Giant Pharmacists to Process Paperless Prescriptions

Doctors will be able to write paperless prescriptions to Giant Food pharmacists in less than 30 seconds using a desktop computer, handheld PC or a cell phone. This two-way communication, called OnCallData, also allows a pharmacist to request a refill or verify a prescription from the doctor. Giant, a member of the Ahold USA group, is the first chain pharmacy to offer Internet scripts capability in all 154 of its pharmacies.

An alliance with NDCHealth, InstantDx and Giant Inc. will allow 30,000 physicians in the mid-Atlantic region using NDC Health’s Medisoft and Lytec practice-management software to be the first to send e-scripts to Giant pharmacies through the connectivity of the intelligent NDCHealth Information Network.

More than 30 percent of a pharmacist’s workday is spent on the phone receiving and clarifying prescriptions. By 2005, retail pharmacists are expected to fill four billion prescriptions, according to Russell B. Fair, R.Ph., vice president of pharmacy operations for Giant Food Inc.

Moderator Comment: What impact will this technology
make on pharmacy operations and customer service levels?

This technology will certainly be appreciated by pharmacists
(and employers) already strained by the current shortage of pharmacists. [George
Anderson – Moderator
]

BrainTrust

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