the returns can be very good.

Call it what you will: physician dispensing, clinic dispensing, point of care dispensing etc.  A clinic that inventories medications and provides them to patients as part of their care is engaging in dispensing.  This activity is legal in most states and has long been considered a part of the physicians tool bag in the quest to care for patients.  Now, you can find it in nurse practitioner and physician assistant tool kits as well.

Practices of all flavors dispense to their patients:

1. Urgent Care
2. General Practice
3. Weight Management
4. Occupational Health
5. Employer Clinics
6. Dermatology
7. Pediatrics
8. Dental
9. Student Health
10. Internal Medicine
11. Podiatry

Clinics often purchase prepackaged medications from companies like Northwind Pharmaceuticals.  Prepackaged medications are also known as repackaged medications because the repackager purchases them in bulk, counts out the pills into smaller groupings and then repackages them into unit-of-use sizes.  In other words, that bottle of amoxicillin with 1000 pills is broken down into a bottle with 30 pills so the clinic can put it on the shelf and provide it to their patient without breaking the seal or counting pills.  Repackagers are regulated by the FDA and are required to maintain the same quality procedures as original pharmaceutical manufacturers.  Packaging, labeling and quality are all critical to this process.

After prepackaged medications are put on the shelf, the clinic must have a tracking and labeling system.  Most suppliers offer their clinic customers a manual logbook or dispensing software.  A few, like Northwind, do not charge for these systems.  The logbook system is a handwritten system with peel-off labels to place on the bottles.  Dispensing software systems typically track inventory and dispenses plus add a label printing function.  RxTracker, the Northwind system, prints a label and drug information sheet that mirrors what a patient would receive from the pharmacy. 

The medication formulary will vary from clinic to clinic and really depends on your patient base.  More generalized practices will have a broader number of medications on the shelf while specialists typically narrow their formularies.  In addition to bottles of pills, clinics also offer lotions, creams, ointments, OTC products, liquids and medical supply items.  Your supplier will be happy to help you figure out the best mix for your practice.

Medication dispensing is not complete without the financial element.  Dispensing clinics typically focus on generic medications  and cash-paying customers.  A few offer branded medications and tread in the insurance reimbursement world but this is only a fit for certain, higher volume clinics.  A cash-focused clinic typically charges about $15 per dispense depending on the product, practice and location.  With the average of 40 scripts per day, this approach will typically yield 25-30 dispenses per practitioner.

Some things to consider when looking for a supplier:

1. Do they offer the medications you need in the size you require?
2. Are they licensed in your state?  Are they VAWD accredited?
3. Does their medication tracking system work for your practice?  Make sure it fits your process and doesn't limit your flexibility in your care flow.  Also make sure it doesn't require much duplication of effort - some labeling systems can be cumbersome.
4. How are their prices?  Some organizations maintain sizeable overhead.  Make sure you're not carrying too much of that in your prices.
5. Do they require a contract?  This may work in some instances but normally limits your flexibility.  For example, Northwind does not require a contract or minimum order.
6. What other terms or deals do they offer?  It never hurts to ask, they might say yes!
7. How is the cultural fit?  In other words, do you like the people you've met/spoken with?  Often, the soft-side becomes the most critical element.
8. Do they warehouse products or are they a marketing company?  There are numerous marketing companies now offering office medication dispensing solutions that are shipped from another company's warehouse.  Typically, layers of people add cost to the product.  Service may also come from different places.  This may work for your clinic but you should be aware of it upfront.

Ok, that is a good start.  Good luck!

Interest in clinic dispensing has never been greater. Practitioners of all varieties are looking for ways to enhance their practices and pharmaceutical dispensing is one of a number of simple-to-implement options.

How easy is it?  For Northwind Pharmaceuticals, the process looks like this:

1. Develop formulary (new clinics normally select 15-25 medications to begin with)
2. Complete new clinic startup forms
3. Submit forms and copies of licensure.
4. Place order for medications (call, email, fax or online)

Once you receive your order (usually in a few days), you can implement as quickly as you like.

