Transitioning to The Compounder
Changing comfortable worn shoes to brand new shoes can be uncomfortable, if not
painful. The key is being properly prepared. This same concept applies to pharmacy
software. The following items are things you should take into consideration before
purchasing and implementing The Compounder.
NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive.
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Item addressed
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Yes
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No
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Does your hardware meet current PK Software specifications?
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Do you have Internet access on the computer that will run The Compounder? This
is needed to download Price Updates. It also is needed for software support and
downloading formulas from PCCA.
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Do you have a Windows compatible printer(s) installed on the computer that will
run The Compounder software? |
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Do you plan to integrate the Ohaus Explorer or Voyager Balance with PK Software?
You will need to purchase Data Cable (Serial) PK Software (Ohaus
Explorer/Voyager Only) and setup the balance and software for integration. This
replaces the balance printer. |
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Do you plan to scan barcodes for Quality Assurance integration? You need to
purchase PK Software Scanner USB (PCCA #35-3221) – one barcode reader per PK
computer terminal. You also will need a Dymo LabelWriter 400 or 400 Turbo for
Windows. The Dymo LabelWriter may be purchased from most office supply stores or
online. |
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Do you plan to print custom batch labels? You will need a Dymo LabelWriter 400
or 400 Turbo for Windows. |
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Are you considering data conversion from another software? Contact PK Software
Developer Support at 800-572-5852. There is a fee for these services. |
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Do you plan to bill insurances online? You will need to purchase the online
billing module. |
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Do you plan to invoice in-house charge accounts from PK Software? Setup of A/R
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Do you plan to invoice from QuickBooks? You will need to purchase the QuickBooks
Integration License. Setup of QuickBooks and PK involved. Call 800-572-5852. |
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Do you plan to integrate credit card billing? You will need to purchase the
Credit Card
Module. Installation of PC Charge software and setup of PK involved. Call
800-572-5852. |
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Do you need to purchase additional network licenses for PK Software? Call
800-572-5852. |
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Do you want the offsite backup? |
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If you want to network PK, do you have working PK-approved network in your
pharmacy setup by a certified network technician?
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Do you have a compatible backup hardware/software? Required by HIPAA. NOTE: You can sign up
for PK Software’s offsite backup system. |
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Transitioning 'Dispensing Software X' to The Compounder by PK Software
If you already have an existing compounding practice and dispense many compounds
on a daily basis, you will want to focus on just a few formulations, the
chemical inventory for those formulations and pricing considerations for the
formulas. You will inventory, log (compound), and dispense just those
formulations out of PK Software. The key to a happy transition is to not
overwhelm yourself or staff by going live before you are ready. Once you are
well versed with the ins and outs of PK Software you can gradually add more
formulations until you are doing everything out of PK Software. The following
list is just one way in which you can transition your practice into PK Software.
This list is by no means inclusive of everything that you need to do or may want
to do with the software. The PK support team can assist you with 'how to'
questions. Also, there is a PK Software manual on your CD for your use.
The manual can be loaded from the Advanced button of the install/update window.
1. Determine a set number of formulas that you want to work with in PK
Software.
2. Determine your pricing structure for your formulations and add them to the
software. (CPM users will use the pricing codes from a file for CPM clients.)
3. Create patient advisory leaflets for your formulas.
4. Run a current PCCA price update.
5. Add the chemical inventory for the chemicals of the selected formulas.
6. Download or manually add the formulas into PK Software. Sub-formulas are
formulas that are used as ingredients in another formula. Sub-formulas must be
added before the primary formula and selected as an ingredient to be used in
another formula. The formula entry screens contain more data fields than what is
required. Some of the fields are required to save the formula in the software;
others are data fields that you will need to log and/or dispense the
prescription; and there are fields that contain data that you will want to glean
from the reporting features of the software. At a minimum, the formula should
include: name, strength, form, flavor, schedule, time to make, therapeutic
class, days to expire, amount that the formula makes, the unit descriptor of the
formula, each individual ingredient of the formula, ingredient qty, ingredient
unit, set active chemicals and set if the item is QS’d. In addition, you will
want to enter complete and thorough instructions for the method of preparation,
calculate the ingredient cost from the Ingredient tab, assign a pricing code to
the formula, assign warning labels and patient advisory leaflet information.
7. Add doctors
8. Add patients
9. Determine your workflow. Logging prior to dispensing or logging while
dispensing or the use of temporary logs with the To-Do system to process and
maintain formula inventory.
PK Software is not a 'play and go' software. Databases require data input to
maximize the output. This software is capable of handling complex compounding
calculations all the while being a highly customizable prescription dispensing
software.