Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “order stock, check in totes and pull expired drugs”

Here is the best way to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

60 min
typically, every day
55%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 1

Software feature

Run perpetual inventory with automatic wholesaler orders

Perpetual inventory in the pharmacy system updates stock with every fill and receipt, builds the daily wholesaler order from par levels, and keeps a running controlled-substance balance, so counts become spot checks.

Typically saves about 40% of the time3 h to set up
  1. 1Turn on perpetual inventory and set min/max levels for your top items.
  2. 2Let the system build the daily order; review and send to your wholesaler.
  3. 3Scan totes in against the invoice so stock updates itself.
  4. 4Use the controlled-substance perpetual log and electronic CSOS ordering for Schedule II.
  5. 5Run an expiry report monthly instead of checking every shelf.

Tools: Your pharmacy system inventory module · Wholesaler ordering (McKesson, Cardinal Health, Cencora) · CSOS

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Pharmacy technician

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Other common tasks for Pharmacy technicians