In this episode of Pharmacy View we talk with Pharmacist Roger Kluth originally from the UK where he worked for Boots the Chemists for approximately twenty years. Moving to Australia 15 years ago, Roger has worked for Pharmacy groups and brands including McKerrell Pharmacies QLD, Terry White Chemists, Sigma Pharmaceuticals, API Soul Pattinson & Pharmacist Advice and is currently with the Healthyworld Pharmacy Group in a professional services management role.
Assisting in the of roll out of e-scripts for the Healthyworld Pharmacy Group, Roger provided coaching to pharmacists on how to prepare for and use the new technology. Roger shares that it was critical to make sure all the Pharmacy computers and servers had the current software updates and the appropriate hardware needed, including specific types of scanners. At this time, only a few stores have begun accepting e-scripts where most of the patients are aged between thirty and fifty however more demographics are beginning to accept and use the new technology. For anyone wanting to make the transition, Roger recommends starting now, as the process is very time consuming. He also gives the encouragement that there are a lot of online training programs that can walk you through the process and dispense software providers can also be helpful.
Something Roger has found exciting of late is use in Pharmacy of digital or electronic shelf ticketing. This allows changing prices to be a smoother process, which can allow pharmacies to be more effective in their pricing strategies. Roger is also encouraged by the ability to take and order stock via a smartphone or PDE machine. He acknowledges that both of these will be helpful in the productivity and efficiency of pharmacies. He is curious to see if scan your own product technology ever finds its way into pharmacy, as it has in grocery. Overall, he is hopeful that because of the pandemic, and pharmacy’s being pushed into accepting and implementing new technology, that there will be more of an openness to technology in pharmacy moving forward.
Topics Covered:
● Challenges experienced while rolling out e-scripts
● Patients’ receptiveness to e-scripts
● Use of The Pharmacy Guild App
● Doctors eagerness to use e-scripts
● Beginning the process of using e-scripts
● Electric ticketing
Key Quotes (Time Stamps):
● “We’re seeing an uptake in using [The Guild App] rather than using the traditional SMS reminders we’ve been using up until this point.” (5:40)
● “Certainly, the app is the way to go because that will be the platform that will be able to interact very well with e-scripts.” (5:52)
● “Start now, definitely, because it is quite time consuming.” (6:58)
● “Something I’ve been particularly excited about is electronic ticketing that I’ve seen in a few pharmacies recently.” (8:58)
● Being able to stock take, stock manage, order, essentially from a phone or a PDE machine is certainly a way forward.” (11:29)
● “I think there will be more of a desire to try new technology sooner, than perhaps there has been, in what essentially is a very conservative profession.” (13:52)
● “I think it’s really important for us, as a profession, to be able to have that face to face contact from a consultation perspective.” (15:10)
Connect with Roger:
● LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/rogerkluth
● Phone: 0413-178-404
● Email: rogerkluth@hotmail.com
