Your workload is massive, your staff is busy and you want to grow you business. One of the keys to growing a successful pharmacy business is to make sure that your staff is trained and trained well. When was the last time you were able to get all your staff together in the same room at the same time to get training and learn to become a well oiled engine serving your patients? Probably never…it’s too difficult to coordinate and can be cost prohibitive.
Distance learning or Online training should be on your agenda for 2014 and here is why?
1. Cost effective
The cost of training yourself and your staff is the fraction of the cost of in person training. Each time you and your staff go to a training seminar or conference you have to pay additional staff to cover your pharmacy, you incur overtime pay, costs of travel including airline tickets, hotels and food. Online training eliminates these costs. With distance learning you and your staff don’t have to be out of the pharmacy
2. Flexibility
With online training you and your staff can complete the training when time and scheduling allows. The training can be done during work hours or when convenient. (Note that if your staff completes online training courses when they are not at work, you should pay them for their time). The online training is available 24/7 and you’re not relying on someone else’s schedule
3. Work at your own Pace
While there is generally a fixed time within which you must complete an online training course, e.g. 30 or 45 days it allows you to work at your own pace so you can complete the course, instead of having to sit through an entire day or more of training which often causes overload and you don’t retain as much of the information as you would by going slower and at your own pace.
4. Trained Staff
Your front line employees are working with and caring for your patients and customers every single day. They are the engine to your business and gateway to your pharmacy’s success. Training your staff is the most important investment you can make in your business in 2014.
This article was published in the current issue (Winter 2014) of Pharmacy Marketing Quarterly. Read the Entire Issue Online HERE
