How to Create Pharmacy Management System: The Utter Roadmap

In the pharmaceutical industry, managing the complexities of day-to-day operations has become increasingly challenging. Such activities as inventory management and prescription processing, as well as regulatory compliance and patient care, require efficient and streamlined approaches. This is where a pharmacy management system proves to be indispensable.

As an experienced IT provider with 11+ years of experience in healthcare, we will guide you on how to create pharmacy management system to be a valuable asset and how it can benefit your pharmaceutical company in managing its operations effectively.

This article carries valuable information for those who:

• Seek to optimize their pharmaceutical company's inventory management and ensure timely availability of medications
• Strive to enhance patient care and medication adherence, streamline prescription processing, and offer medication reminders
• Need assistance in meeting industry regulatory requirements, maintaining meticulous record-keeping practices, and safeguarding patient information.

A pharmacy management system is a software solution designed to streamline and automate various tasks and processes within pharmacies or healthcare facilities. It serves as a central platform that integrates and manages different aspects of pharmacy operations, enabling pharmacists and healthcare professionals to efficiently handle tasks related to medication dispensing, inventory management, patient records, billing, and more. It can offer a myriad of solutions to address the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies. Before answering how to create pharmacy management system, let’s take a brief look at its benefits.

One primary challenge that such software can help with is inventory management. Keeping track of various medications, their quantities, and expiration dates can be a complex task. Aiming at this problem, a pharmacy management system streamlines this process, ensuring optimal stock levels, reducing wastage, and preventing stockouts.

Another critical aspect where pharmacy management software development proves beneficial is in enhancing efficiency and accuracy in prescription processing. By digitizing prescriptions and automating order fulfillment, pharmacy systems minimize manual errors, improve order accuracy, and expedite the dispensing process, leading to better service and patient satisfaction.

These systems can also aid in complying with regulatory requirements and maintaining robust record-keeping practices. The software facilitates precise documentation of sales, inventory movements, and patient information, which is essential for audits and regulatory inspections.

Answering how to create a pharmacy management system, you should remember that it can integrate seamlessly with health insurance providers and facilitate easy claims processing. This integration reduces administrative burden, minimizes paperwork, and accelerates the reimbursement process for pharmaceutical companies, leading to smoother financial operations.

Another challenge that such healthcare solutions can address is medication adherence. By providing patient profiles, medication reminders, and refill alerts, the software encourages patients to follow their prescribed regimens more diligently, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

These systems can support data analytics and reporting, allowing pharmaceutical companies to gain valuable insights into their business performance, sales trends, and customer preferences. Armed with this data, companies can make informed decisions, identify growth opportunities, and optimize their product offerings.

Security is a significant concern in the pharmaceutical industry, given the sensitive nature of patient information and prescription data. Pharmacy management software development prioritize data security through encryption, access controls, and regular backups, safeguarding against potential breaches and ensuring data privacy.

When it comes to developing comprehensive and efficient pharmacy management software, enterprise-level solutions often consist of various interconnected modules that cater to different aspects of pharmacy operations. These core modules collectively ensure seamless functionality and streamline essential processes. Let’s consider the key modules that should be implemented into pharmacy management software:

E-prescription management

This feature allows healthcare providers to electronically submit prescriptions directly to the pharmacy, eliminating the need for paper-based prescriptions. The system securely receives and stores electronic prescriptions, enabling pharmacists to process orders quickly and accurately.

Stock handling

The stock handling functionality plays a central role in managing medication inventory. It monitors stock levels, tracks expiry dates, and automatically generates alerts for low-stock items. This ensures that the pharmacy always has the right medications available for patients while minimizing the risk of stockouts or wastage.

Automatic dispensing systems

Integrating automated dispensing systems within pharmacy management software can significantly enhance efficiency. These systems accurately measure and dispense medications, reducing human error and enabling pharmacists to focus on patient care and consultation.

Document and data management

This module centralizes all documents related to pharmacy operations, including supplier information, purchase orders, invoices, and customer records. It simplifies document retrieval and improves workflow organization.

Electronic Patient Records

The electronic patient records module is integral in pharmacy management software development, as it securely stores patient information, medication history, allergies, and any relevant health data. This enables pharmacists to make informed decisions, identify potential drug interactions, and provide personalized care.

Billing and insurance processing

This feature streamlines billing processes, allowing pharmacists to generate accurate invoices and process insurance claims electronically. It ensures smooth financial transactions and reduces administrative burdens.

Reporting and pharmacy analytics

The reporting module within pharmacy management software development provides comprehensive insights into performance, sales trends, and inventory turnover. Analyzing these data-driven reports helps in making informed business decisions and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Alerts and notifications

This feature sends real-time alerts and notifications to pharmacists and patients. For example, it can remind patients to take their medications on time or alert pharmacists about potential drug interactions or low-stock items.

