End-of-Year Efficiency: Tips for Smooth Shifts into 2025

Welcome to The Weekly Fill! 🎉

As the year wraps up, it’s the perfect time to take a step back, get organized, and set yourself up for a strong start to 2025. This week, we’re focusing on simple, practical tips to keep your shifts running smoothly and efficiently during a busy season.

💊 The Big Fill: Preparing for a Strong End

What's happening?

End-of-year pharmacy operations come with unique challenges—managing inventory, staying on top of certifications, and handling the holiday rush. Taking a proactive approach now can help reduce stress and improve outcomes for your team and patients.

Key points:

• A clean and well-organized workspace saves time and reduces errors.

• Use quieter moments to handle certifications, review protocols, or update records.

• Quick check-ins or huddles can keep everyone on the same page, especially during busy shifts.

What this means for you: By taking a proactive approach to organizing, setting clear goals, and preparing for changes, you’re not only ensuring a smoother start to the year but also empowering your entire team. From pharmacists to technicians to owners, being organized and prepared creates a more effective and positive work environment, benefiting both staff and patients.

Looking ahead: Pharmacies that stay ahead of the curve with clear communication, streamlined processes, and empowered teams will be best positioned to tackle challenges and deliver great patient care.

Pharmacy dad joke of the week: What did the pharmacist say to the patient who was feeling down? “Don’t worry, I’ll give you a dose of positivity!” Ba dum dum tss.

👨⚕️ Pharmacists: Leading with Intention

What's Changing: Pharmacists are taking on more clinical and administrative roles. Staying organized and informed in your priorities can help you navigate these demands.

Why It Matters: As a pharmacist, you set the tone for the whole team. By reviewing your goals, staying on top of regulations, and keeping communication open, you ensure things run smoothly from day one. The more organized you are, the easier it is to support your team and deliver the best care to patients. This is also a great time to set a few personal goals—whether it’s finding a new way to manage your workload or improving your patient counseling skills.

Pro Tip: Create a checklist at the beginning of the year to stay on top of regulatory updates and new clinical guidelines. Regularly revisit these as the year progresses, so you’re always prepared for changes that impact patient care.

👩⚕️ Technicians: Powering Daily Operations

What's Changing: Technicians are increasingly taking on more responsibilities in managing workflow and operations, including inventory management, medication preparation, and patient interaction. They will also play a larger role in helping the pharmacy adapt to new technology.

Why It Matters: Technicians are the backbone of any pharmacy, and staying organized is key to keeping things running efficiently. Starting the year off with a review of your daily tasks, workflow, and inventory system can help prevent mistakes and reduce stress down the line. An organized workspace and clear priorities can make all the difference when things get busy.

Tech Tip: Start each day with a quick team huddle to review the tasks ahead and make sure everyone is on the same page. Clear expectations will reduce mistakes and improve efficiency throughout the day.

💉 Patients: Engaging in Their Care

What's Changing: Patients are becoming more involved in their healthcare with the help of digital tools, such as medication management apps and online prescription refills. This shift is changing how pharmacies interact with and educate patients.

Why It Matters: When patients take an active role in managing their medications, it helps improve adherence to treatment plans and ensures better health outcomes. A pharmacy that’s well-organized and clear in its communication makes it easier for patients to stay on top of their prescriptions, avoid mistakes, and feel more confident about their care.

Patient Reminder: Make a habit of reviewing your medications at the start of the year. If you're using a medication management app or any other digital tool, take the time to update your information, set reminders for refills, and double-check that your prescription details are correct. If anything feels unclear, don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacy staff for guidance. 

🏪 Independent Pharmacy Owners: Setting the Vision

What's Changing: Pharmacy owners are facing increased competition from larger chains and new regulations around pharmacy practices. They’re also managing more diverse patient needs and integrating technology into daily operations.

Why It Matters: As an owner, the new year is a time to think about the big picture: your goals, your team, and your growth. Whether it’s addressing new regulations, planning for team training, or looking at new services, now’s the time to lay the foundation for success in the months ahead. Staying organized and setting clear expectations will help keep things running smoothly and allow you to be proactive instead of reactive throughout the year.

Owner Insight: Invest in regular training for your staff. With regulations changing and new technologies coming into play, a well-trained team ensures your pharmacy can adapt smoothly and deliver the best care possible.

