operations Flashcards
1
Q
what is a franchise pharmacy?
A
there are many different types of franchise arrangements for pharmacies. The franchise usually owns the business but not necessarily on the physical store or fixtures, and leases are usually held by the franchisor.
-The amount of control from head office very’s greatly among different franchises
2
Q
what is an advantage to a full-service pharmacy?
A
‘one-stop’ shopping for customers
3
Q
how is a dispensary designed?
A
for efficiency.
equipment, products and work stations are located for convenience, accuracy and speed.
5
Q
What are the two ways to classify pharmacies based on merchandise ?
A
- prescription orientated pharmacies
- full-service pharmacies
6
Q
what is a banner pharmacy?
A
better pharmacies are independent pharmacies that are affiliated with the central office and pay fees to the right to use a recognized name and participate in centralized buying, marketing, professional programs, etc.
8
Q
what kind of medications are kept in a refrigerator?
A
insulins, vaccines and some antibiotics.
9
Q
what are two advantages to prescription orientated pharmacies?
A
- usually locally owned
- merchandise carried is mainly health related
- Job satisfaction for staff
- ability to offer special services required by adjacent physicians
10
Q
what are the five classifications based on ownership?
A
- independent pharmacies
- banner pharmacies
- chain pharmacies
- franchise pharmacies
- food store and mass merchandiser
11
Q
where some examples of mass merchandise pharmacies?
A
- Safeway
- Sobey’s
- Walmart
- superstore
- Supervalu
12
Q
what is the dispensing area?
A
part of the counter space where you assemble the prescription, accounting or pouring, and then labeling and packaging the medications.
13
Q
what is an independent pharmacy?
A
- not affiliated with any corporation that owns multiple pharmacies
- Store name is unique to that store and the owner has complete control
16
Q
what are the two major areas of a pharmacy?
A
The medication storage area and the dispensing work area
18
Q
what are three advantages to independent pharmacies?
A
- locally owned
- merchandise carried varies
- pharmacy can tailor it Stocks to the needs/requests of its customers
- staff get to know the customers better
- personal customer service
20
Q
what are two advantages to banner pharmacies?
A
- greater buying power than an individual store
- access to “house” or store brands
- access to advertising services
- accessed outside and in-store signage
21
Q
what are some examples of prescription orientated pharmacies?(3)
A
- Winnipeg clinic pharmacy
- Meadowwood pharmacy
- wellness pharmacy
22
Q
what is a chain pharmacy?
A
chain pharmacies employee pharmacy managers who are salaried employees of head office. Head office directs all marketing, merchandising, buying, professional programs, etc.
23
Q
what are some examples of banner pharmacies?
A
- Pharmasave
- Price watchers
- countercare/counterwise
- ARP pharmacies
24
Q
what is the new technology being used in providing medications for Manitoba’s personal care homes?
A
PACMED
25
Q
what are two advantages to chain pharmacies?
A
- merchandise- lots of variety of better selling products
- more capital available, and financial support for fledgling business
- larger advertising budget puts name of pharmacy on flyers, TV and radio
- staff training will be well-planned and operational policies will exist
- different departments have different managers so that the pharmacy manager is not responsible for day-to-day operations of the entire store
26
Q
what are two disadvantages to chain pharmacies?
A
- very little local control or decision-making
- there’s often no input allowed into the front store merchandise by dispensary staff
27
Q
what are some examples of chain pharmacies?(3)
A
- PharmaPlus
- Zellers
- Safeway
- Walmart
28
Q
what are some of the reasons a drug may be scheduled schedule III ?
A
- drug is used for self treatments
- initial need for the drug is identified by the patient or pharmacist
- drug test potential for nonmedical use
- maximum label dose exceeds usual limits for unscheduled status
- drug is a new ingredient for self-selection self-medication and the pharmacist should be available for questions
30
Q
what are some examples of franchise pharmacies?
A
- shoppers drug Mart
- medicine Shoppe
33
Q
what is a food store and mass merchandiser?
A
as the name implies, food/mass pharmacies are departments within a supermarket or mass merchandise outlet
-all schedule III drugs must be locked up when the pharmacy closes
34
what are two advantages to mass pharmacies?
- same as the chain pharmacy
| - for the customer, the dispensing fee for prescription is often much lower than competitors fees
35
Who makes the physical requirements and regulates equipment for a pharmacy?
Manitoba College of Pharmacists
36
how much do prescription sales account for a total sales in the average Canadian pharmacy?
