“Extremely active” is the phrase Colorado State University scientists used to describe their 2024 Atlantic hurricane forecast.  And with good reason.  The 2024 season, which runs from June to November, is expected to result in 23 named storms, 12 of which are predicted to reach hurricane strength.  Those projections seem to be spot on, as the millions of Americans affected by the July/August rampages of Hurricanes Beryl and Debby can attest.  Those storms, which left wide paths of destruction in their wakes, reinforced the need for businesses to protect themselves – well before the first raindrop falls.

Consider, for example, a few startling statistics about the toll natural disasters take on small businesses:

• 40% of small businesses never reopen in the aftermath of a disaster.
• An additional 25% close one year later.
• 75% of businesses without a business continuity plan will fail within three years of a disaster.

Source:  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Pharmacies, of course, are not immune.  Local pharmacies are as susceptible as any other type of business to flooding, loss of power, physical damage, and other effects resulting from a natural disaster.

But for pharmacies though, any disruption or loss can have an outsized effect.  Pharmacies are integral parts of the communities they serve and irreplaceable sources of medication and health services. They are also places of employment and for owners, pharmacies represent a life’s work and financial investment.

So, while a pharmacy owner can’t do much to change the track of a hurricane, wildfire, or any other natural disaster, there is much that can be done to mitigate the impact.  This begins with a fail-safe plan for ensuring uninterrupted access to a pharmacy’s technology management system.  For most pharmacies, technology is integral to daily operations.  Any disruption could cut off access to patient records, dispensing capabilities, claims processing, point-of-sale functionality, and just about every other pharmacy function.

The challenge then, is to minimize the risk of a disruption.  And the logical solution?  A browser-based solution such as PrimeRx CLOUD, offers consistent access from any internet-connected device.

PrimeRx CLOUD, which was officially rolled out earlier this year, is the latest progression in the industry-leading PrimeRx portfolio of software solutions for the independent pharmacy market.

With PrimeRx CLOUD, pharmacies enjoy the highest levels of pharmacy automation and management, but with the added flexibility and convenience inherent to a browser-based solution.  While these benefits can be “nice to haves” during normal times, they are lifelines for a pharmacy facing a natural disaster.  Here are five essential PrimeRx CLOUD capabilities that will help a pharmacy thrive during times of uncertainty and disruption.

1. Data Security. With a traditional hard drive-based system, data is stored on-premises, and generally protected using solutions including firewalls, internal backups, and anti-virus software.  While these may be suitable for normal business operations, traditional approaches are less effective during extreme conditions in which flooding or fire may cause physical hardware to be destroyed.  Such a loss would be devastating for a typical pharmacy. PrimeRx CLOUD avoids this bleak scenario by storing data off-site, in an encrypted form that is accessible only to authorized users.  This provides peace of mind that regardless of any physical damage to a pharmacy, data will be protected in a secure data storage facility. In addition to off-site storage, PrimeRx CLOUD ensures data security by allowing pharmacies to designate access based on each individual’s role in the pharmacy.  This allows a pharmacy manager to limit access to patient information and pharmacy records based on each employee’s “need to know.”
   
   

2. Access from Anywhere. If you have a browser-connected computer, then you have access to your pharmacy.  No limits, and no need for a special connection.  With PrimeRx CLOUD, you can manage your pharmacy – including refill queues and other workflows — from anywhere, at any time.  This opens the door to limitless capabilities during an emergency, including:
   • The ability to operate remotely and manage curbside pickup services.
   • Seamless access to pharmacy delivery services.
   • Access to the pharmacy records and workflows during periods when pharmacy power is out.
   • A pharmacy manager can generate messages to patients about pharmacy operations.
     
     

3. Patient Communication. Clear, accurate communication is vital during emergencies, and PrimeRx CLOUD allows pharmacies to remain engaged.  A few capabilities include:
   • Pharmacies can rely on PrimeRx CLOUD to generate proactive texts and emails when a serious storm is in the forecast.
     • Patients can be reminded to make preparations, including ensuring access to a 30-day supply of all prescription medicines.
   • Subsequent communications can advise patients if refills or reauthorizations are required and provide prompts for customer responses.
   • Once prescriptions have been filled, customers can be alerted that orders are ready for pick up.
   • Pharmacy pick-up locations can be revised so that a patient forced to relocate can retrieve a prescription at a branch location.
     
     

4. Say Goodbye to External Servers and Downloads. Since all functionality is browser-based, PrimeRx CLOUD eliminates the need for external servers, special hardware, or software packages.  In addition, all software updates are seamlessly applied, eliminating the need for time-consuming software installations. This is especially helpful for a pharmacy faced with an impending storm, since time-consuming server backups are no longer required.
   
   
5. Seamless Dispensing/Refill Processing. PrimeRx CLOUD allows pharmacy operations to continue to function, even during adverse conditions.  This is an invaluable capability as pharmacies seek to resume operations as quickly as possible in the aftermath of a weather-related event.
   
   

• • A 2020 report documented the ability of pharmacies located in North Carolina and South Carolina to resume operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which struck the region in 2018.  At the height of the storm, the report found pharmacy functionality had dropped to 71% in North Carolina and 62% in South Carolina.  Pharmacies affected by the storm were shuttered for as long as 4 days, with hospital-based pharmacies stepping up to provide medications to community residents.
    
    
  • PrimeRx CLOUD can be a tremendous asset in helping pharmacies recover.  Core dispensing and refill workflows are highly automated and require minimal manual input from pharmacy staff.  This allows pharmacy workflows to seamlessly function while pharmacy staff tends to the many other front-burner issues in need of attention.
    
    

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which struck the Gulf Coast in July 2024, the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA), reached out to affected pharmacies and encouraged them to apply for a disaster relief grant. 

Pharmacies were also directed to a Disaster Preparedness Checklist, which provides a list of suggestions for disaster preparedness.  The checklist includes everything from compiling contact information for vendors, employees, insurance agents and emergency personnel, to finding a potential emergency storage site, to securing copies – hard copy and digital – of all important documents.  Also listed is the need to tend to the pharmacy computer system.  “Back-up hard drives daily and maintain duplicate external hard drives,” is listed as Step 7.  Step 8 suggests a “full system backup for both Rx and POS.”

These are all excellent suggestions of course.  Except with PrimeRx CLOUD, pharmacies no longer need to worry about Steps 7 and 8.

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