Your Future as a Pharmacist

This post goes out to all pharmacists who are looking for a better working environment. We hear all sorts of stories regarding working conditions for pharmacists. You know what those conditions encompass. So, there is no need to list them here. Many pharmacists are frustrated but don’t know what they can do. The good news is, you do have a couple of options and we encourage you to act on one of these.

• Own your own pharmacy – Yes, Independent Pharmacy is still a very viable option. While the profit margins for traditional pharmacy are quite slim, you can be very successful in various sorts of Specialty Pharmacy. Feel free to read our article in Drug Topics, “Anyone want to Make a Profit?” to learn more.

• The Pharmacy Alliance - For those of you who are not “business owner” material and are fed up with your working conditions, TPA was created for you. The Purpose of The Pharmacy Alliance is to Foster Conditions that will allow Dignity, Self-Respect and Integrity in the Personal, Professional and Working Lives of all Pharmacy Practitioners. If you are interested in learning more about TPA or would like to be added to their email list, please contact Jim Plagakis at jpgakis@hotmail.com or Paul Trusten at trusten@grandecom.net

Once again, you do have options. You can either complain about your situation or take action. If you just complain, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you take action, you will be taking your first steps toward a better pharmacy life for you and your family.

Have You Hugged Your Independent Pharmacist Lately?

For decades Americans have considered Pharmacy as one of the most respected professions. While it is quite an accomplishment that the profession of pharmacy continues to be honored, Pharmacists need to hear this directly from people in their own community.

This is National Pharmacy month. At Keep Your Pharmacy Open we are all about Independent & Small Chain Pharmacy. Thus, we have declared this to be National Independent Pharmacy week. For those pharmacists who missed the announcement, please see our article in the October 22nd issue of Drug Topics: “Anyone want to Make a Profit?”.

Patients, think about all your independent pharmacy does for your community.

Independent & Small Chain Pharmacies are known for:

• Sponsoring little league teams


• Supporting Girl Scout & Boy Scout Troops


• Sponsoring School and Church Events


• Providing Door prizes for non-profit events


• Volunteering in your community


• Sitting on the Board of Directors for non-profits


• Providing health fairs

This is only a small list when in reality they provide a host of other items and services that a community can’t live without.

Here is a question to ponder. Where would your community be if your town did not have a pharmacy? It is sad, but this is happening in various parts of the country right now. So, think about if your pharmacy was forced to close its doors, where would you get your medicine? If the pharmacy shuts down, will the doctors hang around your community? If the doctor’s don’t hang around your town, then what happens to the hospital? Of course, if something happens to the pharmacy, the doctors, and the hospital then other businesses suffer too. There is quite a domino affect that can happen when the pharmacy leaves a town. The good news is you can help but you have to take action now.

I encourage you to transfer all of your prescriptions to your Independent or Small Chain pharmacy. If you don’t want to transfer all of them, transfer one or two for now. At least “test drive” the services at your Independent. I promise you will be amazed at how fast your prescriptions are filled and the incredible customer service you receive. Once you receive this amazing customer service, tell your neighbors, your family and your friends. You owe it to your community, to your pharmacist, and to yourself to support your local pharmacy or at least give them a try.

Once again, this is National Pharmacy Month and National Independent Pharmacy Week. If anything, please stop by your local independent pharmacy and thank them for their contributions to your community.

Why Pharmacies Need a Credible Web Site Presence

Why Are The Chains Trying To Act Like An Independent?
You’ve seen the commercials ~ on tv, in magazines and newspapers: A Chain Pharmacist offering the comforting and individual service that is only usually found in an Independent Pharmacy!

They have a Marketing Staff that does research finding where the new fields of customer base can be gathered. They have recognized what customers and patients want and now they have found the best patient base: Yours.