50%
37
what is AccuMed?
recently introduced tablet and capsule counting technology that uses less pharmacy space than Baker cells
38
where is the dispensary located?
normally located at the rear of the pharmacy
39
what is the medication storage area?
in the dispensary, medication is usually stored in a U-shaped shelving units called Bays or in door cabinets
40
what are the three methods for arranging inventory?
1. alphabetically (a-z according to brand or generic name)
2. by pack size or dosage form
3. by manufactures
42
what is a speed shelf?
often referred to as faster movers section
| -located in the dispensing area, the shelf holds medications prescribed most often
43
what is a baker cell?
- consists of a number of multiple canisters (each containing a specific drug strength) that are linked to the pharmacy software and they automatically count the RX quantity required to fill a prescription
- technicians transfer the county quantity to appropriately sized vial.
- most common dispensed products
44
why do dispensaries need a refrigerator?
for storing medications which are unstable at room temperature
45
where are narcotics and controlled drugs kept?
Federal law requires that these drugs be given special security. They are usually kept in a separate locked drawer/covered or in a safe in the dispensary.
47
where are scheduled to over-the-counter drugs found?
in the dispensary near the "out-window"
| -A pharmacist must be involved in the sale
48
explain the dispensary work area.
smooth, efficient workflow helps pharmacy staff dispense prescriptions more quickly with minimum errors.
workflows in one direction along the prescription counter, each part of the counter has its own specific function.
49
what is the in window?
counter area where you greet patients and obtain patient information about new prescriptions and refills.
- this area should be clean and uncluttered, free of signs and displays
- first impression of the pharmacy
50
what is the out-window?
counter area where pharmacists counsel patients and members of the staff complete the sales transaction
-A private counseling area is required
51
what is the data entry area?
area where the computer located
- often next to or at the in window
- enter information, labels are printed out
52
how is the drug schedule set up?
- it lists every drug, by generic name and the schedule it's assigned to.
- unscheduled drugs are not included in the list, but are listed separately
53
what are the 2 functional areas of the data entry area?
1. to be entered section - waiter patients are too priority
| 2. computer workstation - where tech or pharmacist stand to enter Rx data, to obtain info (eg, refills remaining).
54
what is the Scanmaster?
- Machine that provides pharmacy grade water for reconstituting powders
- removes minerals from tap water(reverse osmosis)
- is pre-calibrated for each product to provide the correct volume of water (in stages when required)
55
what items are required for a final check?
- original prescription(new Rx, 1st refill)
- label produced by the computer
- Stock bottle that you took the medication from
- any printed information that you are expected to provide (Kroll Care)
- any third-party insurance documentation of the patient
56
when the pharmacist performs the final check what are they comparing?
- original physicians RX to the label produced by the computer, to make sure the RX was interpreted and entered correctly with regard to the drug, strength, form, directions and quantity provided, patients name and physician's name
- drugs stock bottle to the prescription label, to ensure that you have selected the correct product.
57
in the customer pick up area how are prescriptions sorted?
alphabetically by last name
58
only equipment needed should be in the dispensing area, what does this include?
- balance (torsion or electronic)
- counting equipment
- distilled water dispenser
- auxiliary labels rolls
- A calculator
- Rx containers are usually stored within easy reach under the Rx counter
- A sink (do not allow sink to get dirty or for dishes and equipment to accumulate)
60
what is AccuCount?
- countertop tablet and capsule counter and pharmacy scale.
- required quantity to fill a RX is determined by weighing the product based upon the pre-calibrated weight of a known number of the product.
- not linked to the pharmacy software
- relatively inexpensive
61
what is the pick up area?
A group of bins or baskets where finished Rx's are stored while awaiting pick up
62
what is the administration area?
area used to complete paperwork and to check in Drug orders from suppliers
63
what is the nonprescription area?
not located in the dispensary
- adjacent to the dispensary to make it easy for pharmacist to recommend specific products or answer questions about OTC products.
- schedule III and unscheduled drugs are sold here.
64
what is a PACMED?
- fully automated unit dose and multidose packaging system.
| - labels individual doses of medications.
65
for what schedules must a pharmacist be involved in the sale of the product?
schedule I and II
66
where must the sign "It's your right to know" be displayed?
is suitable counseling area
67
what does IVR stand for?
interactive voice recognition
69
how do independent pharmacies overcome the limited purchasing power due to the small volume of business?
by several independent stores purchasing together as a group
70
if you do not know how a Drug is scheduled where can you check?
www.napra.org
71
what are the reasons some drugs are listed schedule I?
