Evidence shows there are several benefits to dispensing medications to patients at the point of care. Physician-in-office dispensing of RX drugs is safe and offers a reliable barrier against medication errors, with improved patient outcomes.
Although more physicians have adapted to the growing trend of an in-office medication dispensing system, pharmacies still provide most of the medications they need.
Millions of individuals still leave the doctor’s office to find the nearest pharmacy and buy their medicine, but this doesn’t always bring the best experience or the most favorable clinical outcomes.
The National Center for Health Statistics learned in a survey that physicians write on average 1.4 prescriptions for the 25 patients they see every day.
Another study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine cited that some 28 to 31 percent of doctors’ prescriptions are never filled among patients who find the trip to the pharmacist as an inconvenience.
What are the Benefits of an in-office medication dispensing system to patients?
Having an in-office drug dispensing system could benefit your patients in a big way.
Most importantly, you see a higher standard of care and may see improved clinical outcomes due to the fact that you can confirm patients are receiving their prescribed medication, and can offer better instruction on how and why it is being prescribed. Patients can then begin their recovery sooner and get better faster. This means you are preferred over other providers. Because you provide a better service, your patients do better in the long term. In-office dispensing can play an important role in this.
How does it improve the Patient Relationship?
Patients trust their doctor’s advice and recommendations. They may be more comfortable bringing up issues and questions they might have about their medication to their physician.
However, they might hesitate to ask these questions from the pharmacist stationed at the drugstore because they are essentially strangers. The patients might also be shy to raise questions about the medication’s side effects in public, where other people are waiting in line to buy their prescriptions.
How Does Medication Dispensing Software Impact Wait time?
The waiting time for filling a prescription medication may also inconvenience the patient, thereby discouraging them from receiving their needed treatment. Whereas, if the medicine is already available at their physician’s office, the patient won’t have to drive to the drugstore, wait in line, or encounter other barriers that may make their receipt of meds a burdensome task.
How Does Physician In-Office Dispensing of Rx Drugs Improve Patient Adherence?
Patients who have to go to the pharmacist may not fully understand their medication regimen if they failed to ask the pharmacist questions. If they never filled their prescription and instead took an alternative over-the-counter remedy, but fail to mention this to their physician on their next visit, they could be inadvertently making their ailment worse or cause the physician to take a different course of treatment that should have been avoided if they had just been compliant.
An in-office drug dispensing system, on the other hand, will make the process easier for both patients and providers. When the patient can immediately get their prescription post-visit, they are more likely to continue getting their prescriptions filled and then comply with what the doctor ordered.
As per Clinico-Economics and Outcomes Research, medication adherence rose to 91 percent among patients following the installation of an in-office drug dispensary.
How Might In-Office Dispensing Improve Medical Conditions?
As a physician, you can also correctly monitor your patient’s treatments if you have an in-office dispensary. With proper monitoring, you can easily measure the probable outcome of the patient’s treatments. You can also make better adjustments to medications based on this knowledge.
An in-office dispensary essentially functions as a mini-pharmacy at the doctor’s office, and there are different models and designs for this set-up.
How Does Medication Dispensing Software Minimize Medication Errors?
There are several ways in which our in-office dispensing software can help to reduce medication errors. Measures to ensure patient safety include:
- Medication dose checking
- Screenings for look alike and sound alike medications
- Dispensing quantity checks
- Days supply accuracy checks
- Lot and Expiration Date Tracking
- Error messaging and safety messages
We also have customer support available to answer your questions if you have questions, concerns, or issues arise with software at any point once implemented in your office.
Where can you find the best in-office dispensing companies?
If you consider an in-office medication dispensing system for your practice, First Coast Health Solutions provides the right dispensing program for you.
It is the leading full-service Physician In-Office Dispensing Pharmacy committed to helping physicians achieve the best possible dispensing services for patients.
For more information, do not hesitate to Contact Us, including for assistance with finding information on legalities for in-office dispensing in your state.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
