Ten Steps Towards Profitable Dispensing

Dispensing Doctor Experts give the DDA conference a 10-step plan

Buy the right product from the right supplier to maximise profitability, and look for wins, eg Cat C items available as “generics” from a short liner.

That was one of the ten steps to profitable dispensing, set out by Greg Bull and Alastair Carmichael of Dispensing Doctor Experts in their presentation to the DDA conference 2023.

Setting out the 10 steps, Bull asked practices to consider three key fundamentals to dispensary profitability. These are:

Is there a workable management structure?
Are there regular communications and discussions?
Is everyone on board/motivated/keen to embrace change?

The remaining nine steps are as follows:

Step one: Understand and use your PCSE statement with respect to Dispensing Income and to monitor your KPIs

Step two: Implement and understand meaningful Dispensary Management Accounts

Step three: Implement and understand your Key Performance Indicators [KPIs]

Step four: Learn to analyse and understand your wholesaler/buying group statements

Step five Target high-cost therapeutic areas and medicine choices to make the biggest impact

Step six: Consider dispensary design and layout… and consider the use of space within the entire practice building and your actual dispensing processes – how many times do you handle that green piece of paper?

Step seven: Consider how automation can improve profitability, processes and retain patients.

Step eight: Ensure prescriptions are written correctly to minimize returns, disallowed items and dispensing at a loss.

Step nine: Consider staff bonuses!

View the full presentation: Ten Steps Towards Profitable Dispensing

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