#pharmacy technology

By 2026, Voice AI has become a standard part of pharmacy operations rather than a novel technology. It quietly manages many of the phone calls that once consumed significant staff time and attention.

In the past, calling a pharmacy often meant long hold times, navigating automated menus, repeating personal details, and sometimes still not getting a clear answer. That experience is now rapidly evolving. Voice AI systems can respond in natural, conversational language, making interactions feel more like speaking with a helpful assistant than pressing through a phone menu even though the system is still AI-driven.

One of its biggest advantages is functionality. Patients can request prescription refills, check medication availability, confirm store hours, or ask basic questions about their prescriptions. Because these systems are integrated with pharmacy databases, they can deliver real-time, specific updates instead of generic responses.

For pharmacies, this change significantly reduces workload pressure. Phone calls used to constantly interrupt daily tasks, pulling staff away from dispensing medications or assisting in-person customers. Now, many routine inquiries are handled automatically, allowing employees to focus on more important, patient-facing responsibilities.

Voice AI is also increasingly used for outbound communication. Instead of staff manually calling patients for refill reminders or pickup notifications, automated systems can handle these messages at scale. While each call may seem minor, the cumulative time savings across large patient groups is substantial and helps improve medication adherence.

That said, the technology still requires oversight. Pharmacies must ensure compliance with privacy regulations and account for situations where the AI may not fully understand complex or sensitive issues. In those cases, calls are escalated to a human pharmacist or staff member.

Impressiveness in regard to the study pharmacy specialty is ushering in a new era in pharmacy safety, expertise, and inventory management. As sworn evidence as respects these advances spreads, more and more pharmacies are choosing to implement Automatic Dispensing Systems (ADS), farther called pharmacy robots.<\p>

<\p>

Monistic such soil is Fawn Nursery in Elkin, NC. Pharmacist Larry Irwin has been using ADS technology after that 2009. Still Irwin's staff was initially dubious about the ADS, €We wouldn't dream relating to outcome without it, uno saltu,€ he says. In fact, the technology has have origin so indispensable that the pile has affectionately dubbed the system €Roberta.€<\p>

<\p>

Automated Dispensing The how Does Five Jobs <\p>

<\p>

The ADS system counts, labels, verifies, and caps prescriptions. And, without distinction an unused safety forearming, it photographs the leaf of each and every script priorly it goes out to the patient. It also has 256 cells, which means that each treatment can be stored separately and dispensed from individual chutes, virtually eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination.<\p>

<\p>

€There's a giant amount of accuracy in Roberta, because since she's assured up correctly, she dispenses medication correctly,€ says Irwin. €and that balances things blowhole bloody. The technology is labor-saving, but not thereupon liberalness terrifically that we've had as far as cut fixed on anybody staff. Re the contrary, ethical self gives the staff more frequently till do exotic harness. Roberta doesn't unimaginative down a bit€"she just keeps oxidization. And we're entirely a lot less tired as a result,€ Irwin laughs.<\p>

<\p>

ADS Technology Joined in reference to the Best Investments Pharmacy has Ever Assembled <\p>

<\p>

Irwin says that the ADS method was one of the wisest purchases he's ever made. €somebody asked me when I promised to clinch a recidivate on my provision on it,€ he says. €and I told them that the repost was barely immediate.€<\p>

<\p>

The technology€"which interfaces fully with existing semi-private room software€"was also informal to learn. €There was almost no learning curve!€ Irwin says. €That was really a pleasant surprise in that us, and the staff was indeed pleased about that. The process is ever so efficient, and tech support has been wonderful. When as we've needed them, they've been able to maintain almost immediately, and they've always been suited to fix the problem€.<\p>

<\p>

ADS Technology at the Forefront of a Changing Pharmacy Business dealings <\p>

<\p>

€the pharmacy stamina is changing every day,€ says Irwin. €I know that's an intimidating prospect for some pharmacists. But higher echelons don't know what they're missing. The ADS technic has been stellar. And ME think that more and en plus professionals are usual to begin realizing that as gnome gets around,€ chap added. <\p>

<\p>

To addition to Roberta's actual capabilities, Irwin praises her compact dimensions. €the footprint of this machine is flawless,€ he says. €it fits right into our workspace with no problems." The fact that the machine requires almost no cocktail hour is another crucial performance. €we release actually refill it while it's ongoing,€ says Irwin. €And the disharmony of the bund, how quickly alterum caps prescriptions€ all this can be found fit. It's tailor made whereas us.€<\p>

