 For Hospitals Considering Pharmacy Management and Outsourcing
 Why does a hospital outsource the Pharmacy to PharmaCare Services?
What Results Can the Hospital Expect By Outsourcing the Pharmacy?
What type of contract models does PharmaCare Services offer?
How long does a contract last?
Can we cancel our contract if we aren't satisfied?
Does PharmaCare Services offer risk sharing arrangements?
Does PharmaCare Services Provide Pharmacy Automation?
Will PharmaCare Services retain the hospital's current pharmacy staff?
Will the salaries and benefits change if we outsource pharmacy?
Do you provide Interim pharmacy staff coverage?
Do you recruit pharmacy staff if we lose personnel or need recruiting assistance?
Does PharmaCare Services have "start-up" experience?
| Why does a hospital outsource the Pharmacy to PharmaCare Services? |
| Organizations outsource pharmacy services usually when guided by a careful assessment of their capabilities of providing these services themselves, when unsuccessful in using their own resources to provide the services required, when influenced by a consultant, and when internal assessment shows that the total costs of pharmacy services continues to escalate in an uncontrolled manner. |
| What Results Can the Hospital Expect By Outsourcing the Pharmacy? |
| A hospital pharmacy management company can resolve operational inefficiencies by improving medication distribution systems, designing and implementing new pharmacy workflow patterns, reducing medication dispensing and administration errors, and improving computer and information systems. Management companies also have the personnel and expertise to efficiently make changes without interrupting services. The management company can assist the hospital by staffing hard-to-fill positions, thus allowing the organization to reach optimal staffing levels for achieving productivity targets. Management companies also have the expertise to reduce and maintain the cost of pharmacy's services. They shift the cost of employees, benefits, and liabilities to themselves. They also increase the hospital's financial operating margin by purchasing drugs at reduced prices due to volume discounting, improving billing accuracy, reducing drug diversion and pilferage, improving the drug formulary system and by implementing drug inventory management procedures that have been tested. They can also improve the level of pharmaceutical care provided to patients as well as support provided to medical and nursing staff. The Pharmacy management company can also resolve regulatory and accreditation problems relating to pharmacy services and ensure continuing compliance with legal and accreditation rules and regulations. |
| What type of pharmacy management contracts does PharmaCare Services offer? |
PharmaCare Services offers Full-Service, Management and Consulting contract arrangements.
Full-Service contracts include operation and clinical management of the department with the Director and pharmacy staff employed by PharmaCare Services. The inventory is owned by PharmaCare Services and the purchasing is assumed by PharmaCare Services' Purchasing Division.
Management contracts include operation and clinical management of the department with, minimally, the Director of Pharmacy employed by PharmaCare Service. Other Pharmacy Staff may or may not be employed by PharmaCare Services depending on the hospital's request. The hospital retains ownership of the pharmacy inventory but receives support from PharmaCare Services' Purchasing Division to enhance the process and reduce costs.
