A gap in patient care occurs when there is an inconsistency between the treatments taken and the guidelines set by the doctor to ensure that the patient’s health goals are achieved. There are a number of reasons why this gap exists but having an in-office dispensing system, also known as an onsite dispensary, can help to solve this common problem in health care.
Identifying the Gaps in Patient Care
Too often, patients with chronic conditions and health issues are not aware of the proper medications that they need to take. Or, they may have been prescribed the right treatments, but feel unmotivated to follow through because of certain obstacles.
As doctors, on the other hand, you may not be able to properly monitor your patient’s medicinal intake because you don’t have the accurate information except the patient’s word. Your patient’s infrequent visits might also make it challenging to get a hold of the developing symptoms and prescribe a cure as a preventive measure.
Spotting these gaps can be easier if there is a medication dispensing system in place at the point of care. In fact, a study on the effectiveness of physician dispensing, or in-office drug dispensing system showed that the rate of adherence, or compliance in patients increased by 70%.
Advantages of an In-Office Medication Dispensing System
Setting up an in-office dispensary can make all the difference in the way doctors help their patients. Below are some of its advantages:
- Automation – An in-office dispensing system can be automated via sophisticated software, such as the one DirectRx utilizes. It seamlessly integrates with most EMR platforms, via Surescripts, which allows physicians to better keep track of and monitor patient charts & visits.
- Partnership – Dispensing onsite also facilitates a good partnership between the doctor and the patient. Each time the patient drops by to fill their prescription is another chance for the doctor or his staff to speak with the patient. So, apart from the proper monitoring, the staff who fills the prescription may also ask the patient questions about his drug regime, experiences with the medications, the drug’s effects on his health, or any new illnesses or discomforts that may arise during the treatment. These are crucial information that will help doctors evaluate your patient’s progress.
- Synchronization – Given what doctors know from the interactions with the patient, you can compare the data from the automated system and come up with a better treatment program that’s specific to the patient. You could also determine if the patient will need new drugs, or scale down on some of his treatments. You may also provide education and counseling to the patient who might be going off track, or who is not convinced that his treatments are improving his condition.
- Coaching – An in-office pharmacy removes the obstacles that patients encounter when filling prescriptions, or buying medications because it is readily convenient at the clinic. The physician and staff managing the in-house dispensary may also provide additional information about the drug that could help the patient, such as lower-cost alternatives, or assistance programs for certain medicine provided by the drug company.
Learn more about DirectRx medication dispensing
DirectRx is a DEA- and FDA-approved pharmaceutical repackaging facility that makes point-of-care medication and dispensing programs possible for licensed healthcare providers.
Our dispensing program includes the prepackaging, labeling, and distribution of dispense-ready, FDA-approved medications in unit-of-use quantities requested by the physician.
We follow a rigorous 20-step quality control process to ensure the purity, quality, safety, and traceability of over 2,000 commonly prescribed medicines in various medication classes. For more information and inquiries, contact us or call us at 678-619-5510.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
