All posts tagged: healthcare

In our previous blog post, we explored the transformative potential of self-service terminals for pharmacies, highlighting the benefits they bring to both customers and businesses. Today, we dive deeper into the aspects of security and benefits that can significantly have a good impact on your pharmacy business. By integrating self-service solutions that prioritize security and privacy, pharmacies can offer their customers peace of mind while streamlining operations and enhancing overall efficiency. Let’s discover how implementing robust security and privacy measures can create a competitive edge and build trust with your clients.

Let’s regard, what are the main general functions of a self-service kiosk.

Self-service terminals for pharmacies refer to electronic kiosks or devices that allow customers to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications, health and wellness products. These terminals typically use touch-screen interfaces and may be integrated with a pharmacy’s existing systems. Some of the benefits of self-service terminals in pharmacies include increased efficiency, convenience for customers, and the ability to offer 24/7 service. However, it is important to ensure that these terminals are secure and comply with all relevant regulations regarding the dispensing of medications.

Self-service terminals in pharmacies typically have the following functionalities:

1. Medication Dispensing: Customers can use the terminal to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and other health and wellness products.
2. Prescription Pick-up: Customers can use the terminal to pick up their prescription medications, which can be dispensed automatically or with assistance from a pharmacist.
3. Health Information: Customers can access information about medications, side effects, and other health-related topics through the terminal’s touch-screen interface.
4. Bill Payment: Customers can pay for their purchases using the terminal, which can accept cash, credit, or debit cards.
5. Inventory Management: Pharmacy staff can use the terminal to manage inventory levels, monitor stock levels, and restock as necessary.
6. Reporting: Pharmacy staff can use the terminal to generate reports on sales, customer demographics, and other metrics to help inform business decisions.
7. Customer Service: The terminal may be equipped with a customer service feature that allows customers to speak with a pharmacist or customer service representative if they have any questions or concerns.

Now that we have established the main functions of the kiosk, let’s delve into the role of privacy and security.

Medication Dispensing – Meeting Regulatory Standards

Complying with Medication Dispensing Regulations

Integrating self-service terminals for medication dispensing authorizes your pharmacy business to meet regulatory standards set by governing bodies. These standards ensure responsible medication management and patient safety. By adhering to licensing requirements, medication restrictions, and patient authentication guidelines, you can confidently expand your offerings and attract more customers. This not only builds trust among customers but also fosters positive relationships with regulatory bodies and healthcare providers. Compliance with these standards helps pharmacies avoid legal issues, penalties, and reputational damage, while promoting a culture of safety and ethical practices.

Implementing Robust Security Measures

By implementing security measures, such as secure authentication mechanisms and encrypted data transmission, you instill confidence in your customers that their sensitive information and prescription medications are well-protected. This peace of mind encourages repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals, giving you a competitive advantage in the market.

Pharmacies can implement various security measures, such as:

1. Authentication Mechanisms: Self-service terminals can incorporate secure authentication methods, such as PIN codes, biometric verification (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition), or integration with electronic medical records. These measures ensure that only authorized individuals can access prescription medications, reducing the risk of medication errors and unauthorized access. Encryption ensures that even if the data is compromised, it remains unreadable and unusable.

2. Secure Data Transmission: Self-service terminals should employ advanced encryption and secure data transmission protocols to protect patient information during data transmission. This prevents interception or unauthorized access to sensitive data, ensuring patient confidentiality and privacy. Authorized personnel should have the necessary credentials and permissions to access patient information, reducing the risk of unauthorized data access or breaches.

3. Physical Security: Pharmacies should consider physical security measures to safeguard self-service terminals, such as securing the terminals to prevent theft, and implementing tamper-resistant designs. This may involve using encrypted storage systems, regular backups, and proper maintenance of hardware as well as having privacy shields or screens installed for client confidentiality.

As of now Tapbox has been working in various medical institutions such as hospitals and healthcare centers where we have implemented these security measures and it has proven good for their patients. We have the experience and knowledge about making privacy driven decisions that are crucial for pharmaceutical businesses. 

We also maintain the hardware and software for our clients. That way you can be sure that we implement all the newest technologies that would support an ever evolving private data jurisdiction and confidentiality.

Patient Privacy – Safeguarding Confidentiality

Data Protection and Transparent Privacy Policies

Complying with data protection and privacy regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, you reassure your customers that their personal health information is handled with the utmost care. Robust data encryption, stringent access controls, and secure data storage demonstrate your commitment to privacy, empowering customers to choose your pharmacy with confidence. Establishing transparent privacy policies and consent procedures builds trust and fosters long-term customer loyalty. By clearly communicating how you collect, use, and protect personal information through self-service terminals, you empower customers to make informed decisions about their data. 

To summarize everything learned in these two blogs about pharmacy businesses implementing self-service – integrating secure and private self-service solutions in your pharmacy business not only ensures regulatory compliance but also unlocks significant benefits for your business such as reduced cost, 24/7 availability, remote maintenance, face and other customer recognition with the help of installed privacy technologies, statistical data analysis, increased revenue and improved customer service.  By meeting regulatory standards, implementing robust security measures, and safeguarding patient privacy, you help all of those mentioned above to drastically change how your business operates and boost sales. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to differentiate your business and maximize growth by embracing the transformative power of self-service terminals.

To discuss self-service solution possibilities for your business, please get in touch with us today, and one of our team members will be more than happy to advise you!