You Are Incredibly Busy
Too busy to answer the phones? Have a ‘gatekeeper’ that screens your calls?
Hang up on any vendors that want to present new technology?
Is there a pile of unopened mail in your pharmacy? Don’t have e-mail or don’t read it if you do?
Don’t have a professional and complete website?
Have a website that is 5-8 pages, but doesn’t create a reference for patients to return to?

If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the above ~ you are at risk of losing customers and patients.

Cost of Keeping Customers/Patients:
According to The Harvard Business Review~
“it costs 5 times more to get new customers than keeping an existing one!

Your Unique Services Should Be Branded To You!
Individual attention, customer service, knowing your patients, compounding, health and wellness, integrative medicine, networking with local practitioners. Whether your pharmacy offers some or all of these services, you have unique and select services that your patients want!

If it’s difficult to face each day without considering it a ‘battle’ ~ with chain pharmacies, Federal Law confusions or companies attempting to pass laws that affect such crucial areas as ‘compounding’…

Let Technology Work For You:
Millions of customers and patients of all ages and income brackets rely on the web. It’s a fact.
You should be using every bit of technology available to you for continued loyalty, communication and credible health and wellness information.

PharmacistsOnLine is here to work for you and with you ~ around your busy schedule. We are as devoted to the creation of your professional ‘web presence’ as you are to your pharmacy.

Please feel free to call or e-mail me for a personal, 30 minute, on-line demonstration.
Let us work for you.
Karen Sulprizio
Pharmacy Client Associate
PharmacistsOnLine; A Living Naturally Co.
1-866-312-8324 ksulprizio@PharmacistsOnLine.com
RxLoyalty Site: http://www.rxloyaltygenius.com/ Pharmacy Demo Site: http://www.rxgenius.com/ Home Site: http://www.pharmacistsonline.com/


***Note from the Keep Your Pharmacy Open Team

In the spirit of providing solutions for various aspects of your pharmacy business, KYPO will feature "Guest Bloggers" from time to time. If you are interested in becoming a "Guest Blogger" for KYPO please visit our website http://www.keep-your-pharmacyopen.com/ and fill out the "request information" page.

What the Media Can Do For Your Pharmacy

Okay, I have got to learn to digest my breakfast before I read the paper. Once again, an article brought out my passion regarding pharmacy. The story was something about Wally World (a.k.a. Wal-Mart) and their 2nd Tier Generic Drug Program.

My initial reaction was, Argh! Why do they get so much free publicity? What a biased story! “All hail ye Wally World!” Oh please! Who made them the Patron Saint of Pharmacy? I must have missed the memo from Rome. I liked it better when they were just Arkansas’ problem.

I have already blogged about their so called $4 prescription program. To sum it up for you, that is simply smoke & mirrors. The reality is you can get some $4 prescriptions at independent pharmacies too.

Now that I have vented and gotten that out of my system, let’s examine the situation. The question goes back to why are they getting all this free publicity? Are they doing something different than the independents? The answer to that question is “YES”. All they are doing is contacting the media and their story is being published. The good news is you too can receive attention from your local media. Surprisingly enough, it is not that difficult.

Follow this simple process:

1. Visit http://www.jeffcrilley.com/ and order the book and/or CD, “Free Publicity”


2. Read Jeff’s book and/or listen to his CD


3. Follow Jeff’s advice & Take Action
   

“Free Publicity” is a must read not only for pharmacy owners but for all small business owners. This will be the one of the best investments you can make for your business. I have followed Jeff’s advice and I must admit I was quite pleased with my results.

While you are visiting Jeff’s website, be sure to sign up for his free e-newsletter and you will receive insightful media tips every week. As a matter of fact, you can find some of Jeff’s previous tips on You Tube.

Now back to what got me started, “Free Publicity”. I am challenging Pharmacy Owners across the country to contact the media with stories about Independent Pharmacy. You provide a vital service to your communities. America deserves to hear your story. Be sure to make your story "newsworthy". Jeff explains hot to do that in his book. If we get enough publicity for the Independents, then maybe that place in Arkansas will have to wait next time they want their story published.