How did In-house pharmacy units become essential in healthcare facilities?
Be it to cut the number of re-admissions, or improve drug adherence, in-house pharmacies are a great way to increase patient retention rates. Given the importance of in-house pharmacies, they are no longer restricted to basements or some obscure locations of the building but are instead moved to the most accessible and centralised locations of the facility.
In recent times, a rising trend of providing in-house pharmacy facility to patients as well as staff – both in-service and retired – has called for the need to create sustainable designs for these units. However, designing in-house pharmacies is not an easy job either. In addition to proper planning, you need to determine the size, cost, location, profitability and target patient population. Besides, creating a sophisticated, integrated and cost-effective design to enable safe and easy management of pharmacy unit is more of a challenge.
Why do you need In-house pharmacy units for your healthcare facility?
- Readily available inventory for easy dispensing and use.
- Improve drug adherence among the patient community.
- Close monitoring of available stock, and real-time refill of inventory.
- 24/7 availability for patients – making it easier for them to procure prescribed medications.
- Track prescribing patterns of doctors, and drug usage trends of patients.
- Greater Medication availability for the outpatient community.
3 Tips for Effective Interior Design of In-house Pharmacies
Create Sustainable and Appealing Designs: When you are establishing an in-house pharmacy unit, always keep in mind that the unit expands, renovates and remodels along with the healthcare facility. This indicates the need for a sustainable design and layout which is easily adaptable for future upgradations/degradations. Meanwhile, a consistent interior environment, customer-friendly layout, easy navigation path and effective product placement for greater visibility; combined with the display and lighting expertise can help create a sustainable design.
According to Healthcare Design Magazine, the list of key pharmacy workplace features aimed at boosting staff productivity and comfort is as below:
- Shield pharmacists from noise, interruptions, and uncomfortable temperatures.
- Reduce stress through optimal lighting and appropriate color/work surfaces to mitigate visual fatigue.
- Minimize wasted time, motion, and space.
- Reduce fatigue and risk of injury by carefully locating task areas and selecting appropriate flooring materials.
- Facilitate workflow through decreased fill time, optimized staff utilization, and reduced clutter.
- Provide flexibility to adapt to future changes.
Dedicated Space for Patients and Pharmacists: Healthcare Interior Designers have always stated that an essential amenity that can be offered in any in-house/hospital-based pharmacy unit is a “small, private consultation space” where a pharmacist can explain how to use the medication, potential side effects, and potential drug interactions. In addition to that, most pharmacy units are creating separate zones – for customers and pharmacists – to provide a clutter-free dispensing area and a more comfortable waiting areas for patients, also allowing for patient-pharmacist interactions. In short, patient privacy, comfort and educations are essential aspects of any pharmacy design, according to Dave Haraminac of SmithGroupJJR (Detroit).
Healthcare Interior Designers have always stated that an essential amenity that can be offered in any in-house/hospital-based pharmacy unit is a “small, private consultation space” where a pharmacist can explain how to use the medication, potential side effects, and potential drug interactions.
Effective Lighting and Efficient Colors: As I have already discussed in my previous posts, colors and lighting play a major role in transforming any kind of space into an elaborate, sophisticated and appealing area. Colors used for interior walls of pharmacy units should make the customers feel invited, besides being neutral schemes and lighter shades – for warmth and serenity. Meanwhile, lighting can be used to emphasize certain products, and add value to the overall interior design. Overall, a right blend of colors and lighting can create a unique and pleasant environment for your patients, visitors and staff.