Integrations

Integrating pharmacy management software with other healthcare systems is crucial to enhance data exchange, improve patient care coordination, and facilitate regulatory compliance. You should consider merging your system with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, health insurance databases, and lab information systems.

To demonstrate our solid expertise in healthcare software development, we would like to introduce the two medical projects our team has worked on:

Our client is a mental healthcare services provider based in the United States, specializing in online consultations. They were already using a SaaS solution (Kareo EHR system) but needed a custom platform for their online services. The new platform had to be seamlessly integrated with their existing EHR system and support referral management in alignment with their specific business model.

Our team successfully developed telemedicine software from the ground up, with all the functionality required to provide and receive mental healthcare services to patients. The system’s architecture was designed to be compliant with HIPAA laws.

We seamlessly integrated the software with the current Kareo EHR system to ensure proper data synchronization (appointments and patients' records). The outcome was a powerful and reliable telehealth platform that enables the delivery of mental health services online. By automating existing business processes, our solution empowered the company to excel in the healthcare niche and provide efficient, secure, and convenient therapy care delivery.

Find out more about the Online Therapy Services Ecosystem case

Our client, a UK-based Health Tech business specializing in dietary supplements, partnered with the Cleveroad team to develop a modern healthcare solution.. The customer needed the web app that allows users to monitor their biological indicators by analyzing data results from laboratories.

This innovative web app is currently in progress. Our team designs the product to enable users to obtain valuable insights into their health. By analyzing data results received from laboratories, the app generates a comprehensive list of personalized recommendations on how to improve specific biomarkers using dietary supplements. Moreover, the app takes user activity levels into account by seamlessly integrating with wearable devices like watches and bracelets.

The solution was compliant with HL7 standards to ensure secure data sharing. To merge the data, the app was integrated with Laboratories and 3rd-party services:

• Haut.AI (skin health analysis)
• Eurofin, Lighthouse Labs (Laboratories)
• WeFitter API (wearable device data retrieval)
• DecisionRules.io (recommendation engine after analysis)

The system provided allowed the client to expand their range of services in the healthcare sector and achieve substantial business profit growth.

Here's the opinion of our client left on Clutch on the successful health project delivery.

Let’s move on to learning the core steps you should take to successfully go through pharmacy management software development. Still, you should be aware that the process can’t be executed properly without the assistance of a reliable healthcare vendor. That is why, the following stages are described when the IT provider is already selected.

Once you have found an experienced provider for pharmacy management software development, the process can be broken down into several key steps, ensuring a successful and efficient implementation. Let’s discover how to create pharmacy software on the example of our SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) process:

This step implies primarily connecting to your tech vendor. When your request is submitted on our website, it is directed to our Business Development Department. A personal manager with expertise in your business domain will reach out to you within 24 hours to proceed to the next stage. We understand the importance of confidentiality, and if needed, we are ready to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect your information.

In this initial phase, you collaborate with the development team to define the scope, requirements, and objectives of the pharmacy management system. Understanding your specific needs, we can tailor the solution to meet your pharmacy's unique requirements.

The discovery phase involves in-depth research and analysis of the pharmacy's workflow, existing systems, and processes. Our business analysts research your requirements, workflow, and end-users to gain insights into pain points and identify opportunities for optimization.What’s more, at this stage you and your tech vendor decide whether you need a standalone pharmacy management software or an integrated solution into your existing healthcare management system.

This stage involves the actual coding and pharmacy management software development based on the agreed-upon requirements and tech stack. Depending on your needs, you may consider developing a standalone solution or integrate the system into your existing business infrastructure.

This stage involves the actual coding and pharmacy management software development based on the agreed-upon requirements and tech stack. Depending on your needs, you may consider developing a standalone solution or integrate the system into your existing business infrastructure.

If you decide to build an autonomous pharmacy management software, it’s better to start with MVP engineering. An MVP allows you to test essential functionalities and gather user feedback before implementing the full-scale system. It is a streamlined version of the pharmacy management system that focuses on essential functionalities. This approach allows for rapid testing and gathering user feedback to validate assumptions and make data-driven decisions. By delivering a basic working prototype, the MVP accelerates time-to-market and enables iterative improvements based on user needs.

In case you need to integrate pharmacy management software into your existing business environment, the team makes a proof of concept (POC). This approach validates the concept’s technical feasibility and proves the new module’s interoperability within the existing healthcare infrastructure. In practice, POC may demonstrates how the pharmacy management system can integrate with other medical systems like:

• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• E-Prescribing systems, telehealth platforms
• Accounting and billing systems
• Drug information databases
• Health Information Exchange (HIE) networks

The optional tech stack for pharmacy management software development may incorporate the following technologies (based on our experience):

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React or Angular (for web apps) or React Native or Flutter (for mobile apps).
• Backend: Python (Django or Flask), Java (Spring Boot), or Node.js (Express.js).
• Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB for data storage and management.
• Cloud services: AWS or Azure for hosting and scalability.
• Integration: HL7, FHIR, or other healthcare data exchange standards.