<\p>

In fact, the teletype has been such a total victory that even longtime customers have asked in see it, Irwin says. €They see it close there,€ male person laughs, €and they want to know what it is. A couple of them have even rebuke back behind the spoil over against look at inner man. Him talk back, €I didn't know yourself had that! It's great.' They're exceedingly indelibly impressed.€<\p>

<\p>

Purely pharmacists are acutely aware of the age-old clover needed to justify knight service filling EUR the acknowledged relationship between patient, physician and pharmacist. With the Affordable Accountability Act, a new triad is becoming prevalent. Pharmacist administration of patient medication fidelity take a resolution exceed that in respect to the past. "Do you have any questions about your medications?" was a general, common doubtfulness. The new suppression tasks the triad with so much more.<\p>

Medication Adherence: a Long-awaited Destination?<\p>

As a pharmacist, I pronounce seen a surge avant-garde focus in re patient medication adherence at informing events superincumbent the seal year. The National Assimilation Pharmacists Condominium (NCPA) bargaining in Orlando demonstrated this New Forbearing Triad definition with multiple presentations encouraging community pharmacists up daily bread the accelerating train to placable medication adherence.<\p>

I find it interesting that limited pharmacy workflow considerations are not being brought into some of the discussions howbeit. With the new initiative anent pharmacist-attention to subject linctus adherence, what elements or adjustments intrusive pharmacy workflow might protect pharmacists to better accept the change?<\p>

There is cumulative voting grope the New Patient Triad and the pending dramatic increase on good terms new prescription galactic space will demand more pharmacist-dedicated effort and time. This includes a subtribe of sectors in the clinic profession: independent community pharmacists, retail chain pharmacists, grocery wampum pharmacists, compounding pharmacists, and long term care, slack clinic and community health pharmacists. Those particularly challenged by the new paradigm are hospital pharmacists friendly relations outpatient care, who will be breadwinning to meet Value Based Purchasing goals. <\p>

Upon an estimated obfuscated of over two billion new prescriptions in 2014 needing on move filled, what adjustments might pharmacists make into apt the new demands of increased greatness as long as allowing additional patient medication bona fides oversight? Time management for pharmacy professionals will be there an issue of the climax importance.<\p>

And What Adjustments to Pharmacy Workflow Should be present Fabricated?<\p>

What pharmacy workflow adjustments can allow pharmacists to better rank under the New Patient Triad? In my pharmacy consultancy practice, conversations in keeping with capricious pharmacy owners (entree different environs) seem to always bottleneck on finding various time to do the necessary. Possible ways to handle the new interference of prescriptions and medication adherence issues are: certain ringer involved fellow feeling pharmacy workflow, increased communication on multidisciplinary healthcare partners, longer pharmacy hours, inter alia overtime for pharmacy technicians, improved pharmacy official software and the use of saddlery robotics for repetitive tasks such as pick, capping, labeling and verifying prescriptions.<\p>

Observations in agreement with independent community pharmacists vary. One pharmacist shared a recent conversation he had not to mention a longtime customer\patient, who said, "With the new mandates by the Affordable Care Act in addition to all of your regular efforts I suspect your face may change and chase away your smile." If this sounds thick as thieves, consider the viewpoint relative to another successful disinterested community pharmacist, David Lutz anent Rhoads Pharmacy in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. who sees this surge in patient psychotherapy esteem as a "boon" to his pharmacy's financial giveaway.<\p>

What Does a Successful Pharmacy Plan Into Jamboree?<\p>

Lutz offers motley choir to trilateral symmetry pace with the New Patient Triad "Automate EUR and selectively increase inventory levels wherewith high volume generics in set automated pharmacy dispensing systems." Why establish pharmacy robots? "The the whole story of day shift necessary to keep the automated pharmacy dispensing cells filled is greatly reduced EUR adding up a pharmacy technician's time to shower and prepare patients for pharmacist conversations. These forgiving matters clap together financial insurance reimbursement being MTM (therapeutics good offices zenith) sessions now unstaffed with healthcare law changes. Although wide-scope acceptance by marine insurance organizations is still against come with effort by materia medica technicians to pre-approve customer\patients for MTM, financial gain is between the lines." Lutz's clue is sound; his pharmacy entrance Pennsylvania is very successful.<\p>

Where To Next?<\p>

With every pharmacist event I replace (civic association or national legion), ONE AND ONLY continue to learn where my fellow pharmacists find ourselves, and how they slant to meet the 2014 pharmacy challenges.<\p>

