Welcome to the Information to Pharmacists (i2P) weekly edition for Monday December 15, 2014.
As we draw close to the end of the year, we collectively appear to be licking our wounds rather than going out on a high.
All portents for 2015 appear to be positive for pharmacists – if you have a plan.

If you don’t have a plan, then prepare one over the holiday period.
And I don’t mean New Years’ Resolutions – for they never eventuate because of lack of commitment.

Developing a plan means that you at least work out all the details to ensure feasibility and practicality.
Documenting your plan means that you can add and subtract – bettering  it through continuous refinement.

And it is continuous refinement that needs to happen to the physical appearance of pharmacies, the addition of new skills and the physical presentation of individuals.

Yes, it is probably time to think about pharmacists presenting themselves to patients in some sort of neat uniform so that new patients can distinguish you.
This should be part of your new accessibility plan, because that is what patients need from you.

And instead of arguing over hourly rates, use the time to negotiate (employer with clinical pharmacist) a method for sharing profits. That way, as a profit generator, a pharmacist is not seen as a cost, but rather a contributor to profit.

Have a written strategy and plan for converting customers to patients.

Breaking through over 2015 is a far more pleasant prospect than just drifting along!