1. Unpack and store medications.
2. If you are using our dispensing logbook, simply enter the patient name, instructions and sign.  The carbon label is peeled and place on the bottle; the record of the dispense is left on your logbook.
3. If you are using RxTracker (our web-based dispensing application), you will need to enter the patient name (once), scan the medication and print the label.  The software is accessed through a web-browser.

That's it!  No extra staff. No need for more space.  No need for counting pills; we provide prepackaged medications that are ready to be handed to the patient.  Any questions?

Happy dispensing!

 

 

When dispensing, clinics typically have two options for tracking medications and printing labels for dispensed medications: 1) a manual system that uses a handwritten label and a logbook or 2) software that tracks the medications and automates the printing of the label.  Northwind Pharmaceuticals has clinics using both methods.  This post will discuss the pros and cons of both approaches. Manual Labeling With the manual labeling approach, clinics are given a three ring binder with carbon label sheets.  These labels are pre-printed with the clinic or doctor's name and have blank spaces for the patient's name, instructions and the physician's signature.  When the medication is dispensed, the provider writes the patient's name and instructions on the label then signs it.  The label is peeled off of the sheet and placed on the bottle.  The carbon impression is left on the sheet in the logbook for tracking.  Most prepackaged medications also have peel-off labels on the bottle with the drug name, lot # and expiration date so the clinic can document the dispense on a patient chart or receipt.  This method of labeling is very quick, requiring the same amount of time it takes to write a script.  The logbook makes tracking dispenses slightly more difficult and also requires more space to store.  The DEA requires that dispensing records for controlled substances are kept for 2 years; state pharmacy board requirements may vary.  Computer Generated Labels If the clinic chooses to use software to manage the dispensing process, the provider will scan the bottle, select the patient, select instructions and print the label.  The software will track inventory and dispenses thereby allowing the clinic to easily pull information and determine when to reorder medications.  The biggest downfall to the software approach is that, by design, it cannot be as fast as completing a couple of lines on a pre-printed label.  For high-volume clinics, this is a huge challenge.  From a tracking and reporting perspective, software is the ideal choice.   Electronic Medical Records Adding to the challenge of selecting the best approach is the prevalence of electronic medical records (EMR).  As EMR systems become the norm, clinics become more hesitant to use additional software to manage dispensing.  Most EMR packages will track inventory and many also track dispenses.  Until the time when most EMR's also print labels for medication dispensing, the best solution will likely be the manual labeling approach.  If your EMR is tracking inventory and dispenses, then handwriting a few pieces of information on a patient label is a very easy, and very fast, approach. Keep It Simple We have been approached by a number of clinics debating direction with regard to labeling.  My recommendation has been to focus on priorities.  If you are implementing an EMR solution, get the best application for your practice.  We will work with you to make the dispensing side as easy as possible.  Over time, these solutions will evolve to accommodate pharmaceutical dispensing within the clinic.  The Northwind dispensing system, RxTracker, makes it easy to import or export data.  However, we've found we can be of much greater value by working with the clinic to fit in with their processes.  Less is more when it comes to systems and we recommend that you keep your processes as simple as possible.

 

Medications remain an important part of a clinical weight loss solution.  Northwind Pharmaceuticals works with many medically supervised weight loss clinics that offer medications as part of their solution.  Physician dispensing in a bariatric practice is a great fit for several reasons:

1. Many patients are not good candidates for gastric bypass surgery and must therefore look for other alternatives to help them manage the disease called obesity.
   
2. Physicians typically prescribe a narrow range of medications for weight-loss management.  A smaller, targeted formulary is easier to manage from a clinic perspective.
3. Because weight management is an ongoing battle, physician-directed weight management often requires that patients be on medications for extended periods.  This increases the practice's opportunity to dispense medications and provide convenient service to patients.
4. The nature of obesity is complex from a psychological as well as a physiological perspective.  Allowing the patient to receive treatment and products in the safe environment of the clinic avoids extra trips to the pharmacy and long waits for medications.

