Following a long weekend in Puerto Rico while attending and speaking at the Drogueria Betances pharmacy conference, I began reminiscing about our international endeavors over the years: our European operations; preparing educational materials for independent pharmacies in Taiwan; guiding the launch of a pharmacy chain in Trinidad Tobago; and working north of the border in Canada. One thing is clear…the language of consumer healthcare at retail is indeed universal.
I believe there are four key areas that suppliers should consider when trying to strengthen their relationships with pharmacists – especially community pharmacies.
- Pharmacists are focused on patient care.
- The prescription area is at the heart of their business.
- They are extremely busy.
- Tools and resources that bring real value and support are welcome additions to their operation.
Pharmacists are extremely compassionate, patient, and knowledgeable. And, without exception, they will work to put their patient first. Whether spending extra time to ensure patient understanding and compliance, or getting involved in their communities, pharmacists lead the way. That may be why they are consistently honored as one of the most trusted professionals.
As a supplier or distributor, I believe that making a concerted effort to connect and align with front-line pharmacists is paramount to ultimately improve patient outcomes. It is also evident that this group of hard-working healthcare professionals is both time-starved and information overloaded. Here are four ways to approach pharmacists:
- Be sincere – no other formula exists for sincerity than by being genuine and refraining from projecting something that you are not.
- Be consistent – if you commit to supporting and remaining in contact with pharmacists, then there is no better way than to do it without falter.
- Be persistent – repeating messages and providing support in multiple ways is the best way to cut through the noise.
- Be willing to accept input – while a, "How can we improve our products or services?" inquiry is fine, go a step further and ask pharmacists to share their knowledge, expertise, and requests.
There’s value in getting – and staying – connected to pharmacists. Hopefully this post will give you some food for thought. If you’re looking for more ways, give me a shout and we can discuss some specific ways to position yourself for success.