8 fundamentals you need to get right The coffee conversations with various pharmacy owners  and managers I enjoyed a few years ago around the imperative of refocusing pharmacists from the rear technical processing role to the forward customer engagement role was predominantly anchored by whether and why questions.  These days these sorts of conversations are […]

As consumers, pharmacists – like Joe Public at large, are so conditioned these days to a certain “counter discipline” in classic retail environs.  Take the everyday supermarket.  There is clear signage and a reinforcing culture, that if you … Want self service you go to those self scanning/self self paying areas Want service and have […]

  In the April 2019 Pharmacy Bulletin I talked about ditching the mum and motherhood statements in writing a Mission/Service Statement. Here is a case study as an example… A progressive, medium sized, neighbourhood shopping centre, branded pharmacy recently shunned its brand’s mission statement as meaningless and set about articulating its own.  Why?  This particular […]

The truth about open vs closed questions…..and the application in health customer conversations. A recent AJP Daily article posed the question, “What error makes up 10% of incidents reported to PDL?” Advice offered in this article includes ……… “Open questions, as opposed to closed, should always be used and are designed to draw information from […]

In recent bulletins I have outlined the notion of the total engagement ; complete solution conversation customer experience and the types of service models and skills required to successfully execute such an offer. This month I would like to cascade the imagery of this customer experience down to granular levels to assist in the understanding. […]

“Mary” (a pseudonym) is employed as a “forward” pharmacist at Upper Utopia West Pharmacy (another pseudonym!). In her heart and mind, she perceives herself as a “forward” pharmacist, believing that her best value to her employer is in engaging with customers at the service counters, offering health advice and solutions. Not processing scripts in the […]

  Too often when I ask an owner to have a look at their mission/vision statement, if they have one, it will often be a hand-me-down from their brand or group head office.  Straight away, it is by definition going to be generic.  Secondly, it will often be replete with “Mum and Motherhood” statements about […]

Maybe you are switching brands…moving premises…gearing up for a significant refit and investment. Maybe you have dusted off your original sketches, looking to see the degree to which your current design and configuration meets your current service needs. Any of these scenarios, and more, should lead you to take a step back and think deeply […]

I would like to remind you of a consultation model I have developed to underpin a wholly different type of conversation at the health customer serving counters. A conversation, led by the dispensary team member that expands the typically narrow perceived customer need to a broader, more complete health consultation. Why is this? Now I […]

Stripped of urine strips?  Carpe diem!   Avid readers of the trade press will have doubtless seen coverage over the past month or so surrounding the short supply of urine strip products.  And the connection between this and “fad” dieters who are buying them up, denying diabetics in greater need.  One such editorial urged pharmacists […]