- diagnosis of the need for the drug requires a physician
- use of drug may produce dependency
- serious adverse reactions or drug interactions are known
- drug has a narrow therapeutic window
- drug is new and needs to be closely monitored
72
what are two disadvantages to prescription orientated pharmacies?
- dispensing fee must be high enough to cover all operational costs
- Limited purchasing power, due to the small volume of business
73
Health Canada occasionally moves drugs from schedule I to a schedule of less restrictions. Can you think of a medication where this reclassification may be appropriate?
Aleve (220mg) 270mg= schedule I
74
patients frequently purchase OTC simply because it has worked for someone they know. Why is this not a good reason?
- allergies
- adverse drug reactions
- interactions
75
In what areas as technology improved efficiency and patient safety in the dispensary?
- inventory management
- receiving RX requests from patients
- receiving new RX's from prescribers
- dispensing
76
how are returns for expired goods handled?
electronically
77
what is perpetual inventory?
capability so that stock, as it is received, is added or incremented to existing computer inventory and as each prescription is filled the inventory is subtracted or decremented
78
how can a pharmacy know if the supplier has stock in and which dates that the stock can be delivered?,
online access to the suppliers inventory through the website.
79
what is dial RX?
capability, which allows patients to request refills which connect directly with the pharmacy software from the Internet, a phone or a re-order kiosk in the pharmacy
80
what technology reduce the number of verbal prescriptions and increased patient safety?
fax
81
what is a productivity station, Pharmacy 2000 and Accuscript??
workload management systems of various complexities and sizes which streamline dispensing processes by combining several technologies, including robotics, to automate all parts of dispensing.
-The prescription is then scanned by the technician into the system.
82
what is IVR?
this allows physicians to leave Rx's on a special voicemail system, which notifies pharmacy staff when there's a Rx on the system
83
T/F :refill reminders sent via email can be made for all refills. patients can then reply via email and the refill will automatically be on the "to-do list".
false.
all except for PRN meds can have a reminder email sent a few days before the medication should be running out. which can re refilled by replying.
84
what is a disadvantage to the IVR system?
- physicians may not speak clearly or identify themselves sufficiently and pharmacists cannot ask any questions when the order is left.
- It may be difficult to contact the physician later to clarify anything
85
what is a disadvantage to Baker cells?
Baker cell system is very expensive and is only used by very busy pharmacies
86
what do most systems used to identify and verify the product being used for an RX?
barcode scanning.
-currently most pharmacies identify drugs by entering the drug name or it's DIN. some systems are now using barcode scanners.
87
what are some of the reasons a drug is scheduled as unscheduled?
-any drug not meeting the criteria of any's of the other schedules
91
what are three disadvantages to independent pharmacies?
- Limited purchasing power due to Small volume of business
- pharmacist owner has responsibility for all operations of the business
- sales volume and profits must be sufficient to cover costs
92
what are some disadvantages to mass pharmacies?
- same as change pharmacies
- pharmacy managers may have difficulty upholding federal and provincial pharmacy laws and ethics
- The business may operate at a loss because of corporate policy regarding dispensing fees
94
what are some examples of full-service pharmacies?(3)
- shoppers drug Mart
- Safeway pharmacy
- Walmart pharmacy
- superstore pharmacy
102
how many pharmacies can one person own before it is considered a chain pharmacy?
is generally accepted that 5 or more stores under single ownership constitute as a chain pharmacy
104
what are the reasons some drugs are listed schedule II ?
- after initial diagnosis, monitoring by a pharmacist is considered safe
- potential for abuse
- use may delay or mask symptoms of a serious disease
- drug may cause important adverse reactions or interactions
- use of drug requires reinforcement or an expansion of the directions
109
what is a disadvantage of full-service pharmacies?
does not project as professional an image to the public
118
what are the two main parts to the dispensing area function?
1. prescription assembly
| 2. prescription packaging
131
what are two disadvantages of banner pharmacies?
- pharmacies are required to have the look and feel of the banner logos, removing some degree of control
- if fee is required for these services
136
what are the advantages/disadvantages of franchise pharmacies?
advantages and disadvantages are so much a chain or independent pharmacies, depending upon the model used.
- ownership-independent, but pays for the right to use a logo
- merchandise-generic house brands available