After the testing and quality assurance, the pharmacy management system is ready for release and deployment. During the release and deployment phase, the software provider takes care to ensure a smooth and seamless rollout. This is one of the final steps within the development journey, where the focus shifts from development and testing to the actual implementation and use of the software in a real-world environment. Aside from the seamless release, the vendor provides necessary training to your team.

A reliable software development partner will continue to offer support and maintenance services after the system's deployment. This service may be integral due to the complexity of the pharmacy management solution. This includes bug fixes, functionality and security updates, enhancements to keep the system running smoothly and up-to-date, and help adapt it to the changing needs of your business. This ensures stable system performance and provides effective pharmacy management and quality patient care.

The pharmacy management software development is a multistep procedure that implies careful planning and consideration of a range of factors. Before proceeding to this process, there are some critical points to take care of:

Given the sensitive nature of patient data and medication information, security should be a top priority. Thus, you should ensure that your pharmacy management system complies with industry security standards such as HIPAA (in the United States) or GDPR (in the European Union). Implement the following measures to safeguard against data breaches and unauthorized access:

• Data encryption
• Access controls
• Regular security audits
• Secure user authentication

Different countries have specific regulations and standards for healthcare and pharmacy operations. Before developing the system, thoroughly research the regulatory requirements in your business area.. Ensure that pharmacy management software development system adheres to all relevant regulations, such as those governing electronic health records (EHR), drug dispensing, and privacy policies. Let’s take a look at the essential regulations in different countries:

• United States: HIPAA, FDA, HITECH, etc.
• European Union: GDPR, MDR, IVDR, etc.
• Canada: PIPEDA, CMDR, etc.
• Australia: TGA, Privacy Act, etc.
• United Kingdom: MHRA, Data Protection Act, etc.

Our team has practical experience in creating healthcare software solutions compliant with various industry regulations such as HIPAA, HITECH, HL7, SNOMED CT, CCDA, FDA, DICOM, and more.

Decide whether to build a custom pharmacy management system tailored to your needs or opt for a ready-made solution. While ready-made solutions may be quicker to implement, custom systems offer greater flexibility and address unique requirements specific to your pharmacy business.

Pharmacy management software development requires a skilled and experienced team. Consider partnering with a software development company that specializes in healthcare solutions and has expertise in pharmacy management systems. Outsourcing or outstaffing to a reputable partner, especially in countries like Estonia, offers greay value-for-money. It is known for its strong tech talent pool, can be a cost-effective and efficient option. Yet, it’s also critical to understand which model is suitable for your project:

Cleveroad is a reliable healthcare software development company possessing over 11 years of experience. We help businesses of various scales by delivering our full-cycle tech services. The Cleveroad team will smoothly implement clinic and pharmacy management systems, e-prescription, telehealth, and electronic patient record solutions, complying with all of the essential industry regulations.

What benefits will you get by cooperating with Cleveroad?

• Custom healthcare software development from certified tech engineers with a guaranteed high level of protection for patient data and help pharmacies, complying with medical standards and regulatory rules (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, HL7, HITECH, CDA, etc.)
• Smooth integration of your pharmacy system with other internal and third-party programs (such as Kareo, Bluestream Health, MedlinePlus, etc.) to ensure seamless data exchange
• NDA signing per your request to secure your unique concept and guarantee the full confidentiality of your project data
• Top-tier user experience and design of intuitive interfaces, ensuring that healthcare professionals and patients find software easy to use and navigate

To make the cooperation as suitable and efficient for you as possible, we offer three cooperation models to meet your specific software development needs: Time and material, dedicated team, and oustaffing.

Time and material

With Time and Material, we prioritize transparency and flexibility, planning each sprint in advance and accommodating changes in scope for dynamic projects. Here, you have full control over the development process while we handle quality, timeline, and delivery tracking. The price is based on actual time spent and materials used, paying for the hours worked and related expenses.

Dedicated team

Our dedicated team model offers a skilled team of software developers, architects, QA engineers, designers, and more, tailored to your needs. They become an extension of your team, ensuring seamless integration and delivery of complex projects. With fixed monthly pricing, you have complete control over the team while leveraging our technical expertise across industries.

Outstaffing

Outstaffing is a cooperative model where Cleveroad provides skilled professionals to work as part of your team. You have full control, scaling the team as needed. Save time on hiring with ready-made specialists. Ensure confidentiality with an NDA. Within this option, payment is based on a specified period, often monthly.

Successful development of pharmacy management software system requires the assistance of an experienced healthcare vendor. We, at Cleveroad, have a deep understanding of the needs of medical and pharmaceutical enterprises, and will assist you in taking your business efficiency to the next level.