Depending on the number of patients, medication dispensing in a bariatric clinic can be overwhelming.  Clinics sometimes purchase bulk bottles and count out pills for patient prescriptions.  This is incredibly time consuming and completely unnecessary.  Northwind Pharmaceuticals offers prepackaged medications; this means that we package the bulk medications into smaller, unit-of-use bottles.  For example, some of our clinics will dispense Phentermine 37.5mg in 30 count, 45 count and 60 count bottles.  Prepackaged bottles are labeled according to FDA and state pharmacy board guidelines; the clinic will need to place a label with the patient's name, instructions and clinic name on the bottle to make it a legal prescription.

To help manage the dispensing process, Northwind offers dispensing systems that comprise a manual labeling approach as well as software (RxTracker) to print labels and track inventory.  Our goal is to make it quick and easy to provide the medications to your patients.

There are no easy solutions.  Clinics offering weight management services must utilize every available option to help fight obesity and improve the quality of life for patients.

Distributors that help clinics dispense pharmaceuticals normally offer a dispensing logbook and/or an electronic tracking and labeling system.  These systems enable the clinic to keep track of medications dispensed to their patients.  Medication tracking software can be simple or complex depending on your vendor.  We encourage our clinics to keep their dispensing system as simple as possible.

Practitioners that dispense to their patients typically offer a combination of pills, lotions, ointments and solutions.  Many of our customers focus on treating acute conditions so we see many orders for antibiotics, analgesics, cough & cold products as well as corticosteroids.  Vaccines are also offered as a complement to the dispensing process.  In the case of Northwind Pharmaceuticals, we will also provide medical supplies to our clinics. 

Point-of-care dispensing is not a path to riches.  There are companies that promote practitioner dispensing as a means to generate significant dollars but the simple truth is that it can provide a decent supplemental revenue stream to a healthy clinic.  If dispensing revenues are higher than those from medical treatments, something is very wrong!  A single physician/nurse practitioner can reasonably generate enough to cover one or two office staff members.

Northwind Pharmaceuticals provides prepackaged medications and manufacturer labeled pharmaceuticals for physician dispensing within the clinic. Northwind also provides medical supplies to clinics. We ship nationwide and specialize in working with student health centers, community health centers and independent medical clinics.

Northwind's dispensing system encompasses labeling and tracking tools to make the medication dispensing process as easy as possible for the clinic.  Pre-labeled bottles display all required pharmaceutical information and provide four peel-off labels for use on patient medical records, receipts or insurance documentation.  Our dispensing log enables the clinic to write the patient's name and medication instructions on a label that is placed on the bottle.  The labels are on a carbon sheet that retains an image of the label so the clinic has a record of all dispenses.

Northwind also offers software (RxTracker) that automates the pharmaceutical dispensing process.  RxTracker allows clinics to capture dispensing information electronically and print the prescription label from any office printer.  RxTracker will also track drug inventory and automate reordering.  Northwind offers both of these dispensing solutions at no additional charge.

Clinics seeking to learn more about in-office pharmaceutical dispensing are encouraged to visit the Northwind Pharmaceuticals website or call us at 800.722.0772.

Reimbursements continue to shrink.  Pressure is on to see more patients. Pharmacies begin to offer "quick clinic" services.  The government passes far-reaching health care legislation creating a  host of new certainties and uncertainties.  As an independent practitioner, how do you survive in this crazy environment?

Keep the faith!  Demand for the services of good physicians continue to grow.  The growing aging population is creating the need for more and more care.  New technologies and techniques continue to evolve and present new opportunities for services to patients.  A health system in flux also means new opportunities as niches are created and patients find it more difficult to navigate the landscape.

As financial pressures continue to mount, we see more and more physicians turning to clinic dispensing as a means to supplement practice revenue.  Dispensing pharmaceuticals from your office provides convenience for your patients, revenue for your clinic and another point of differentiation for your practice.  Competitive pricing is possible with access to wholesale medications and using prepackaged medications streamlines the dispensing process.  Simple-to-use dispensing software is readily available as are the tried and true dispensing logbooks.  It is easy to implement, easy to administer and easy to maintain.  A single doctor can easily generate $20-$30k of additional profit; focused efforts can reap much more.

