What is RX Medication Synchronization?

At RxMile, we fully understand the difficulties faced by pharmacies daily. Medications not being picked up, a common gripe among many pharmacy owners, is one of the most significant expenses to the pharmaceutical industry. How can we help tackle this and make life easier for the patient?

Perhaps patients aren’t collecting their medications due to the medical condition being too debilitating; maybe it is just the inconvenience of having to drive to the pharmacy and wait for the prescription. Neither of these scenarios is ideal, especially when these medications could be the difference between recovery or worsening symptoms.

Therefore, many pharmacies are turning to what is known as medication synchronization. When this is fused with a prescription delivery service, you have a seamless process that means a patient always receives the proper medications at the correct times.

But what is medication synchronization, and why should you use this to benefit your pharmacy and patients?

What is medication synchronization?

Simply put, medication synchronization is where a pharmacist provides their patient with all their medications for a set period, commonly a month, in one go.

It works by the pharmacy contacting the patient before completing the prescription. Working alongside the patient and the doctor, the pharmacy can review and fulfil the medication requirements and ensure that the medicine is sufficient for a month or another time scale.

A collection or delivery date is then organized between the patient and the pharmacy, meaning that the patient is fully stocked with the correct medication to last them a set period.

This same process is then repeated until the medication regimen is completed. This enables fewer visits to the pharmacy, less wasted medication, less expense, and overall, a simple process that benefits the medicine supplier and the person receiving it.

Why does medication synchronization benefit patients?

The benefits can be multiple, and we can break it down a little to indicate just how beneficial med sync can be. In many instances, these same benefits that the patient receives also offer helpful factors to the pharmacy too:

Clear health benefits

With patients more likely to complete their medication program when their medication is regularly available, having the correct quota should see a quicker recovery or more positive changes in health. In addition, the potential for additional costs from a worsening condition can be removed or alleviated a little.

A study in 2018 found that patients on med sync improved adherence to their prescriptions by 8%. The study also found that these patients had fewer hospital, outpatient, and emergency department visits compared to those not benefitting from med synch.

More practical

In the past, the burden was on the patient to remember specific information or stick to certain timescales, and this pressure is now removed. Patients can now receive a particular quota of medication that the pharmacy has prepared for them based on the information the patient and the GP have provided. Sometimes, this information is only needed once, and a courtesy call to organize the next delivery from the pharmacy is likely the only additional interaction there will need to be.

Less worry

There will never be a fear of running out of medication for the patient. They have precisely the right amount to last them a set period, and the medication is replenished as that time approaches its end.

How does medication synchronization benefit pharmacies?

The benefits to pharmacies are two-fold—personal and business.

Patient-Pharmacy relations

The monthly call to a patient and the monthly collection or delivery of the medication help build a community feel. Something which may have otherwise been missed if the patient was reluctant to make weekly trips.  Teleheath services have in part offered this, but when you combine telehealth and medication delivery, a more enhanced benefit of medication synchronization becomes immediately apparent.

This also means that the pharmacy may also be able to look at suggesting other services that could help the patient as they learn more about them.

Increased revenue

By having an almost subscription-like platform, the repeat revenue from patients that otherwise may not have visited when they were meant to help drive revenue. Medication synchronization will allow for this, which can only be good for the business.

Cost control

As with any business that requires stock, it is always essential to have reasonable control of inventory. With a more in-depth knowledge of what is needed and when waste is drastically reduced.

Can I start med sync in my pharmacy?

If you do not already operate a med sync program, you could be spending more money, time, and effort than necessary. You could assess whether this newer route is a viable one for you.

Firstly, look at your patient list. See how many are on long-term repeat prescriptions. It could be many, or it could just be a few. From here, you may be able to identify some that would benefit from a collection or home delivery service and a med sync program.

Some patients may be willing and able to visit the pharmacy to collect. However, if your pharmacy has seen a high rate of no-shows or inconsistent pickups, you could use a prescription delivery software. This way, no patient will ever miss out on their medication.

Once you have created your database of patients, you can assign a team member to make the calls, send the emails and log the collection or delivery dates. They can fill the prescriptions too, allowing for a more cost-effective workplace.

The simplest way to implement something that benefits your patients, and your pharmacy is to utilize the technology created by companies like RxMile. In some cases, your existing software will allow for med sync, and it is when you join it with RxMile, for example, you truly see the benefits to your business and patients. Furthermore, the same tech can help you either outsource or start a prescription courier company that further puts patients first and benefits your business.

RxMile operates as a specialist in putting the independent pharmacy first. Our technology allows you to have complete control over the delivery of your medication and sees you at the forefront of the trends and innovations of the US pharma delivery industry. With the aim to benefit the pharmacy and the patient, our technology allows for full compliance, full integration with existing software, and full tracking for patients. We can even provide you with the drivers to get your prescriptions delivered on time, every time. Contact us today to book a free trial and learn how RxMile can revolutionize your pharmacy and deliver changes that nobody else thinks of.