Pharmacy U news

Despite the learning curve that pharmacists have experienced since the implementation of minor ailments prescribing, the benefit of these services is clearly recognized by patients and healthcare providers alike across Canada.

Are you able to inspire and motivate others to do the things that need to be done to get where they want to go? I have had far too many conversations with far too many pharmacists which highlight this struggle. I can recall one pharmacist telling me, "I can't get anyone to do what I want them to do." In another conversation a pharmacist told me "I don't know what to say to my patients."

The best pharmacy leaders do not have all the answers, but they do know how to mobilize teams that find those answers. Before making big decisions, ask pharmacy staff what they think.

In the 30 years I’ve worked as a pharmacy owner and as a process analyst/ designer advising independent and corporate pharmacies around the world, the pharmacist-at-intake workflow is the most transformative single advancement I have witnessed.

As you look at your pharmacy team, you may see some cups which are half empty as well as some that are half full. You may even see a cup or two that need a good wash. No matter the individual or collective state of your cups, take a moment to "refill the cups" of your team.

Companies need to stop setting service goals and instead strive to solve their operator pain points. In fixing operator problems that unlock services, they will also unlock other aspects of what makes a pharmacy strong, like driving prescription and over-the-counter growth.

Pharmacy owners and aspiring pharmacy owners require a business plan to purchase or expand their businesses or simply to get started. There are a number of important elements pharmacists need to understand to successfully develop and maintain their business plan.

The best gift you can give someone is an idea. Ideas spark hope, motivation and a new beginning. The more ideas we can generate, the greater the opportunity for positive outcomes to occur. The more connections we make between different ideas, the better the potential for greatness.