The Authorization for COVID-19 Booster Vaccines Doesn’t Have to Stretch Your Pharmacy Staff to the Limits

December 3, 2021

Pharmacists have always played an important role in safeguarding the health of our local communities, but with pharmacies filling prescriptions, testing for COVID, scheduling vaccinations, and now administering the recently approved COVID-19 booster vaccines, many pharmacies are looking for ways to streamline and organize the whole process from a staffing perspective.

The role of pharmacies in the pandemic continues to evolve as the FDA recently issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine, which is indicated for individuals 65 years of age and older, and individuals of all ages who are at high risk of contracting severe COVID-19. The booster doses are to be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary two dose series and contain the same formulation and dosage strength as the original doses.

Pharmacy employees understand the details of this authorization and what it means, and their concerns are valid. They want to know how to effectively implement the new tasks when they’re already feeling overburdened. They’re wondering if it’s even possible to optimize staff when they’re already stretched so thin? The answer is yes, but with the right staff scheduling software of course.

Automate Tasks

Administering vaccines requires long hours and a fair amount of administrative work, so why not automate tasks to free up your resources and make your workplace operate more efficiently? You need a pharmacy scheduling software that automates and streamlines your daily processes for you. You’ll be able to schedule staff based on vaccine availability and community demand without sacrificing time and resources.

Credential Tracking

Schedule360’s pharmacy scheduling software improves efficiency by ensuring every shift is filled by staff holding the proper credentials needed to perform the job. Employee licensure and skills are stored in employee profiles and alerts are automatically sent to staff 60 days prior to expiration. If a certification or license isn’t renewed, they won’t be eligible to fill a shift until they meet the necessary renewal requirements.

Schedule Transparency

Our cloud-based pharmacy scheduling software provides complete schedule transparency, giving schedulers the ability to view the schedules in a manner that makes managing schedules in multiple locations a simpler process. Staff can view their schedules 24/7 from any mobile device with internet access, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the number of employees calling, texting, or emailing schedulers to find out when they’re scheduled to work next, or what time their newly picked up shift begins. It also reduces the occurrence of missed shifts as staff employees receive an instant alert in real-time when their schedule should change, or they need a reminder of a shift they picked up that isn’t included on their typical work schedule.

Multiple Locations

Easily manage multiple staffing regions or groups within large enterprises, no matter the location. You can quickly switch between views with the click of a mouse, depending on the task at hand. You’ll be able to see who’s working over the entire corporation, or segment it down to a focused group of employees.

Optimize Staff

Schedule360 pharmacy scheduling software provides transparent reporting for pharmacy management that includes weekly schedules with employee target hours. This unique feature allows admins to optimize available staff first, and fill-in available shifts with non-optimized staff before assigning overtime for employees who already met their targeted hours. Our pharmacy staffing solution also provides you the ability to track target work hours and OT thresholds. The pandemic has shown that pharmacy techs can be an excellent asset in providing quality patient care including being certified to immunize patients under the supervision of a pharmacist. This is making it easier to fill the urgent need to scale distribution of a vaccine booster safely and quickly in communities across this country. With the help of real-time reports, pharmacy schedulers can quickly view which pharmacy techs are optimized and fill-in available shifts with non-optimized tech staff before creating overtime for staff who have already met their targeted hours. With a streamlined approach to staff scheduling, you’ll be able to do more with less staff.

Holiday Scheduling

Establishing a clearly defined set of rules for which staff can take time off is essential anytime, but this process comes in especially helpful during the holiday season. We provide a robust holiday preference module, allowing admins to build holiday schedules with staff preferences in mind, while at the same time ensuring adequate shift coverage and balanced care during all holidays. With automation and guidelines set, you can roll out the holiday scheduling process early to allow staff to plan around their work schedule and ensure every shift is balanced and covered.

Easy Implementation

We understand that you’re stretched thin, so the last thing we want to do is add more stress to your plate. Our easy implementation process is designed to quickly set you up with a scheduling software solution that’s configured to fit your specific pharmacy staffing needs. We do all the heavy lifting for you and provide you with an easy to follow, guided

plan designed to make the implementation process as smooth and seamless as possible.

Ready to Optimize and Streamline Your Scheduling Process?

Schedule360 pharmacy scheduling software is the answer to your scheduling pain points. We understand the unique challenges associated with pharmacy scheduling, so we designed a specific solution to fit the needs of pharmacies. We can help you manage your staffing needs during a pandemic, or anytime. No matter what the future brings, you’ll be properly equipped and prepared to handle it with Schedule360. We Know Scheduling™, and we can show you exactly how our solution can help you create a more optimized schedule through a streamlined process. Contact us today for a configured demo of our award-winning software.