As frustrating as many things are for physicians these days, there are still many opportunities.  A little creativity and a willingness to focus on the business elements of your practice can reap unexpected benefits.  Blending medication dispensing, quality care and new services will continue to set your practice apart and keep your patients, and you, healthy.

We frequently receive calls from physicians considering pharmaceutical dispensing.  A common theme among these calls is frustration with what it is often described as "a lack of professionalism and responsiveness" from various companies offering physician dispensing options.  Quite often, websites for groups offering to help implement dispensing systems for physicians are merely fronts for individuals selling part-time with no organization behind them.  I often hear folks say that Northwind Pharmaceuticals was one of the only companies to respond in a timely fashion.  There are a number of things a clinic/physician can do to avoid upfront difficulties:


1. Recognize that many websites are posted by brokers who are actually selling products for other suppliers.  These "firms" are often ran part-time by one individual who simply makes commission by marketing others' products.  Look for additional substance on the site geared to helping customers with the dispensing process.

2. Ask the firm if they distribute products form their own facility or just sell for a repackager.  As in any business, if there is a middleman, you are paying more.

3. Verify that they are licensed to distribute in your state. Many state pharmacy boards allow you to verify wholesaler license numbers online.  The DEA also verifies licensure for wholesalers.

4. On their website, look for an indication of how long they've been in business. There are a few repackagers that have been around for 20+ years and are proud to say it.  Northwind Pharmaceuticals has been around since 1981.

5. When you talk to the supplier, ask them about their business. How do they go about helping their customers? Do they offer software?  How do their labels work?  Do they make recommendations for a start up formulary?  You want to find a supplier that can get you the products you need but will also be a good fit for you and your practice.  Talking to them is the only sure way to make sure there is a fit.

Medication dispensing offers wonderful possibilities to a clinic and does not have to be rocket science.  Focus on finding a good partner, asking basic questions and getting a "feel" for the company before you buy.  A little diligence goes a long way.  Good luck!

As one of the only pharmaceutical wholesalers specializing in clinic dispensing, PCA offers a collection of products and services to help you serve your patients. Our bariatric clinic customers offer a suite of services including medication options for patients looking to lose weight.  PCA offers prepackaged products like phentermine, phendimetrazine, metformin and tretinoin cream to provide to your patients.

Tracking dispensed medications can sometimes be a challenge.  PCA offers medication tracking software and a dispensing logbook solution to make it easier to keep track of inventory and dispensing activities.  Easy-to-use reporting features make it simple to create reports for regulatory submission or clinic management purposes.  Cost for the software?  None.  We provide the software to our clinic customers as part of our solution.

Part of the PCA service difference is maintaining inventory of the medications you use so we can ship them the day you order.  Our centralized location allows us to get shipments to any corner of the United States in a few days and next day delivery to many locations.  Give us a call and let's talk about how we can help you make dispensing work in your clinic.

All things considered, 2009 was a very good year for PCA.  I would like to thank all of our partners and clinic customers for their continued trust.  We deeply value the relationship we have with each of you.

Since 1981, PCA has served clinics around the country.  We offer prepackaged pharmaceuticals for clinic dispensing, injectable drugs, health clinic supplies and dispensing software.  PCA ships across the United States, typically having your order en route within 24 hours.  We offer an extensive array of medical clinic supplies and wholesale pharmaceuticals.  We work closely with all of our clinic customers to make sure they are getting the products they need as well as any additional services that will help them better serve their patients.    Though we offer a large number of medications prepackaged in standard sizes, we will also provide custom repackaging services to meet individual clinic needs. 

Having difficulty finding a particular product?  PCA's large network of suppliers enables us to find hard-to-get items in a timely fashion.  We provide value by meeting your unique requirements.  Not sure how to get started with clinic dispensing?  Give me a call.  I will work with you to identify legal considerations, develop your formulary, brainstorm ways to promote your services to your patients and successfully implement dispensing in your clinic.  I'll also help you get set up with PCA's services: online ordering, medication tracking software, worker's comp claims adjudication etc.  We are most successful when you succeed.

