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Key takeaways
The holiday season is a busy time for pharmacies. Patients may be trying to meet deductibles, picking up last-minute prescriptions, and buying over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for holiday travel.
Preparing your pharmacy for the holidays can help make the holidays go smoothly.
Preparing your pharmacy includes replenishing your inventory, informing your staff and customers about holiday hours, decorating the pharmacy, and celebrating with your team.
The holidays are a busy time for everyone, especially pharmacists. Tis the season of patients trying to meet deductibles, picking up last-minute prescriptions and buying over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for holiday travel. With most doctor’s offices closing over the holidays, this can be a chaotic and stressful time for you and your pharmacy staff.
With this in mind, pharmacists can play a key role in preparing the pharmacy for the holiday season. In this article, we’ll discuss ways you can get your pharmacy ready as the holidays begin.
Ways to prep your pharmacy for the holiday season
Here are some ways you can prepare your pharmacy as the holiday season approaches.
Check and replenish your inventory
Ensuring you have plenty of inventory—both prescription and OTC drugs, toiletries, and gift cards or last-minute gift ideas—is key during this busy season. Before the holidays roll in, take inventory of what you have and replenish the items your patients may need.
For example, some patients may need refills of their chronic medications before they leave for an extended holiday trip. Others may want to stock up on OTC cough and cold medicines in case of an unexpected illness. Make sure your pharmacy has toiletries essential for travel as well, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and lotions.
Inform staff and patients about holiday hours
If your pharmacy is going to have holiday hours, make sure you inform your staff. This way, they can plan, and you can ensure adequate staffing. Next, let your customers know as soon as possible. You can do this by posting signs in the pharmacy, sending out a mass text message, or handing out a preprinted note with prescriptions in the weeks preceding the holidays. Letting them know well in advance encourages your customers to plan, too, and will lead to a less chaotic holiday season.
Decorate the pharmacy
Adding holiday decor to the pharmacy is a great way to boost team morale. You don’t have to go all out—but making the pharmacy festive can help lift everyone’s spirits. You can put up a small Christmas tree in the pharmacy and ask your staff to help decorate it, or each staff member can customize a stocking and hang it on the door.
Celebrate the holidays with your staff
The holiday season is a great time to celebrate and thank your staff for their hard work all year. With the extra rush of business coming these next few weeks, your staff must know they are appreciated. You can plan a holiday dinner after work where you take everyone to a local restaurant or have a holiday lunch during a workday. It’s a good idea to purchase gifts for your staff as well—something simple, such as cash or a gift card, can go a long way to express your gratitude for their hard work.
Bottom line
The holiday season is a busy time for pharmacies. As a pharmacist, you are easily accessible and a frontline healthcare provider—especially during the holidays when doctor’s offices may be closed. Preparing your pharmacy for the holidays can help make the holidays go smoothly. Hopefully, this article gives you some ideas on how to do so.