Last year turned out to be a respectable year for the industry, despite the early hold on spending because of start-up problems with Part D. But the market regained its composure around midyear and managed to finish on a positive note. Now that Part D is pushing more prescriptions through community pharmacies, the industry sees an acceleration in technology that can improve productivity and cashflow. We take a look at where the action will be in '07.

Features

Speciality Pharmacy: Right for You?
by Dan Steiber
Specialty drugs are going to change the practice of pharmacy, and pharmacy0owners cannot afford to ignore them. Dan Steiber, an industry consultant, gives us a look at how these drugs will impact the distribution channel, and the challenges community pharmacies will face in being players.

Outsourcing for Serious Data Security
by Will Lockwood
Disaster recovery is not being treated lightly these days. Hurricane Katrina was indeed a wakeup call on the importance of having a true disaster recovery plan in place. John McKinnon and Craig Cocke, owners of two pharmacies in Savannah, Ga., explain the steps they have taken in outsourcing disaster recovery and the benefits they are realizing.

POS and PMS Integration: What You Need to Know
by Greg Phillips
With the emphasis on workflow systems to better manage high-
volume dispensing activities, point-of-sale systems are taking on greater importance. These systems, in addition to providing better financial and inventory control, can close the workflow loop. But to get the most out of a POS system in this new role, it should be integrated with the pharmacy management system. The author explains the different levels of integration and the benefits of each.

Departments

Publisher's Window
Two for '07

Industry Watch

PeopleTalk

George's Corner
Replacing AWP

Technology Corner
Systems Segue for '07

Catalyst Corner
The Top Picks of 2006

Viewpoints
Picking a Cash Pricing Strategy

Conference Circuit
The American Society for Automation in Pharmacy Annual Industry & Technology Issues Conference

PeopleTalk

Web Sites To Visit

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