Pharmacies can streamline their operation, and improve customer service through the use of SMS in their operation. Benefits will typically be maximized when SMS is integrated with in-house pharmacy systems, removing the need to work with dual systems, and synchronizing the process flow.

 

YOUR PRESCRIPTION IS READY

 

The most obvious implementation of SMS for pharmacies is to send automated messages to patients when their prescription or refill is ready. No more time being spent on the phone, leaving voice mails, and having the prescription sit on your rack for days, possibly to be removed from the "will call" racks when the drug becomes aged or abandoned.

 

Patient phone numbers are normally home numbers. With the two-worker family, that means a voice mail will almost always have to be left. Not everyone checks their voice mail daily, further delaying the pickup AND the revenue from that sale.

 

Almost everyone has a cell phone, and the pharmacy message will be almost immediately read. Which method, phone versus text message, will produce the fastest response? Pretty easy to figure that one out!

 

MEDICATION COMPLIANCE REMINDERS

 

Another application of SMS in a pharmacy environment is the sending of reminders for medication compliance. Elderly (and others) may forget to take their medicine when they should, or as often as they should.  Integrating the compliance information of a specific drug with SMS to automatically send messages to patients, and possibly a compliance response (e.g., requiring the prescription number on the response) will improve compliance, and alert care givers to non-compliance.

 

OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES

 

For over-the-counter pharmacy items, the pharmacy will advertise discounts, and other promotions to move products like aspirin, cold remedies, and the like. Like any other retail operation, a pharmacy can build a database of SMS opt ins, to which they can regularly promote their products and any other health-related items, such as free blood-pressure screenings.