Posts Tagged: data conversions

Unique Data Management Needs for Chain Pharmacy

The world of chain pharmacy data management is complicated. It’s much different from independent pharmacies. That’s because chain pharmacies have multiple locations, often across numerous states. They also are more likely to acquire other pharmacies, meaning they have transition needs. So, what are these unique data management needs?

They Have More Data and Require Sharing Across Locations

The sheer amount of data is one big difference for chain pharmacy. The largest chains in the country have thousands of locations. That data also must be shareable. If a patient has a prescription at one location but moves or needs a refill while away from home, they need to be able to do this at any site. It’s a lot of moving pieces that require standardization. 

More Patient Records Means Lots of Data to Store

The pharmacy management systems for chains are always expanding. However, not all this data is active. Even though it’s not active, you still have to retain it for periods of time per state laws. Instead of overburdening systems, many choose to archive pharmacy records on a cloud-based platform.

Doing so makes your software less bulky, but you can still access it. Further, anyone within your network can when you select a web-based option. So, if pharmacy A needs records for a patient from pharmacy B, it’s easy to find and doesn’t require lots of legwork. 

Chain Pharmacies Are Acquirers

The pharmacy industry experiences acquisitions and closures every year. Chain pharmacies are top acquirers. They may either keep the location but rebrand or close it and just buy the patient data. In either case, they need a variety of pharmacy transition services, including:

  • Data conversions from the existing pharmacy system to their system.
  • Data archiving of older patient records that they don’t want to migrate but still must keep to adhere to record retention requirements.
  • Print and mail services to inform patients of the change, rebrand locations, or provide signage announcing the pharmacy moved. 

Custom Data Needs Are Common

This subset of pharmacy can also have specialized data needs. Those look different for every pharmacy but could include analytics, reporting, PHI data transfers, data cleaning, data aggregation, and data warehousing.

For these customized processes, you may look to firms that have deep experience working with pharmacy data. Your internal IT teams may not have the capacity or expertise, and that’s where a partner like InfoWerks makes achieving data-related goals pain-free. 

The Chain Pharmacy Data Experts

InfoWerks has over two decades of pharmacy data experience. We’ve completed tens of thousands of projects and archived billions of records. We are the partner of choice for the biggest chains in the country, and we’re always adapting to changing needs of the industry. To learn more about our solutions, contact our pharmacy experts today

InfoWerks: Expert Healthcare Data Movers

data movers

Healthcare data, it’s complicated. It’s also the engine of modern care delivery. Providers depend on access to the data, regardless of where it lives. Systems need to share it, and it has lots of regulatory demands around it. With so many challenges, healthcare organizations seek out experts like InfoWerks. We are professional data movers specializing in data conversions, archiving, and sharing. 

Here’s what we can offer the healthcare ecosystem.

Data Conversion Pioneers

Our roots are in data conversions, and our founders performed the first one for a pharmacy way back in the 1990s. Before that time, if you wanted to move to a new system, the conversion was manual. Now, over two decades later, we continue to perfect this process, ensuring accuracy and compliance. 

We can work with any platform and have the expertise to overcome hurdles such as field matching. Our team of in-house programmers and analysts has conducted thousands of conversions. Our objective is to make it as stress- and pain-free as possible.  

Data Archiving: Retain Records, Ditch Legacy Systems

The next solution we created was data archiving. We found that many organizations didn’t want to convert all their data to a new system. They also didn’t want to leave a legacy system running, as it’s risky and expensive. This need in the industry influenced us to create ViewMaster.

ViewMaster is a centralized, web-based platform that lives in the cloud. It’s HIPAA-compliant and offers accessibility to old records. It meets record retention mandates and has features to create audit reports in a few clicks. This cost-effective solution helps you say goodbye to clunky, hard-to-use legacy systems.

Data Sharing: Breaking Down Interoperability Barriers

Moving PHI data can put a lot of stress on IT teams. However, it’s often a necessity to ensure that two systems can talk and exchange. Without data feeding between the two, those applications may be useless. Scaling such operations can be difficult, as well. 

To alleviate some of the pain points of healthcare organizations, we can facilitate easy data sharing. It’s a better, secure way to transfer your PHI. 

Data Movers to Ensure Accessibility, Portability, and Interoperability 

As adept data movers, we’ve yet to encounter a project that was impossible. Our technical and business folks are able to work out plans for the most complex data problems. We welcome a challenge and have the capabilities and experience to move your data wherever it needs to go.

Contact us today to chat about your healthcare data management needs. 

What Is an Acquisition Data Conversion?

acquisition data conversion

The pharmacy business in the U.S. is constantly changing. Many factors impact pharmacy buying and selling. Retail and independent pharmacies both make acquisitions. Sometimes they keep them open and rebrand. Other times they close the location and become the new provider to patients. In either situation, an acquisition data conversion is a necessary step.

In this post, we’ll define this type of acquisition and provide key insights for pharmacy transition services.

Defining an Acquisition Data Conversion

When pharmacies purchase another business, they have several considerations for patient data. Much of the time, that requires migrating the data from one pharmacy software to another. In either rebranding or closing, the buying pharmacy needs to convert the data to their system. 

Data conversions in pharmacy are complex. It’s not a manual process but rather a programming exercise. The challenges often come from field mapping, unstructured data, 340B conversions, and drug pricing. Those are just a few of the migration issues. 

Who Should Perform the Data Conversion?

To ensure a smooth data conversion, you’ll want to work with a partner that’s an expert in the field. Not just any data management company can pull off such a project. Those that are specialists in data conversion understand HIPAA compliance, have experience with many pharmacy systems and have standardized practices in place. 

In choosing a data conversion company, look at their experience, workflows, and processes. You should feel confident that their work is accurate and compliant. 

Should You Keep All the Data?

In most scenarios, you won’t convert all your data to a new system. Some of it may be outdated or inactive. However, you still must retain those records for a period of time legally. Instead of converting, you can archive pharmacy patient data. Using a cloud-based, secure platform enables access with less cost and burden on your software.

What Else Can You Do with New Patient Data?

Along with being able to access and use the patient data, there are other ways to use it. Those consumers need to know about the changes, and patient contact information is the key. You can send them branded letters that announce the acquisition and advise them you’re their new pharmacy. These communications can have a significant impact on patient retention. 

Need Support for Your Pharmacy Acquisition?

InfoWerks helps pharmacies in transition, whether they are closing or rebranding. We offer a turnkey suite of pharmacy acquisition services, including conversions, archiving, and print and mail. Learn more about them today by downloading our pharmacy transitions spec sheet.