Company Description – Orleans Community Pharmacy is an independent pharmacy that has served the community since 2022. With a team of four, the pharmacy serves approximately 1,100 patients each month and processes about 330 prescriptions per week. Its services include prescription dispensing, medication compounding, travel health consultations, vaccinations, and veterinary medications.

Project Description – As the pharmacy grew, several manual processes began limiting staff capacity. Employees spent significant time counting tablets, preparing liquid medications, managing inventory, and printing prescription labels. Manual inventory tracking was only about 70 per cent accurate and contributed to approximately $5,000 in annual medication waste. These processes also created delays and increased the risk of errors during busy periods.

Through the Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG), Orleans Community Pharmacy introduced four pieces of specialized equipment: an AccuCount automated tablet counter, FillMaster 4000 pharmaceutical-grade water system, Ohaus precision balance, and integrated Tigra label printers. Together, these technologies have streamlined dispensing and compounding while improving accuracy and consistency.

Project Impact – The new equipment has saved approximately 20 hours of staff time each month. Automated tablet counting eliminated 30–50 minutes of manual work each day and reduced dispensing errors by approximately 40–50 per cent. The FillMaster 4000 has made liquid medication preparation faster and more consistent, while the precision balance has reduced the need for manual preparation of stock solutions. Integrated label printers have also improved prescription processing speed and reduced unnecessary movement between work areas.

The time savings have allowed staff to focus more on patient care and expanded services, including travel health and veterinary medications. The pharmacy has achieved a 5–7 per cent increase in productivity, with potential to reach 10 per cent as workflows continue to improve, as well as 2–3 per cent in cost savings through reduced waste, supply costs, and labour inefficiencies.

Overall, the project has given Orleans Community Pharmacy the capacity to serve more patients efficiently, reduce errors and waste, and expand specialized services while creating a more streamlined experience for both staff and patients.