Over the years many pharmacies have been fitting consultation rooms within their retail setting. What has been a common trend is to use this room, not for patients, but for excess stock, returns to wholesalers and a general collection pit!
We all have this special cupboard at home … the one we use to shove everything in to clear the rest of the space.
Well pharmacists, it’s time to clear those private consultation areas! The GPHC inspection and premises standards have kicked in. It’s the Now or Never cliché.
Coaching pharmacists in using their consultation rooms has been a recent role of mine. Over the past six months I have seen some amazing rooms that have been used as glorified stock rooms. Yet I have seen some, which are smaller than my boiler cupboard, that are being used very well.
We need a balance! Quality and Quantity!
Within my pharmacy, I now have three consultation rooms. The standards are to have two in place to meet the future of pharmacy services. Most of us are delivering MURs and NMS within the consultation room. But why not look at other ways in which to introduce your clients to this hidden secret room.
Health Promotional events in-store is a good way. Train your staff in doing diabetes risk assessments, guidance to alcohol awareness and increase your commissioned services such as stop smoking and health checks.
The engagement and outcomes are much greater, than a speedy brief intervention, over the counter. What’s more, it gives pharmacy that clinical professionalism we’ve all been shouting for. Now’s the time to show what we can do.
When designing your consultation room make provision for a sink, couch and enough space for three people sitting down. Your reaction now, may be the most common – “Where am I going to get this space!” The best way is to sit down and plan this. There are several companies that specialise in this, and usually give a free initial consultation.
Commercially, these rooms can be very profitable. By increasing your commissioned services the room will pay for itself. Furthermore, by utilising your staff, their productive throughput will increase immensely. This also builds their confidence and motivates them to deliver more services. Don’t just stop at commissioned services, introduce private ones and furthermore, get other therapists & health care professionals to use it too, and of course charge rent for the usage.
So go on – clear that clutter up now!
