CASE STUDY
www.mckesson.com
“If we have drugs that are normally in the CountAssist on backorder, we like to �ll the
canisters with another medication so it’s not sitting idle,” says McMullen. “We try to �nd
a pill that’s a similar shape and size — but that doesn’t always happen.” When she was
having trouble �nding a crown that would �t a replacement drug, she called McKesson,
and they sent out a variety of sizes to try. “I know if none of those had worked, all I’d have
to do is send them the measurements of the speci�c pill, and they would get us what
we needed.”
THE RESULT: EFFICIENCY GAINS
CountAssist has signi�cantly improved the ef�ciency of Point City Drugs. The pharmacy
now �lls an average of 400 prescriptions every day. McMullen highlights the impact on
customer service: “We can count more and faster, so our customers spend less time
waiting for prescriptions.” The technology has also helped the pharmacy manage space
more effectively.
One of the key advantages of CountAssist is its ability to handle rush requests without
disrupting ongoing tasks. “Before the CountAssist, if I were counting out another
prescription, I would have to stop and clear my tray to handle the rush request,” says
McMullen. Then, when she was done, she’d have to start her count on the previous
prescription all over again. “Now I can just leave it, �ll the prescription in the pharmacy
software system, and run over to the CountAssist to scan the barcode. Then, I can go
right back to �nish my other counting while the robot �lls the prescription. It’s just that
much more ef�cient.”
The technology also helps get Medicare patients out the door faster. “A lot of people
with Medicare come in usually on the �rst or third of the month to �ll their maintenance
medications,” says McMullen. “Let’s say a patient needs �ve maintenance meds, and all
�ve are in the CountAssist. Well, they’re all getting counted at once. There’s no way we
could do that quickly by hand.”
CONCLUSION: A WIN-WIN
The implementation of CountAssist at Point City Drugs has been a game-changer.
The technology has allowed the pharmacy to handle the increase in prescription volume
without compromising customer service or ef�ciency.
“We’re �lling twice as many medications in the same amount of time as we were without
the CountAssist,” McMullen says, summing up the pharmacy’s experience. “It’s made
our workflow so much more ef�cient and has allowed us to spend more time with our
customers, which is what we’re all about.”
“
“
From a space perspective,
we were concerned
about how we were
going to accommodate
everything … but we
found the perfect spot, a
kind of cubby, and now
it all just fows like it's
always been there.”
We can count more and
faster, so our customers
spend less time waiting
for prescriptions.”
Wendy McMullen, CPhT
~ Point City Drugs
Wendy McMullen, CPhT
~ Point City Drugs