Welcome to the first installment of our blog series on self-service terminals for pharmacies. As an already established leader in self-service terminal solutions in the medical field in Latvia, we at Tapbox see that we are ready to extend our expertise to the pharmacy sector. We see that this sector would highly benefit from our experience in a similar field in implementing self-service solutions.

But why? In this blog post, we will explore the myriad functionalities offered by self-service terminals and delve into how they can revolutionize the pharmacy store experience. By leveraging the power of these advanced solutions, pharmacies can enhance operational efficiency, provide convenience to customers, and offer round-the-clock service. Join us as we embark on this journey of innovation and transformation.

Medication Dispensing – Empowering customers to take control of their health

An Extensive Range of Health and Wellness Products at Customers Fingertips

Self-service terminals redefine the way customers access medications, vitamins, and health and wellness products. By incorporating intuitive touch-screen interfaces, these terminals provide an extensive range of options, allowing customers to browse, compare, and select products according to their specific needs. From allergy relief to pain management, customers can explore a comprehensive inventory, ensuring they find the right solution for their health concerns. With the ability to effortlessly purchase over-the-counter medications, customers gain a sense of empowerment and autonomy over their health decisions. Seamlessly accomplished through additional purchases and thoughtful up-sells, the device consistently presents opportunities for additional products based on customers specific needs, ensuring that no valuable suggestions are ever overlooked.

Access to Detailed Product Information for Informed Choices

One of the standout features of self-service terminals is their ability to provide customers with comprehensive product information. Through the touch-screen interface, customers can access detailed descriptions, dosage instructions, and potential side effects of various medications. This information empowers customers to make informed decisions about their health and wellness, ensuring they choose the most suitable products for their specific needs. By promoting a deeper understanding of medications, self-service terminals contribute to enhanced health literacy among customers. With the convenience of a simple tap, customers can effortlessly access the necessary information without causing any friction, eliminating the need to ask multiple questions while there may be a queue of people behind them. This self-service approach reduces social pressure and allows customers to view their own orders, significantly reducing the likelihood of errors.

Prescription Pick-up – Streamlining the Medication Collection Process

Swift and Efficient Retrieval of Prescriptions

Gone are the days of waiting in long queues to collect prescription medications. Self-service terminals streamline the prescription pick-up process, ensuring a swift and efficient experience for customers. With a simple authentication process, customers can access their prescriptions through the terminal. By automating the retrieval of medications, self-service terminals minimize wait times, allowing customers to quickly obtain their prescriptions and continue with their day. This seamless experience promotes customer satisfaction and loyalty, while also freeing up pharmacy staff to focus on other critical tasks.

Expert Guidance When Needed

While self-service terminals enable autonomous prescription pick-up, they also offer the option for customers to seek assistance from pharmacists if required. The terminals can be equipped with video call features, enabling customers to connect with a pharmacist in real-time for personalized advice or to address any concerns they may have. This unique blend of self-service convenience and human interaction ensures that customers receive the necessary guidance, fostering trust and strengthening the pharmacist-patient relationship.

Health Information – Empowering Customers with Knowledge

A Wealth of Knowledge at Your Fingertips

Self-service terminals serve as invaluable sources of health information, empowering customers to make informed decisions about their well-being. Customers can access a vast repository of health-related content, including medication details, potential side effects, and information about specific health conditions. This comprehensive knowledge base equips customers with the information they need to understand their health concerns, treatment options, and potential interactions between medications.

Promoting Health Literacy and Patient Empowerment

By providing easy access to accurate and reliable health information, self-service terminals contribute to the promotion of health literacy. Customers can educate themselves about their conditions, medications, and overall wellness, leading to improved self-care and proactive health management. Empowering customers with knowledge

As we have already had several successful cases of implementing self-service in the medical field, more specifically hospitals and other medical institutions of Latvia, we see that it really is changing the way hospitals manage their workflow. In the first months of implementing self-service, patient wait times decreased 6× compared to the regular registry. The hospital’s administrative work for patient processing has decreased 2×.

Apart from that it has enabled hospitals to better understand the patient needs thus giving the healthcare facility to make data-driven decisions. Compared to pharmacies, that can give the staff valuable information on what are the customer tendencies and needs and report the results accordingly. Self-service can also provide patients with a greater sense of privacy as they enter their own information without having to share it with hospital staff. Same goes for pharmacies as the information of medical history is a delicate subject for a lot of customers and they might not be very comfortable to share it with a pharmacist at the counter where there also might be other customers cueing. That way it also encourages patients to seek the help they need more often knowing that ordering of the medicine will be a process of comfort. 

About the privacy benefits and overall safeguarding of confidentiality we will discuss in the part 2 of this blog series of Unleashing the self-service solutions in pharmacy business. In the meantime don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook so you don’t miss out when we post this and following blog posts!

Self-service terminals have the potential to revolutionize the pharmacy industry by providing a comprehensive array of convenient services that cater to the evolving needs of both customers and businesses. These innovative terminals act as a gateway to enhanced customer experiences, streamlining processes and empowering individuals to take control of their healthcare journey. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and intuitive interfaces, self-service terminals offer a transformative shift in the way pharmacies operate, fostering efficiency, accessibility, and seamless interactions.

To discuss self-service solution possibilities for your business, please get in touch with us today, and one of our team members will be more than happy to advise you!