b) EFTPOS terminals:  www.eftpos.co.nz

EFTPOS New Zealand Limited have recently launched an innovative new product, PC EFTPOS Lite. PC EFTPOS Lite enables any pharmacy to integrate their PC-Windows based point-of-sale system with their EFTPOS terminal. This provides retailers with the ability to keep an electronic journal eliminating the need for receipt copies, and process transactions cheaper, as EFTPOS receipt and sales receipts are printed by one printer. PC EFTPOS Lite has the ability to run multiple EFTPOS lanes from a single telephone line, as well as increasing counter space due to a compact pinpad unit and no need for a separate printer.

c) Bar Code Scanners - The main types of scanners used in the retail environment are Laser Scanners and CCD scanners. Both types scan automatically and can be initiated by either a trigger switch, or automatically using flash mode.

Main differences are :

• Laser scanners read bar codes over short to medium distances ( most types up to 1 metre ), and are in the upper price range .
• CCD scanners can read barcodes only over small distances - usually not more than 25mm.They are less expensive and more robust than the laser scanners.

New technology which should be available to the pharmacy market in the near future is wireless scanners which will have uses for stocktaking, and potentially as a useful tool in dispensing and checking prescriptions.

2. SOFTWARE

There are two main pharmacy software programmes :

(i) LOTS (Harvey Lockie):  www.healthsoft.co.nz

LOTS is designed to be 100% Windows compliant. You can have multiple windows open, for example, while dispensing also have open orders, and Point of Sale (PoS) for instant access. If you have both dispensing and OTC modules, the two systems are integrated to combine ordering and interactions(ie between OTC purchases and prescription medicines), and also customer accounts.

LOTS uses sales forecasting and stock management formulae which have been shown to allow some 15% more turnover for the same stock compared to common computer systems, with about 50% less out-of-stocks and dead stock. LOTS has as a feature the "Compliance chart" that presents the whole of the last 12 months history of a patient in visual form on screen. It is a very popular features, and most pharmacists say that it is allows a major advance in their professional services.

(ii) TONIQ :  www.toniq.co.nz

Toniq is a Windows-based program, with both dispensing and retail

modules available. Toniq has electronic communications used as frontline support, which means any time you have a software problem, Toniq aim to resolve it for you while you are on the phone, using modems and the pcAnywhere program to control your computer from their office in Christchurch and work on the problem for you. Help is available anytime you need it.

Toniq has a comprehensive database of medicines, including a large range of Hospital only medicines. The medicine file update is available for download to registered users from their website.

This year Toniq is introducing a number of new features-Web based education and on-line forums, modules for assisting patient compliance. The program prepares a patient guide, which assist the patient to understand dose times, the medication and expected pick up dates for repeats. Data sharing tools are also being introduced, to allow transfer of retail information within a group.

Other software available to assist in areas of pharmacy practice includes-

a) MAQS: www.ultrx.co.nz/maqs

MAQS is a document control program, intended to simplify compliance with HFA and other contracts with specific performance requirements. It can be used in both retail and hospital environments.

MAQS was developed to produce the necessary paperwork to satisfy audit requirements in the smallest amount of time, with minimal input required by busy pharmacists. It streamlines the documentation process, by automatically producing and printing each day a "to do" list, so staff complete the required tasks, sign and file it. Documents can be assigned individual review times, so you are automatically notified of reviews that are due to be done. This takes the pressure off when the audit letter arrives, as the system makes you review procedures on a regular basis.

MAQS will also have applications to assist in the day to day running of your pharmacy- as it controls the following :

• Policies and Procedures
• Job Descriptions
• Staff Training
• Daily Task Recording
• Document Review processes

b) pcAnywhere:  http://www.symantec.com/

Pharmacies can use a program such as pcAnywhere to allow staff to work off-site, accessing the pharmacy computer via a modem connection. pcAnywhere is password protected, so staff can only access areas that they are assigned to. Stobo's pharmacy in Oamaru employ a staff member who works from home to process inwards goods. This streamlines the processing of orders, and frees up shop staff to be available to customers. Their Dispensary Manager also accesses the MAQS program from home to review documents using pcAnywhere, without the interruptions of a normal busy day.

3.INTERNET/INTRANET

With the many applications available through the Internet, it is rapidly becoming an essential business tool. Security becomes an issue with internet access, and must always be kept in mind.

Many pharmacies are now advancing in e-commerce, and launching on-line stores. Pharmacy groups, such as Amcal and Unichem, recognise IT as important directions for growth, and have dedicated IT departments.

Amcal :  www.amcal.co.nz

The Amcal website has a number of features which give pharmacies in this group a presence on the Internet.

Each Amcal pharmacy has its' own on-line store, an e-zine ( an e-zine is an internet newsletter, if you're not familiar with the term ) which is generated centrally, but personalised when sent to the customer, a section where customers can enter their repeat prescription details and a fax is sent to their pharmacy ( which customers select from a drop-down list), with all the details, including delivery or collection time . This means Amcal pharmacists can have the prescriptions ready for the patients before they come in.

Amcal also utilises Intranet technology ( which means all members are linked via an independent line ) to run a point of sale system called AdvanceRetail, which centralizes product maintenance & sales information, and is used create a national sales picture of what is happening in each pharmacy.This allows measure of how successful a particular promotion has been, and other important feedback.

Unichem

Unichem launched their IT department 6 months ago, focussing on setting up an Intranet system which was launched in Nov 2000, the first in a number of technology projects the Board are committed to. It caters to the three franchises, Unichem, Unichem Life, and Dispensary First, with each franchise only accessing information relevant to them.

The Intranet is named "Splash " and allows Unichem members to "dive" into four different sections of information technology - News, Knowledge, Discussion and Trade.

The News area has general news pertaining to pharmacy, such as industry news - both local and international, suppliers' news, conference and marketing information. The Knowledge area contains logos and templates for advertising, training information, marketing promotions, and reference articles. This frees up the Head Office staff from repetitive tasks to allow them to concentrate on other issues, as well as allowing pharmacies to access information in their own time, as often as they like. This flexibility, as well as ease of content editing is essential for the success of Splash.

Suppliers may also provide additional benefits to those who use the Exchange. For example, Orange Distribution currently offers unique promotions, prompt payment rebates and standard prices that are significantly cheaper.

Pharmacists can also sell or purchase surplus stock, listing it in the Stock Exchange area with the medicine, product description, quantity, expiry date, and value entered . When a pharmacist purchases a listed product, the selling pharmacist is e-mailed the purchasing pharmacist details. It is then up to the pharmacists to arrange the exchange of the product(s) and payment.