A Consulting contract provides pharmacy services for a limited time period to perform operational and clinical assessments, to implement specific processes and procedures or for projects such as JCAHO survey preparation or specific pharmacy projects at the client's request. |
| How long does a contract last? |
| Full-Service and Management contracts are typically three-year terms. Consulting contracts are usually one-year terms. Short-term Consulting Services such as Assessments & Recommendations are also available and are charged on a per project basis. |
| Can we cancel our contract if we aren't satisfied? |
| Yes. All Contractual Agreements with PharmaCare Services contain a 60-day out clause for no cause. We believe that a pharmacy management outsourcing arrangement is successful only when the relationship is collaborative and both parties benefit. If the hospital becomes dissatisfied for any reason, there is no obligation to continue. |
| Does PharmaCare Services Offer Risk Sharing Arrangements? |
| Yes. Risk Sharing is an option with a Full Service contract. Following the first 12 months of operation, PharmaCare Services and the hospital have the option to identify operational and clinical initiatives where risk sharing may be appropriate and beneficial to all parties. An example of risk sharing may be both parties share equally in savings when the average pharmacy cost per adjusted patient day is lowered by "x" amount from the previous year. |
| Does PharmaCare Services Provide Pharmacy Automation? |
| Yes. PharmaCare Services has a contractual arrangement with Med-Dispense, a pharmacy automation vendor. Through preferential pricing with the vendor we pass the cost savings on to hospitals who lease or purchase automation. |
| Will PharmaCare Services retain the hospital's current pharmacy staff? |
| PharmaCare Services prefers to maintain the hospital's pharmacy staff. Experience has proven that, with dedicated leadership, management oversight and clinical support, the staff will become more productive and stable resulting in operational and financial stability. Ultimately the hospital's quality of pharmaceutical service to patients improves. |
| Will the salaries and benefits change if we outsource pharmacy? |
| When a hospital requests services, PharmaCare Services reviews the existing pharmacy staffing levels, compensation and benefits. From that analysis we make recommendations. No adjustments or changes are made to salary and benefits without the involvement and approval of the hospital. |
| Will you provide Interim pharmacy staff for coverage? |
| Yes. Full service and management contracts are structured so that PharmaCare Services assumes the responsibility of providing interim pharmacy managers, interim staff pharmacists and/or interim technicians in the absence of employees whether for an unexpected illness, vacation, general coverage or while recruiting for a particular position. For hospitals not contracted for full service or management, PharmaCare Staffing Services interim staffing division provides staff as needed. |
| Will PharmaCare Services recruit pharmacy staff if we lose personnel or need recruiting assistance? |
| Yes. PharmaCare Services employs a full-time recruiter. Unlike headhunters and executive search firms, PharmaCare Services Permanent Placement focuses on qualified candidates that are a "good fit" for your hospital and community. Permanent Placement recruiting services are available for a flat fee rather than a percentage of the compensation that is typically charged by head hunters. To take advantage of PharmaCare Services' permanent placement services contact loris@PharmaCareservices.com |
| Does PharmaCare Services have "startup" experience? |
| PharmaCare Services has extensive experience with new / startup pharmacies. From designing the pharmacy layout to ensuring compliance for Pharmacy Board Inspection, PharmaCare Services has the ability to manage the pharmacy setup from start to finish. |
For Chief Financial Officers
Will PharmaCare Services Purchase Our Drug Inventory?
Can PharmaCare Services Ensure That All Pharmacy Charges Are Captured?
Will The Pharmacy Computer System Interface With the Hospital System?
Will PharmaCare Services Maintain our Pharmacy Charge / Product Master? |
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| Will PharmaCare Services Purchase Our Drug Inventory? |
| PharmaCare Services will purchase the hospital's pharmacy inventory if contractually agreed upon or the hospital may retain ownership. One important feature of a Full Service Contract is the provision of PharmaCare Services assuming ownership by purchasing your pharmaceutical inventory and carrying cost, billing the hospital only when drugs are dispensed. A member of a Group Purchasing Organization and a pharmacy management system that purchases pharmaceuticals for more than 25 hospital pharmacies, PharmaCare Services has the ability to provide purchasing services that will reduce your pharmacy supply cost and streamline your pharmacy purchasing processes. |
| Can PharmaCare Services Ensure That All Charges Are Captured? |
| By implementing systems that ensure accountability, PharmaCare Services greatly enhances the hospital's ability to capture charges. |
| Will The Pharmacy Computer System Interface With the Hospital System? |
| Yes. PharmaCare Services Full Service and Management contracts include the installation of a pharmacy computer system which interfaces with the hospital system from an ADT and billing perspective. |
