Medication errors are a critical concern in long-term care facilities, where residents often have complex medication regimens and varying levels of cognitive ability. Even seemingly minor errors can have significant consequences, impacting resident health, increasing healthcare costs, and diminishing trust in your facility.

At Skilled Care Pharmacy, we're passionate about medication safety. We understand the challenges faced by long-term care providers and offer solutions to help you create a safer, more accurate medication management system.

1. Conquer the Cost of Medication Waste:

Medication waste is a significant expense in long-term care. Unused or expired medications, improper disposal practices, and inefficient ordering processes can drain your budget.

• Fact: Medication waste in long-term care facilities can cost an estimated $2 billion annually.

Solutions:

• Unit-Dose Dispensing: Transitioning to unit-dose dispensing systems can significantly reduce waste by providing medications in individually packaged doses, minimizing the need for repackaging or disposal of partial doses.
• Accurate Medication Reconciliation: Implement rigorous medication reconciliation processes upon admission, transfer, and discharge to ensure accurate medication orders and prevent unnecessary medication accumulation.
• Regular Medication Reviews: Conduct regular medication reviews with a pharmacist to identify and discontinue unnecessary or duplicative therapies, optimizing medication regimens and reducing waste.

2. Embrace the Power of Automation:

Automation can streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and improve efficiency, ultimately leading to cost savings.

Solutions:

• Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR): Implementing eMAR systems can reduce the time spent on documentation, minimize errors, and improve medication administration accuracy, leading to cost savings associated with preventing adverse events.
  
  
• Fact: eMAR implementation has been shown to decrease medication errors by up to 80% in some long-term care settings.
• Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs): ADCs enhance medication security, streamline medication dispensing, and reduce waste by providing accurate dispensing and tracking of medications.
  
  
• Fact: ADCs can reduce medication dispensing time by up to 25% and decrease medication errors by 45%.

3. Streamline Billing Processes:

Inefficient billing processes can lead to delays in reimbursement, increased administrative costs, and potential revenue loss.

Solutions:

• Electronic Billing Systems: Transition to electronic billing systems to streamline claims submission, reduce errors, and accelerate reimbursement.
• Regular Billing Audits: Conduct regular internal audits to identify and address any billing discrepancies or inefficiencies.
• Partner with a Pharmacy Provider: Collaborate with a pharmacy provider that offers comprehensive billing services, including electronic claims submission, Medicare Part D billing expertise, and support for navigating complex reimbursement processes.

4. Optimize Staff Utilization:

Staffing costs are a significant portion of any long-term care facility's budget. Optimizing staff utilization can lead to cost savings without compromising resident care.

Solutions:

• Cross-Training: Cross-train staff to perform multiple roles, increasing flexibility and reducing the need for overtime or additional staff.
• Technology-Enabled Efficiency: Leverage technology to streamline tasks, automate workflows, and reduce administrative burdens on staff, allowing them to focus on direct resident care.
• Partner with Skilled Care Pharmacy: Our consulting services can help you optimize medication management processes, reduce staff workload, and improve efficiency.

5. Preventative Care and Wellness Programs:

Investing in preventative care and wellness programs can reduce the risk of costly hospitalizations and improve resident health outcomes.

Solutions:

• Wellness Initiatives: Implement wellness programs that promote physical activity, healthy eating, and social engagement to improve resident health and reduce the risk of falls and other complications.
• Medication Adherence Programs: Partner with your pharmacy provider to implement medication adherence programs that improve medication compliance and reduce the risk of adverse events.
• Fact: Improved medication adherence can reduce hospitalizations by up to 30% and decrease healthcare costs.

Skilled Care Pharmacy: Your Partner in Cost-Efficient Care

At Skilled Care Pharmacy, we understand the importance of cost-efficiency in long-term care. We offer a comprehensive suite of services and solutions designed to help your facility optimize medication management, streamline operations, and enhance resident care while managing costs effectively.

Ready to unlock cost savings and improve efficiency in your long-term care facility?

Contact Skilled Care Pharmacy today to learn more about our services and how we can partner with you to achieve your financial and care goals.