Understanding Outsourced Pharmacy Services: 4 Things To Know

Outsourcing is the practice of getting third-party service providers to help businesses with organizational or operational matters, depending on the need. Business owners often indulge in outsourcing when there are workforce issues, quality problems, and cost-management concerns, among others. Suffice it to say that outsourcing is a well-tested business strategy that increases the likelihood of managing the business well.

However, outsourcing isn’t only done to address internal business matters, but also external ones, most especially that outsourcing is technically getting external help. In the field of pharmaceutical services, outsourcing also somewhat helps address the perceived ethical issues that center around it by dispersing manpower and diversifying its reach.

To learn more, here are four things to know about outsourcing pharmacy services:

 1. The A’s And B’s Of Outsourcing

Compounding in pharmacology is the practice of combining and altering drug components to match patient needs. Since drugs work uniquely from patient to patient, this pharmaceutical practice addresses a major issue.

While compounding sounds promising, it only inherently caters to individuals. Since this can’t generally be used to bigger populations, the US Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and added the 503B section to the then existing 503A section.

Adding Section 503B likewise addressed the issue of disparity between healthcare facilities and drug manufacturers, according to fagronsterile.com. Under this section, compounded drugs can be made in batch, therefore producing bigger output, as opposed to Section 503A where compounding is limited only to a licensed pharmacist or physician in a healthcare facility.

As of writing, there are over 70+ FDA-registered outsourcing pharmacy companies in the US. Outsourcing with reputable and FDA-registered companies is the best route to take when it comes to outsourcing.

 2. Outsourcing Signals Growth

When there’s a noticeable influx of drug-related tasks such as checking dosage and prescription errors, quality assurance check-ups, or other supervisory tasks, no matter how talented the workforce is, performance will surely decline. Service quality will plummet, which may result in extreme situations.

While encouraging them is good, too much of it will backfire. Since you can’t reduce workload for them, the go-to action is to increase manpower. Cost, time, and all things considered, directhiring may not be the smartest thing to do. What one person can do can also be done by an outsourcing pharmacy company as well as other ad hoc responsibilities, which are part of their offered services.

In addition, since people are becoming more aware of healthcare, keeping up with its fast-pacedenvironment implieshaving a more effective and efficient workforce framework 

3. Outsourcing Assets

The world is rapidly changing. Technology progresses, and with it comes newer opportunities for businesses. Outsourcing can help pharmacy service providers to be up-to-date with these industry innovations, as well as guide them towards innovation.

Through digital platforms, providing pharmaceutical care becomes easier and faster. Gone are the days when patients need to visit doctors and ask for prescriptions since they can just use their handheld devices and engage with teleconsultations.

Nowthat industries are rapidly becoming interdependent and interwoven, outsourcing provides a wider scope of opportunities that pharmacy services can make use of. This may be daunting at first, but it’s all worth the hassle in the end.

Moreover, outsourcing in pharmacy services contributes to having a more resilient supply chain. In relevance to the growing demands of the market, a resilient supplychain consisting of effective and talented outsourced suppliers guarantees better services. 

4. Firing Outsourcing Myths

If you’re a pharmacist working in a healthcare institution that plans to outsource pharmacy services, you’re not going to get fired. They’re not out there to get you. Realistically speaking, having yourself fired is possible, outsourcing or not.

The apprehension against outsourcing is usually normal. Since bringing in third-party manpower seems akin to replacing the current workforce, unrest becomes prevalent, more so if the management lacks in explanation.

If you’re part of the management, making the employees (in this case, the pharmacy personnel) understand why the facility needs to outsource is a good place to start. Then, you can gradually rollout newer guidelines that’ll teach them how to navigate around the outsourced service.

Furthermore, transparency gives off a vibe that as a management, you listen and you care. Working with an institution riddled with death and sadness is already hard. Knowing that the management is made of people who exert effort to put them at ease makes it a tad bit easier. Relieving their worries will prove helpful in the longrun. 

To Sum It Up

Change will always be a part of human existence as it promotes growth and enables progress. In this fast-changing environment, getting all the right help such as outsourced pharmacy services will aid you in keeping pace with this ever-dynamic world.