Specialty medication distribution errors are now 8x more common than dispensing errors. Specialty pharmacies can take this as an opportunity to prioritize their shipping workflows to improve the patient experience.
Introduction
The latest performance report from URAC found that specialty pharmacy distribution errors are now 8x more common than dispensing errors. As specialty pharmacies implement shipping workflows to improve medication access, several opportunities arise to ensure patients receive their medications quickly, safely, and cost-effectively.
In the following article, we discuss the causes and implications of increased medication distribution errors in specialty pharmacy. Next, we discuss the challenges and opportunities facing specialty pharmacies and how to overcome them.
Distribution errors in specialty pharmacy
The specialty pharmacies that participated in the URAC report dispensed over 43 million prescriptions in 2022. Their reported distribution error rate was 117.23 errors per 100,000 prescriptions dispensed.
While distribution errors in specialty pharmacy are uncommon overall, these numbers translate to hundreds of wrongly delivered specialty medications every year. These distribution errors can lead to poor patient experience, missed medication doses, and even worsened patient outcomes.
Not to mention, distribution errors can be costly and time consuming for specialty pharmacies as well. The price of specialty medications now exceeds hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Refilling hundreds of incorrect deliveries every year results in revenue losses and time wasted from duplicating efforts.
Improving pharmacy shipping workflows
Prioritizing improvements to the pharmacy shipping workflow can help specialty pharmacies overcome distribution errors and improve the patient experience. This workflow encompasses everything from medication dispensing, packaging, shipping, and last-mile logistics.
Our pharmacy shipping solution is tailored to the specialty pharmacy workflow from end to end. We integrate with Epic Willow, PioneerRx, Asembia-1, and ScriptPro—and are regularly adding new integrations—to seamlessly and automatically transfer patient information to reduce distribution errors.
We help specialty pharmacies get prescriptions out the door safely and quickly with multi-carrier shipping for the best rates and delivery times. We’re also partnered with several packaging vendors including cold chain solutions to see that patients’ prescriptions arrive in the exact condition that they were sent.
The last mile
The URAC report found that the leading cause of distribution errors occurred when prescriptions were dispensed with the correct patient address but delivered to the wrong address. This statistic highlights the need for special attention towards last-mile logistics.
Our pharmacy shipping solution is built with this critical need in mind. We offer shipment tracking and real-time, automated delivery notifications to pharmacy staff. We also send automated text and email alerts to patients so they know exactly where and when to expect their critical medications.
Additionally, our Customer Care Team provides targeted last-mile intervention and package monitoring to reduce distribution errors. We can then leverage your distribution data to perform root-cause analysis on exactly where, when, and why distribution errors occur. We also work with local and national carriers on your behalf to address these delivery challenges and arrange reliable courier and carrier partnerships.
Greater control and visibility into your distribution workflow makes it easier to prevent distribution errors and intervene before it’s too late. In turn, your patients get the medications they need quickly and safely, ensuring the best outcomes and patient experience possible.
Conclusion
Reported distribution errors among specialty pharmacies continue to rise, but the solution is clear. Prioritizing pharmacy distribution workflows and paying special attention to the last mile can help specialty pharmacies overcome distribution errors and improve patient outcomes.
This article references data from the URAC 2023 Specialty Pharmacy Aggregate Summary Performance Report. Access the full report here: https:/www.urac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/URAC__Specialty-Pharmacy_Aggregate-Summary-Report_2023_FINAL.pdf.
About VPL
We modernize clinical supply chains to support healthier patients. Our technology-driven solutions and consultative customer experience empower health systems and outpatient pharmacies to build smarter, more resilient supply chains. With over 700 hospitals and a 97% customer retention rate, we’re trusted to deliver transparency, cost savings, and peace of mind.