The bottom line? PCA will help you with yours.  Best wishes for an awesome 2010!

It is a great time to take a breath and count blessings.  We feel very fortunate for our customers and partners across the country who give us the opportunity to work with them.  We have also been blessed with the opportunity to provide support to many community health centers that serve those less fortunate than us.  In serving those around us we find our true purpose and discover the best within ourselves.

All of us at PCA Pharmaceuticals wish you a very Merry Christmas!

PCA, offering prepackaged pharmaceuticals, dispensing software, health clinic supplies, work comp claim filing, warehousing and fulfillment services.

We are often asked about work comp dispensing.  Serving patients that fall under the workers compensation umbrella can be a great opportunity for medical clinics.  Reimbursement is dictated by state regulation but is generally very fair for the practice.  The only trick is to make sure that you file accurate HCFA claim forms in a timely fashion to speed the reimbursement process.

A key element to successfully managing workers compensation dispensing is having a good medication tracking system.  Though clinics can certainly track dispenses and file claims without medication tracking software, having an electronic system streamlines the process and reduces errors.  PCA offers dispensing software to manage this process.  PCA will also manage the entire workers comp reimbursement process for clinics that want additional support.

The good news is that clinics can integrate workers compensation dispensing with traditional cash and carry dispensing to serve a broader population.  Give us a call and we'll be glad to discuss the possibilities with you.

It seems that much of our identity is wrapped up in the notion of what we do for a living.  When making casual conversation with people we've just met, the question of occupation often arises.  More often than not, the real answer to that question is far too complex for these conversations so we try to capture the essence of our livelihood in a one line bullet point: I'm a physician; I'm a banker; I'm a drug rep etc.  In sales, they call it the "elevator pitch" - the succinct answer you would give someone on a 20 second ride in an elevator.

The need to be succinct doesn't change even when talking to those in our line of business.  Though PCA provides many products, our vocation is providing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to clinics.  The answer often changes based on your audience: PCA provides pharmaceutical dispensing services or PCA offers dispensing software or PCA distributes medical injectables. The problem with the one-liner is that it doesn't make any value judgments - it doesn't really say whether or not you do these things well.

When thinking of your clinic, the same rules apply.  Every conversation brands your operation.   Sure, you might be a pulmonary specialist but what is it you are offering your patients?  You might be able to explain your specialty in 50 words or less but what does your receptionist say when asked?  At the highest level, you could say that "we make people well" but that doesn't quite capture it, does it?  Does all of your staff really understand all that you do for patients?  These questions require no answers.  It is simply a way to look at the value you provide a little differently.  The "elevator pitch" should answer what you do but it should also give a hint as to how you do it better.  If you're curious about how your staff describes your practice in the outside world, try asking them "what do we do?" and see how they answer.  You might be surprised.

Clinics need to keep track of what products are dispensed to patients.  For legend products, there are normally no reporting requirements.  Some states require physicians to submit reports for any controlled substances they dispense.  The products we ship come with 4-part peel-off labels.  These peel-offs contain all of the pertinent information for that particular drug.  Clinics can put the peel-offs on patient charts, receipts or any other form for tracking purposes.  The logbook we supply contains carbon labels that are placed on the bottle itself.  Once the bottle is labeled with the patient's name, dispenser's name and date, it is a legal prescription.  The label information is carbon-copied onto the label sheet which is left in the logbook.  This becomes your record of dispenses.

I had the opportunity to participate in the American Society of Bariatric Physicians annual conference this past week.  My company, PCA Pharmaceuticals, had a booth at the conference and it offered a great chance to talk to a number of physicians about pharmaceutical dispensing and dispensing software, practice economics, patient strategies and the interesting dynamics involved in the physician-directed weight loss marketplace.  We participated in the show on the recommendation of one of our customers.

