8
S moke S ignals
FEBRUARY 1, 2018
'This matches up nicely'
PHARMACY continued
from front page
the plastic bag containing the
corresponding prescriptions lights
up, making it easier for Pharmacy
employees to find quickly.
The new system saves Pharmacy
clerks from digging through rows of
last names to locate prescriptions
— no easy task in Grand Ronde
where many people often share the
same family name.
“We were dealing with pretty
long lines in the lobby,” says acting
Pharmacy Director Lincoln Wright.
“Even though the system was al-
phabetized it took a while. Now we
just go to the bag that blinks. This
is the first pharmacy I have worked
in that uses this system.”
The wireless RetrieveRx system
is specifically designed to work with
software at the Pharmacy and helps
with customer service by allowing
staff to answer price and pick-up
questions directly from their work
stations.
“This matches up nicely,” Wright
says. “Most of the planning hap-
pened before my tenure here. …
Essentially they were looking for
other options to improve patient
experiences.”
The idea for customer service
improvements came about shortly
after Health Services Executive Di-
rector Kelly Rowe was approached
by a Tribal Elder, who pointed out
the lengthy lines to obtain medica-
tions from the Pharmacy.
“We spoke about how to improve
our systems and how to best to
meet patient needs,” Rowe says.
“The new RetrieveRx program has
supported our ability to decrease
staff time searching for patient
medications and shorten patient
wait times.
“Having this new equipment is
a great addition to our Pharmacy
and has been well received by staff
and patients. We are thankful for
the opportunity to improve our
services for the Tribal membership
and community.”
So far, response from patients and
staff alike has been “overwhelming-
ly positive.”
“It’s always an adjustment to fig-
ure out what to do if the bags don’t
light up,” Wright says. “But so far
when it stops we have been able to
get it going in a few minutes.”
Sensors are positioned around
the Pharmacy that emit infrared
light signals that connect to the new
system from several different ac-
cess points. The hardware includes
heavy-duty bags and handles, which
remain closed on the rack and light
up whether on the hanger or not,
and also accounts for prescriptions
that require refrigeration.
Pharmacy Technician Sarah
Mode says that the system makes
it easy to find patient prescription
bags.
“Also, if there is more than one
bag they all light up for one person’s
prescription,” she says.
Pharmacy Secretary Isaiah Sher-
wood describes the RetrieveRx sys-
tem as much more efficient.
“It is safer as well because bags
are linked to the patient name, so
it decreases the risk of the prescrip-
tion going to the wrong person,” he
says. “Also, it makes things easier
for our clerks and has cut the lines
down by more than half.”
Sherwood says that Pharmacy
clerks are typically novice em-
ployees and it is easier to learn
the new system without becoming
overwhelmed, which has positively
affected training and stress levels.
“When customers walk up it is
much less of a guessing game,”
he says. “Before we would have
to check multiple locations to find
things.”
Another bonus? Less confusion
for family members picking up
prescriptions for another person.
“Sometimes they will have the
information for two prescriptions,
but there is actually more,” Wright
says. “This system will show all of
the meds and not just what they
tell us, so they don’t have to come
back later.”
RetrieveRx is made by QS/1,
which specializes in pharmacy
management systems in Spartan-
burg, S.C.
We Want To Hear From You!
WIC visits Community Center monthly
Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Does your family include a child under
the age of 5?
If so, you may qualify for the Women, Infants and Children program.
With WIC, people can receive answers to nutritional questions and
access fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, milk, cheese, juice,
cereal and more.
A WIC representative visits the Tribal Community Center on the
third Tuesday of the month, which will be Feb. 20,
Walk-ins are welcome between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 503-879-
2034.
That’s right, the Grand Ronde
Health & Wellness Center
Comment Box is located at the
entrance of the Health &
Wellness Center, next to
the drinking fountain.
Share your experience, good
or bad with us!
We look forward to hearing
what you have to say.