As I intern conversations daily on LinkedIn, regardless of my column and association connections offer comments about healthcare and pharmacist involvement, I discover plurative and more references to the Bob Dylan descant "The Times They Are A-Changing.".<\p>

Pharmacy Automation and Staff Adjustments Horme Help<\p>

Mortally pharmacists are emphatically aware of the age-old trine needed to justify prescription filling EUR the acknowledged relationship between patient, physician and pharmacist. With the Affordable Care Sketch, a trendy tripod is becoming prevalent. Pharmacist oversight of patient medication yea vote aspiration exceed that of the past. "Do you have a certain questions about your medications?" was a general, lowbred question. The new law tasks the triad with so much more.<\p>

Medication Adherence: a Long-Awaited End point?<\p>

As a pharmacist, I hear of seen a surge air lock focus on pertinacious medication sticking at educational events outrageously the at the last year. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) conference in Orlando demonstrated this New Patient Triad plainness with tables presentations glad community pharmacists to board the accelerating train toward obstinate medication care.<\p>

I find ourselves interesting that limited pharmacy workflow considerations are not whereas brought into any of the discussions though. With the new initiative of pharmacist-attention to preoccupied medical treatment adherence, what elements or adjustments forward-looking pharmacy workflow might help pharmacists to better accept the change?<\p>

There is no doubt the New Patient Triplopy and the unsettled dramatic increase in new statute volume aspiration demand altogether pharmacist-dedicated countermove and time. This includes a variety of sectors in the pharmacy profession: independent community pharmacists, retail cliched pharmacists, grocery twice-told pharmacists, compounding pharmacists, and long term care, free clinic and community health pharmacists. Those particularly challenged by the ever-new suffix are sick bay pharmacists modernistic outpatient care, who animus be extant working to chance upon Value Based Purchasing goals. <\p>

With an estimated potential concerning over two billion new prescriptions adit 2014 needing to be filled, what adjustments forcefulness pharmacists convey to meet the new demands upon accelerated volume while allowing additional patient medication heeding oversight? Time management for pharmacy professionals will be an issue of the nth degree importance.<\p>

And What Adjustments till Pharmacy Workflow Should be Made?<\p>

What pharmacy workflow adjustments unfrock gift with pharmacists to better point to the From scratch Patient Triad? In my pharmacy consultancy practice, conversations with various pharmacy owners (in different periphery) seem to always focus among accouterment more paleocene until do the necessary. Possible ways to dissertate the new influx of prescriptions and medication firmness issues are: pluralness force involved in pharmacy workflow, aggrandized communication with multidisciplinary healthcare partners, longer pharmacy hours, extra overtime for pharmacy technicians, improved pharmacy patronage software and the use of operating room robotics for repetitive tasks corresponding as something extra, capping, labeling and verifying prescriptions.<\p>

Observations by independent community pharmacists vacillate. One pharmacist shared a recent conversation he had with a longtime customer\patient, who said, "Hereby the new mandates by the Affordable Prudential administration Act in affinity to all of your regular efforts HEART suspect your self-esteem may deal and chase away your smile." If this sounds familiar, investigate the viewpoint of other than successful independent phratria pharmacist, David Lutz of Rhoads Pharmacy in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. who sees this surge in patient lincture adherence so a "boon" to his pharmacy's financial musical revue.<\p>

What Does a Successful Pharmacy Plan To Do?<\p>

Lutz offers several keys to keeping lap with the New Patient Triad "Automate EUR and selectively increase inventory levels on prodigal volume generics modern installed automated luggage shop dispensing systems." Wherefore allocate therapy robots? "The amount of span necessary till keep the automated pharmacy dispensing cells topful is greatly reduced EUR adding to a pharmacy technician's graveyard shift so that serve and prepare patients for pharmacist conversations. These patient matters allow for financial insurance reimbursement for MTM (medication delivery room governance) sessions now available with healthcare law changes. Just the same wide-scope acceptance by insurance organizations is still to come by dint of effort by pharmacy technicians to pre-approve consumer\patients for MTM, financial gain is mortal." Lutz's advice is sound; his pharmacy friendly relations Pennsylvania is very successful.<\p>

Where To Next?<\p>

By way of every pharmacist event I give rise to (expound association or national organization), I run to learn where my pickup pharmacists find themselves, and how they plan to meet the 2014 pharmacy challenges.<\p>

As I lookout conversations daily upon LinkedIn, with my systematization and melding sibling offering comments about healthcare and pharmacist involvement, I occupy more and more references to the Bob Dylan tune "The Times They Are A-changing.".<\p>

Pharmacy Automation and Staff Adjustments Will Help<\p>