I had many interesting conversations throughout my two days at the conference, but I want to mention a specific series of interactions that is very relevant to my posts on differentiation.  One physician stopped by numerous times with questions about medication dispensing, PCA, RxTracker dispensing software and the ultimate question: why should I buy from you?  We had a great dialog.  Each time he came by, he had a new set of questions and I could tell he was getting good information from other vendors.  My last interaction with him was on the elevator and down a hall as he expressed frustration at not being able to see a clear difference between the vendors offering to help him dispense in his clinic.  I realized that he had been gathering the facts and he discovered that the general offering from the competing vendors was pretty much the same: similar products, similar software, similar policies and possibly similar prices (although we didn't really dive into pricing).  I told him he had done some great diligence on us and suggested there comes a point when he will have to follow his gut and go with "chemistry".  That is, where he felt the most comfortable.  The relationship will only be forged through the opportunities and challenges that come when working together.  No one can tell him how that will be or quantify it; he will just have to walk the path.  I very much appreciated his feedback and see some things I can improve on my end; however, the "proof is still in the pudding".  Here are some other thoughts for my diligent physician on things for him to evaluate:

1. Recognize that many websites are posted by brokers who are actually selling products for other suppliers.  These "firms" are often ran part-time by one individual who simply makes commission by marketing others' products.

2. Ask the firm if they repackage under their own label.  Have them fax you a copy of their label or ask for their FDA manufacturer's number - it will be the first set of digits on the NDC for their prepackaged pharmaceuticals.

3. Verify that they are licensed to distribute in your state. Many state pharmacy boards allow you to verify wholesaler & manufacturer license numbers online.

4. On their website, look for an indication of how long they've been in business. There are a few repackagers that have been around for 20+ years and are proud to say it.  PCA Pharmaceuticals has been around since 1981.

5. When you talk to the supplier, ask them about their business. How do they go about helping their customers? Do they offer software?  How do their labels work?  Do they make recommendations for a start up formulary?  You want to find a supplier that can get you the products you need but will also be a good fit for you and your practice.  Talking to them is the only sure way to make sure there is a fit.

6. Are they VAWD accredited?  VAWD is an expensive and cumbersome process that discourages many would-be distributors.  It is a way to verify that they have the processes and sophistication to meet the requirements of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

7. What else do they do?  For example: PCA offers a variety of services: warehousing, fulfillment, dispensing software, custom labeling, kitting, medical supplies, injectables etc.  Find out the depth of your prospective supplier to see if there might be additional services that add value to your clinic.

8. Ask them about physician dispensing. How does it normally work? How many clinics do they currently serve? What are their dispensing systems? How many different prepackaged medications do they offer? Do they offer controlled substances?  What makes them different?  Firms like PCA that serve hundreds of pharmaceutical dispensing clinics will have many stories and reference points.

Good luck!  I hope we hear from you :)

We work with a number of physician-directed weight loss clinics that offer medications as part of their solution.  Physician dispensing in a bariatric practice is a great fit for several reasons:

1. Many patients are not good candidates for gastric bypass surgery and must therefore look for other alternatives to help them manage the disease called obesity.
2. Physicians typically prescribe a narrow range of medications for weight-loss management.  A smaller, targeted formulary is easier to manage from a clinic perspective.
3. Because weight management is an ongoing battle, physician-directed weight management often requires that patients be on medications for extended periods.  This increases the practice's opportunity to dispense medications and provide convenient service to patients.
4. The nature of obesity is complex from a psychological as well as a physiological perspective.  Allowing the patient to receive treatment and products in the safe environment of the clinic avoids extra trips to the pharmacy and long waits for medications.

Depending on the number of patients, medication dispensing in a bariatric clinic can be overwhelming.  Clinics sometimes purchase bulk bottles and count out pills for patient prescriptions.  This is incredibly time consuming and completely unnecessary.  PCA Pharmaceuticals offers prepackaged medications; this means that we break the bulk bottles into smaller, unit-of-use bottles.  For example, some of our clinics will dispense Phentermine 37.5mg in 30 count, 45 count and 60 count bottles.  Our bottles are labeled according to FDA and state pharmacy board guidelines; the clinic will need to place a label with the patient's name, instructions and clinic name on the bottle to make it a legal prescription.

