(D) What are some of the ways you’re setting your pharmacy apart from other independents and also the chains? 

(ZH) We only focus on a few disease states and develop relationships with providers, patients, and drug manufacturers within those disease states. This allows us to be “the pharmacy” for many providers who have patients with specialized needs.  It has also helped us to be able to keep overhead costs down and operate with less inventory than a traditional retail pharmacy would. 

(D) What are some of the unique services you offer to your patients?

(ZH) We offer free next-day delivery to all of our patients.  They also have the ability to manage their prescriptions online, both via the web and mobile.  They can request refills, transfers, checkout, and track their prescriptions from their phone or computer.  Datascan’s apps have made it super easy and convenient for our patients to manage their medications, request refills, and schedule deliveries. It’s also helped us to free up time for our staff so they can focus on marketing to providers and working closely with our patients. 

(D) Aside from everyday functions, what features are you using to help better organize your workflow, build efficiency, and medication adherence with your patients? 

(ZH) We utilize the custom workflow statuses a good amount.  This enables us to know what’s going on with a prescription at any given time.  Because pharmacy is not “one size fits all” we really wanted to find a solution that allowed us to customize much of our workflow.  Datascan’s pharmacy software has the ability to create our own workflow and set up customized statuses that help us better manage prescriptions all day long. 

(D) What other revenue generating areas do you focus on in your business aside from filling prescriptions? 

(ZH) We recently opened a non-sterile compounding lab in our pharmacy and are in the process of adding a sterile clean room as well.  Because compounds are mostly cash, we’re able to fill these prescriptions without worrying about low PBM reimbursements or clawbacks.  Compounding is not something offered by the chains or mail order pharmacies and not something everyone offers.  This means local providers work directly with us to send patients when they have a compounded medication.  We’ve been able to use the compounding features and workflow in Datascan seamlessly.  It’s nice that we don’t need another product, but can incorporate what we’re already using into our compounding lab.    

(D) What advice would you give someone looking to open a community pharmacy? 

(ZH) Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.  It’s not easy but it’s definitely worth it if you’re passionate about it.  Finding the right partners that support your efforts is important.  As independent pharmacists we focus on quality patient care, something the chains are simply too big and too busy to do.  Working with vendors who treat us the way we treat our patients has allowed us to continue doing what we love. 

(D) You were using another software system before you moved over to Datascan.  What made you choose us? 

(ZH) First and foremost I immediately noticed that I would receive much more personal help than using some giant company.  The pricing and customization was a huge bonus for us too.  The team at Datascan truly cares about our business and it shows.

(D) How was your conversion from your previous vendor? 

(ZH) Conversions are never easy but the switch to Datascan was as good as I could have hoped for. The onsite techs made sure we were comfortable and put our minds at ease throughout the entire process.  They came as strangers and left as friends.

(D) Since you’ve been with Datascan, can you tell us what you like about working with us?  Is there anything you preferred from your old vendor? 

(ZH) The availability of the help desk is far superior than with our prior vendor.  When we call someone picks up the phone immediately and most of the time resolves any issue we have right then and there.  The techs are knowledgeable and able to answer any questions we have instead of transferring us all over the place.  

(D) What would you say to someone who’s not happy with their vendor but nervous to make a switch? 

(ZH) We were forced to make a change because our prior vendor was shutting down, but having known what I do now I would have made the change much sooner.  There was a lot of anxiety leading up to our switch, but the process was smooth and the training was simple.  We are so much happier now.  We’re using a system that costs less and gives us so much more.  People need to trust in the process and definitely make the move if they aren’t happy.  

(D) What made you decide to look at other pharmacy systems and switch to another vendor? 

(V) We were having a really difficult time managing our front-end inventory the old school way.  We were spending a lot of time walking the aisles, rotating stock, and constantly over ordering.  The amount of stale inventory we’d end up with was overwhelming and the costs were becoming astronomical.  We knew we needed to computerize the front-end and unfortunately at the time, we were not aware that Datascan offered a robust pharmacy point of sale product.  We saw McKesson had POS, and that combined with the savings we hoped to see on the wholesale side, we figured we’d give it a shot.  We did not want to have two different pharmacy management software vendors in the pharmacy, so we decided to switch the pharmacy system as well. 

(D) What was the conversion process like moving pharmacy systems to McKesson from Datascan? 

(V) It was hectic to say the least.  It felt like nothing was organized or structured and the training was a nightmare.  We had one person in the pharmacy training us on the pharmacy point of sale and pharmacy management system at the same time.  As a busy store that was instituting a brand new system we fully expected more preliminary training and additional onsite personnel to assist in the transition.  We were just happy to get through the initial conversion without aggravating too many patients. 

(D) What did you like better about working with McKesson vs Datascan pharmacy software?

(V) Not a single thing.  The only benefit for us at the time was the point of sale system, and of course that it was integrated with their Pharmacy Software.  Outside of that, the pharmacy system itself was cumbersome and quite difficult to navigate.  It was difficult to train our staff, especially our relief pharmacists.  Customer service and support was horrible.  You’d sit on hold so long that by the time a tech answered you usually figured out the answer yourself.  Requesting changes to the pharmacy software was non-existent, so you had to hope you didn’t need anything special.  

(D) What made you decide to move back to Datascan?

(V) After the few long and painful years we spent on Pharmaserv, we were thrilled to find out Datascan had an updated and robust pharmacy point of sale product.  We actually terminated our contract with McKesson early because we couldn’t take it anymore.  We were sick of overpaying and Mckesson underdelivering, so we jumped at the opportunity to move our store back over to Datascan.  This was back in 2014 and we’ve been with Datascan ever since.

 (D) What was your conversion back to Datascan’s pharmacy software systems like?

(V) We were understandably nervous since our move to McKesson was not a smooth transition.  We spent countless hours combing through data making sure that everything was correct.  We worked with Datascan staff to familiarize our pharmacists, technicians, and cashiers on the Datascan pharmacy system and POS, and it was just like riding a bike.  We remembered the ease of use and flow of the pharmacy software, and learning the POS was a breeze.  The onsite trainers were knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable throughout the entire process.  

(D) What would you say to a pharmacy considering converting away from their existing pharmacy software vendor?

(V) Do it, do it now.  Finding a software vendor that knows the ins and outs of independent pharmacy like Datascan does is nearly impossible.  You can tell that Datascan has input from pharmacists and the system works for you, regardless of your workflow or the type of pharmacy you run.  Aside from the pharmacy software itself, I feel like we get so much for our money.  We never pay extra for features like the patient mobile app and medsync.  Anytime we have a question we can reach someone in support in less than a minute and they actually know what they’re talking about.  We’ve tried another pharmacy system and can undoubtedly say that it’s a night and day difference working with Datascan.  Anyone who’s not happy with their vendor and on the fence about switching should absolutely make the move.