| Will PharmaCare Services Maintain our Pharmacy Charge and Product Master? |
| Yes. PharmaCare Services has extensive experience building, revising and maintaining hospital pharmacy charge and product masters. PharmaCare Services has built product and charge masters from the ground up for new hospitals in acute, Rehabilitation, Long Term Acute, Psychiatric and Surgical Specialty Hospitals.. |
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For Directors of Nursing
| Can PharmaCare Services Provide Computer Generated Medication Administration Records? |
| Yes. The pharmacy computer system that PharmaCare Services utilizes in its managed pharmacies generates medication administration records each day or as requested. This replaces handwritten medication administration records thereby reducing labor cost and medication administration errors. |
For Medical Directors and Clinicians
| We strive to provide quality clinical resources for our physicians, staff and patients. As a small facility, we cannot afford a team of clinical pharmacists. How can PCS assist us moving forward? |
| PCS will perform an assessment of clinical needs and then provide a number of best practices. Renal dosing, specialized medication monitoring parameters, antibiotic stewardship programs are among some of the resources we provide. We have clinical pharmacists available to consult with your staff any time there is a need. |
| As you know formulary costs are continuing to increase and it represents such a large portion of a hospital's budget, what can PCS do to help us control our costs that is different from other organizations? |
| PCS is a member of a large purchasing group and with that comes a the benefit of purchasing power. Our purchasing department strives to identify the most cost effective, on contract items so that the best prices are passed along to our hospitals. PCS provides a thorough cost and clinical analysis of the formulary. Using your formulary we are able to identify best purchasing practices, stream-line the formulary through P&T committees, and provide customized, clinically sound therapeutic substitution lists. |
For Pharmacy Professionals
| Will I Be An Employee of PharmaCare Services or the Hospital? |
| Depending on the type of contract between the hospital and PharmaCare Services, the employees may or may not shift to PharmaCare Services. In both Full Service and Management only arrangements, all or a portion of the staff may be employed by PharmaCare Services. |
| Will I Still Have a Job? |
| When PharmaCare Services contracts with a hospital to manage the pharmacy department, our goal is to maintain current employees. Experience has shown that due to the demands on hospital pharmacy staff - operational, purchasing, regulatory compliance - management support and additional resources make the difference, not new personnel.
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| What Type of Benefits Does PharmaCare Services Offer? |
| Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Accounts, Paid Time Off, 401K with company match |
| What Training Does PharmaCare Services Provide? |
| PharmaCare Services provides ongoing management, clinical and leadership training. We assume the responsibility of training and educating the pharmacy staff to enhance professional growth and development.
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For Pharmacy Professionals Seeking Employment
Will I Be An Employee of PharmaCare Services or the Hospital?
What Type of Benefits Does PharmaCare Services Offer?
What Training Does PharmaCare Services Provide?
Is Hospital Pharmacy Experience Necessary?
Will PharmaCare Services Conduct A Telephone Interview?
What is the Salary Range?
Is Relocation Assistance Provided?
Does PharmaCare Services Offer Sign-On Bonuses? |
| Will I Be An Employee of PharmaCare Services or the Hospital? |
| Depending on the type of contract between the hospital and PharmaCare Services, the employees may or may not shift to PharmaCare Services. In both Full Service and Management only arrangements, all or a portion of the staff may be employed by PharmaCare Services. |
| What Type of Benefits Does PharmaCare Services Offer? |
| Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Accounts, Paid Time Off, 401K with company match. |
| What Training Does PharmaCare Services Provide? |
| PharmaCare Services provides ongoing management, clinical and leadership training. We assume the responsibility of training and educating the pharmacy staff to enhance professional growth and development. |
| Is Hospital Pharmacy Experience Necessary? |
| Hospital pharmacy experience is preferred but is not always required. |
| Will PharmaCare Services Conduct A Telephone Interview? |
| Yes. Telephone interviews are generally the first step in getting to know pharmacy candidates and their areas of interest. |
| What is the salary range? |
| Salaries are determined by location/demographics of the hospital, bed-size of hospital, position, level of responsibility, and previous experience. |
| Is Relocation Assistance Provided? |
| Relocation assistance is negotiable. Many times, the hospital and PharmaCare Services will collaborate and agree that a particular candidate or position dictates relocation assistance. |
| Does PharmaCare Services offer Sign-On Bonuses? |
| Sign-on bonuses are negotiable. The hospital and PharmaCare Services collaborate to determine whether a sign-on bonus is appropriate and/or necessary. |
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