PCA's dispensing systems include a manual labeling approach as well as software (RxTracker) to print labels and track inventory.  Our goal is to make it quick and easy to provide the medications to your patients.

As a service to our student health center clients, I want to share a few websites that provide good information on the H1N1 influenza virus relative to campus health.

The American College Health Association has a good link to the latest CDC information on H1N1: www.acha.org/info_resources/flu_H1N1_2009.cfm.

The following link takes you to a Google map that shows where cases of H1N1 have been identified: maps.google.com/maps/ms

The CDC maintains the latest information on H1N1.  Learn more at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

If you want to extend your research further, please take a look at the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration.

PCA Pharmaceuticals enables medication dispensing in health clinics by providing prepackaged pharmaceuticals and a medication tracking system. 

A few days ago, I began writing about things to consider if you are interested in medication dispensing in your clinic.  Picking the right prepackaged pharmaceuticals is just part of the process.

Operational Considerations

• Picking the right labeling or dispensing system will impact the time it takes to dispense medications in your office.  Many companies offer manual labeling as well as electronic labeling systems.  Though dispensing software is better at information retrieval, programs tend to be a bit slower than a simple manual system.  If you opt for a manual system, make sure you don't have to duplicate entries on bottles and logbooks; you should be able to write the information once and keep a copy through the miracle of carbon imprints.  PCA offers both systems and we will help you implement whichever makes sense for your clinic.
• Tracking inventory and managing the reorder process can be a challenge.  In this case, electronic systems make it easier.  However, adding another system for a clinic using an EMR doesn't make sense.  The best answer is to keep fewer quantities on hand and let your distributor carry the burden of inventory.  If your pharma distributor is frequently out of products or makes you wait weeks for products then they may not be big enough to meet your ordering requirements.  Once we understand a clinic's ordering pattern, we will adjust our inventory to make sure we have the right products when they are needed.

My next blog will continue this discuss with a focus on staffing and process considerations.

A few months ago, I share some tips on choosing a partner to help with clinic dispensing.  I have included those points here as well as a few new ones.

1. Recognize that many websites are posted by brokers who are actually selling products for other suppliers.  These "firms" are often ran part-time by one individual who simply makes commission by marketing others' products.

2. Ask the firm if they repackage under their own label.  Have them fax you a copy of their label or ask for their FDA manufacturer's number - it will be the first set of digits on the NDC for their prepackaged pharmaceuticals.

3. Verify that they are licensed to distribute in your state. Many state pharmacy boards allow you to verify wholesaler & manufacturer license numbers online.

4. On their website, look for an indication of how long they've been in business. There are a few repackagers that have been around for 20+ years and are proud to say it.  PCA Pharmaceuticals has been around since 1981.

5. When you talk to the supplier, ask them about their business. How do they go about helping their customers? Do they offer software?  How do their labels work?  Do they make recommendations for a start up formulary?  You want to find a supplier that can get you the products you need but will also be a good fit for you and your practice.  Talking to them is the only sure way to make sure there is a fit.

6. Are they VAWD accredited?  VAWD is an expensive and cumbersome process that discourages many would-be distributors.  It is a way to verify that they have the processes and sophistication to meet the requirements of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

7. What else do they do?  For example: PCA offers a variety of services: warehousing, fulfillment, dispensing software, custom labeling, kitting etc.  Find out the depth of your prospective supplier to see if there might be additional services that add value to your clinic.

8. Ask them about physician dispensing. How does it normally work? How many clinics do they currently serve? What are their dispensing systems? How many different prepackaged medications do they offer? Do they offer controlled substances?  What makes them different?  Firms like PCA that serve hundreds of pharmaceutical dispensing clinics will have many stories and reference points.

Now is a great time to explore the possibilities of dispensing in your clinic.  Patients love the extra service and your bottom line will love the extra income.    We'd love to hear from you!  Learn more about it at www.pcameds.net or email me at phil.berry@pcameds.net.