With a clear vision to bring its community a pharmacy focused on quality care, Pharmacy on the Park opened its doors in 2022. By understanding the unique needs of each and every patient, Owner Ian Tasman has built a hometown staple, providing patients with specialty items, compounded medications, free deliveries, and topnotch care. As Ian sought out to build something unique, he knew that choosing the right vendor partners for his business would be essential. After extensive research, he chose Datascan as his pharmacy management software partner for Pharmacy on the Park, with a common goal of providing customers with an exceptional level of service– something that’s not always so easy to find.
- How did you decide to get started and open an independent pharmacy?
I had worked in retail pharmacy for many years. The issue with these big box retail pharmacies is that despite the resources available to them, they are overworked and their bandwidth is extremely limited. As a result, customer service suffers as the pharmacists aren't able to support their patients to their fullest abilities. This was the catalyst for opening Pharmacy on the Park. I wanted to be able to be a true resource to my community, taking the time necessary to review patrons' regimens, provide the counseling I am trained to provide, and truly make a difference in my community.
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What made you choose to partner with Datascan for your pharmacy software?
Datascan has a lot of key features we value as a small business. For example, the Winpharm pharmacy system’s intuitive, user-friendly interface helps my staff easily manage customer interactions that levels up our customer service. Most importantly, features like automated refill reminders help us stay in constant communication with our patrons and further improve our customer service. As an independently owned business we appreciate that Datascan is family owned as well. They understand our struggles and never treat us like another number. Chain pharmacies are so overwhelmed and unfortunately the patients are the ones who suffer, and we felt it was no different when looking into pharmacy software vendors. We wanted to work with a company who would be there to support us, listen to us, and treat us like family. When I compared pharmacy computer systems, I could see that Datascan’s pharmacy management software offered all of the same great features for a fraction of the cost. It was a no brainer choosing Datascan.
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What are some unique things you're doing to set your pharmacy apart from the competition?
We really lean into quality customer care, which is something big box pharmacies aren't able to do. However, we also stand apart from other independent pharmacies in how we care for our community. It's not uncommon for us to reopen the pharmacy outside of normal operating hours if someone calls with a sick kid or an urgent prescription need. We also go out of our way to fill prescriptions as soon as we get them, counsel those with questions, special order supplements, make deliveries after hours, set up vaccine clinics at local businesses, and more. Our independent pharmacy is also environmentally conscious, featuring biodegradable prescription bags and vials. Our gift shop is filled with items sourced from women owned businesses, minority owned businesses, and LQBTQ+ locally owned businesses as well. We love to support other family owned businesses in our area.
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How are you using the technology and features in Datascan's pharmacy software to help?
Aside from the customer communication features I already mentioned, the detailed, easy to read patient profiles within the pharmacy computer system help me and the other pharmacist stay up to date on the latest customer needs and provide personalized recommendations. We’re able to customize the information in the Winpharm profiles as well as the other queues which helps us stay organized and efficient. We offer our patients the free Datascan mobile app so they’re able to send in refill requests directly into the pharmacy system, and manage their prescriptions, which ultimately helps with adherence and medication compliance. Our pharmacy POS system seamlessly manages the over the counter inventory, and because we have a big gift section and front-end this makes the staff's jobs much easier.
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Looking forward– what are your thoughts?
The pharmacy industry is ripe for change. As soon as customers wake up to the fact that they not only deserve better but can get better with independent pharmacies like ours, big box retail pharmacies will be forced to change up their models to refocus on customer care. Smart independent pharmacy owners are finding niches in the industry and ways to build profits without focusing solely on PBM reimbursements. Knowing that we’re working with companies like Datascan pharmacy systems, who support our endeavors, provides a sense of confidence that Independent Pharmacy will not only survive, but thrive.