Pediatric practices can offer their patients a valuable service by dispensing medications directly to patients at the point of care. Parents are busy people, and taking children to the doctor takes time and energy. Having to make an extra trip to the pharmacy is one more errand that parents don’t have time for.
In-office dispensing is one way that pediatricians can make prescription pick-up easier for their busy patients.
What Is In-Office Dispensing?
In-office dispensing (also called physician dispensing) refers to dispensing medications and other treatments at a physician’s practice. In-office dispensing is more efficient than the traditional pharmacy model because it cuts out the middleman. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports in-office dispensing as long as it is legal in the state where the pediatrician’s practice is located, and the dispensing program is properly structured. Currently, physician dispensing is allowed in most, but not all, states.
Benefits for Pediatric Practices
Physicians, patients, and medical staff can all benefit from a dispensing program. Here are just a few of the main advantages:
Help Parents Avoid The Pharmacy
By providing medication dispensing services, pediatricians are able to save parents time and hassle. Patients don’t need to call their pharmacy, wait for their prescription to be filled, drive to the pharmacy, or wait in long lines just to get their medications. Instead, they can leave their doctor’s visit with their prescriptions in hand.
Visiting the pharmacy can be an especially difficult task for parents, especially parents of young kids. Children aren’t always patient, and they can have a hard time standing or sitting still for long periods of time. Waiting in a long pharmacy line with small children is no easy feat.
Families often have packed schedules, between school, work, sports, extracurricular activities, and household chores. Making time for kids’ doctor’s appointments and then visiting the pharmacy can be a pain. If the child is very sick, the parent might even have to arrange for childcare while they travel to the pharmacy to pick up the medication. In-office dispensing eliminates these headaches.
Help Parents Save Money on Medications
Pharmacies make a lot of money selling medications to patients—something parents well know, as children tend to get sick more than adults. Their immune systems are still developing, and at school and childcare facilities, they’re in close contact with other kids and are exposed to any number of germs. In particular, parents of infants and toddlers may take their little ones to the doctor several times a year, and they may be prescribed several medications. All this adds up financially.
Meanwhile, dispensing physicians have the opportunity to save their patients money on their prescriptions by offering cheaper brands, charging reasonable prices, and working with insurance companies for better coverage.
Pharmacies are in the business of making money and often mark up prescriptions to higher prices. When they’re out of the picture, doctors can offer their patients more affordable prescriptions.
Create Trust With Parents
Pediatricians are in unique situation—not only do they have to connect with their young patients; they also have to earn the trust of their parents. In-office dispensing can help pediatricians build this relationship of trust. Parents will appreciate being able to speak with their child’s doctor directly about the medication they’re receiving, instead of a busy pharmacist they don’t know, who may have to speak to hundreds of customers every day.
Parents want to have a strong trust in the doctor treating their children. Any extra time and service that a doctor can provide can enhance this feeling of trust. Dispensing medications in-office is one way for pediatricians to provide more holistic, end-to-end care.
Improve and Monitor Treatment Compliance
In-office dispensing allows pediatricians to spend time explaining medications to the family. Doctors can give specific instructions, and open a dialogue with their patients and their parents. As some medications can be difficult to administer to children, doctors who dispense medication can also take time to demonstrate to parents how to give the first dose.
With in-office dispensing, parents have the opportunity to ask the doctor any questions they may have about the treatment plan and medication instructions right away, when they receive the medication. This extra attention can help parents better understand their child’s condition and treatment plan, so that they can administer the medication properly and consistently.
Create an Extra Revenue Source
Dispensing medication can be a good way to create a new revenue stream for a pediatric practice. Notably, pediatric practices can profit from in-office dispensing while still offering a more affordable rate than pharmacies. The additional revenue can be used to improve the practice, update technology, or anything else. Ultimately, this extra revenue can translate into better care for patients.
Begin a Medication Dispensing Program Today
Beginning a medication dispensing program is simple. Pediatricians only need to contact a quality medication dispensing company that can help them set up and maintain a medication dispensing program.
Most companies will help with the initial setup, technology, staff training, regulatory compliance, and ongoing support needed for in-office dispensing. A reliable company will also help pediatricians figure out which medications and in which quantities they need to stock. They can help medical practices maintain their inventory and deliver pre-packaged medications to the office as well.