🔮 Keeping an Eye Out: Setting Up for Success

The start of the year is the perfect time to reflect on your current systems and look for areas to improve. Whether it’s updating your inventory system, refining your communication processes, or introducing new tech, small changes now can set the stage for a successful year ahead. Being proactive means you’ll be prepared for whatever challenges come your way.

💡 ShiftRx Tip: Optimize Your Pharmacy Workflow

As the demand for pharmacy services continues to grow, now is the perfect time to evaluate and optimize your pharmacy workflow. Streamlining processes can improve efficiency and better patient care, allowing staff to manage the increasing workload. 

📅 Need a per diem pharmacist or technician? By utilizing the right staffing solutions, you can maintain quality service and ensure operations run smoothly. ShiftRx finds qualified professionals who can help fill in gaps and support your team, allowing you to focus on patient care. Check out the latest on ShiftRx!

🗞 Quick Scripts: Other Industry News

• Zepbound Shortage Impacting Patients and Compounding Pharmacies: Compounding pharmacies are stepping in to help, but the shortage highlights ongoing supply chain challenges and the pressure on pharmacies to meet growing patient needs. Read more on CNBC

• New Bill Targets Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reforms: A new bipartisan bill aims to overhaul the way pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operate, seeking to reduce their influence on drug pricing and improve transparency. This reform could potentially lead to lower drug costs for patients and more efficient pharmacy operations. Read more on CNN

• Pharmacy Prescribing Trials Give Patients Immediate Care: In Australia, new pharmacy prescribing trials are allowing pharmacists to provide immediate care for common health issues, offering faster access to treatment and helping ease the burden on primary care providers. This innovation could transform patient care and increase accessibility. Read more on HMRI

• Glucagon Prescriptive Authority Could Help Diabetes Patients: Allowing pharmacists to prescribe glucagon could be a game-changer for patients with diabetes. The proposal aims to make it easier for patients to access this life-saving medication in emergencies, potentially improving outcomes and reducing hospital visits. Read more on Drug Topics

🌟Pharma Stars

Pharma Stars is our new weekly spotlight for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs! Each week we will be shining a light on pharmacy professionals and industry leaders who inspire us. 

This week we’re introducing Naya Gonser, a first-year pharmacy student at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. Naya also works as a pharmacy technician at HEB and has deep roots in Austin, having completed her pharmacy prerequisites at Austin Community College. While she is still exploring her post-graduate options, Naya is considering a residency to pursue clinical pharmacy or specialize in pediatrics.

What inspired you to become a pharmacist tech?

“Growing up I have always wanted to work in healthcare. Thankfully, my high school gave me several career opportunities. I applied to obtain a medical assistant certification, along with a pharmacy technician certification through the school. Also, we completed a pharmacy internship while pursuing our certification. The combination of the pharmacy coursework and field practice made me realize that working as a technician is something I would enjoy. It provides me with work that I enjoy, and it propels me toward my career goals.”

What do you see as the biggest challenges for those entering the pharmacy industry? 

“The pharmacy industry is a field that is constantly changing and there are questions surrounding it, specifically regarding AI. Due to this, I often hear negative comments about the pharmacy industry. Many say that there is a lack of job stability, or it can be hard to find a job that you like, especially in retail. Personally, I think AI concerns are not something that we should be particularly concerned about. Pharmacy will always be around, and certain aspects of it cannot be replaced by computers. Instead, we should think about how AI could be used in the future to assist or enhance the pharmacy industry, not how it could take over. Finding a position that is enjoyable can be difficult, but the pharmaceutical industry offers a variety of jobs, including retail, clinical, industry, and ambulatory care. Understanding your strengths and what you enjoy is the best way to find a position that you love and are passionate about.”

What advice do you have for new pharmacy techs entering the field? 

“It can be overwhelming when you first enter a pharmacy, but everyone has been in that same position. Not being afraid to ask questions is particularly important, especially when dealing with medications and vaccines. Working in the pharmacy is truly what you make of it, so stay positive and try to enjoy what you are doing!”

That’s it for today’s fill!

Stay tuned for next week’s issue. If you enjoyed this, please share it with your pharmacy friends. Until then, keep filling those scripts and making an impact!

Doses and mimosas, ShiftRx Team

Redefining staffing for pharmacy professionals, one shift at a time.

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