Topic: Professional Services

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.

Company Description – Hyde Park Care Pharmacy is a London-based community pharmacy providing prescription services, medication counselling, health education, chronic disease support, and treatment for minor ailments. As a front-line healthcare provider, the pharmacy relies on accurate and efficient prescription processing to deliver timely, patient-centred care.

Project Description – Prior to modernization, prescription data received by fax, email, or electronic image had to be manually entered into the pharmacy management system. Staff were required to transcribe patient information, medications, strengths, and directions, creating administrative bottlenecks during peak periods and increasing the risk of transcription errors. These manual processes also limited the time pharmacists and technicians could dedicate to patient-facing clinical services.

Through the Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG), Hyde Park Care Pharmacy implemented a PHIPA-compliant prescription automation system using optical character recognition (OCR) and robotic process automation (RPA) technology to extract prescription information and populate the pharmacy management system.

Project Impact – Since implementation, the system has reduced manual data entry, improved workflow efficiency, and strengthened prescription accuracy through standardized, rule-based data capture and pharmacist verification. This has allowed staff to redirect time previously spent on repetitive administrative work toward higher-value activities such as medication counselling, patient education, and medication reviews.

The reduced reliance on paper handling and manual transcription has also improved record accessibility and streamlined prescription processing, supporting safer and more timely patient care. As a result, Hyde Park Care Pharmacy is on track to achieve a 65 per cent increase in productivity, 15 per cent in cost savings, and approximately 1,410 labour hours saved annually.

Company Description – County Drugstore is a locally owned retail pharmacy serving Picton and the broader Prince Edward County community since 2013. Beyond prescription dispensing, the pharmacy provides vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and specialized clinical services, including 2SLGBTQ+ health support, opioid agonist therapy, and customized compliance packaging. Through equitable, stigma-free, and personalized care, County Drugstore plays an important role in improving healthcare accessibility for seniors, marginalized populations, and residents managing complex health needs.

Project Description – Prior to modernization, the pharmacy relied on outdated laser printers and paper-based processes that created operational bottlenecks, increased supply costs, and contributed to unnecessary paper and toner waste. Mechanical failures and manual document handling also diverted staff time away from direct patient care and clinical services.

Through the Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG), County Drugstore transitioned to a paperless digital workflow by implementing high-efficiency thermal prescription and receipt printers, along with a high-speed document scanner. The new system enables prescriptions and supporting documents to be digitized and attached directly to electronic patient files, improving record accuracy, reducing administrative workload, and strengthening dispensing safety.

Project Impact – The modernization has significantly improved operational efficiency by eliminating legacy equipment failures, reducing maintenance requirements, and streamlining daily workflows. The pharmacy has achieved a 77 per cent reduction in label costs, eliminated approximately $3,000 in annual printer maintenance expenses, and reclaimed 4–6 staff hours per week previously spent troubleshooting equipment issues. These efficiencies represent approximately 208–312 labour hours saved annually, allowing staff to redirect time toward patient care, compliance packaging, and expanded clinical services.

The transition to a digital-first workflow has also reduced environmental impact by minimizing paper consumption and toner waste while supporting Ontario’s sustainability goals. By improving operational capacity by an estimated 10–15 per cent, County Drugstore is projecting an annual revenue increase of over $21,000 through increased capacity for patient-focused care.

Overall, the project has strengthened County Drugstore’s role as a modern, community-focused healthcare provider, enabling the pharmacy team to spend less time managing outdated systems and more time delivering accessible, personalized care to the Prince Edward County community.

Company Description – A trusted healthcare provider in Brampton, Allwell Pharmacy Inc. supports local residents through prescription services, over-the-counter medications, home healthcare products, and community health education programs. The pharmacy relies on digital systems to manage daily operations and deliver timely patient care; however, aging hardware created frequent slowdowns, system interruptions, and concerns about potential downtime impacting service delivery.

Project Description – With Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG) support, Allwell Pharmacy completed a full hardware modernization, upgrading critical infrastructure including servers, workstations, scanners, and monitors. The improved technology foundation has enhanced system reliability, reduced disruptions, protected data integrity, and provided staff with greater confidence in their ability to serve patients without operational interruptions. By eliminating technology-related bottlenecks, pharmacists and staff can spend less time managing system issues and more time focused on patient care, medication support, and community health services.

Project Impact & Expected Outcomes – Since implementation, the project has supported the creation of a new job, generated approximately $15,000 in incremental sales, and is expected to deliver a 10 per cent productivity increase, 5 per cent cost savings, and approximately 200 hours of annual labour savings. Through improved operational stability and enhanced digital capacity, Allwell Pharmacy is better positioned to provide consistent, efficient patient care while continuing to grow as an essential healthcare resource in Brampton.