Signature style: The private e-script tool creating a buzz in community pharmacy

SignatureRx impressed the judges of the 2023 C+D Awards tremendously. What are the essential factors for managing a thriving pharmacy-tech company? The superintendent pharmacist and CEO of the company spills all the details.

Sometimes there are ideas that are incredibly clever, but also very straightforward, causing us to wonder why no one thought of them earlier. SignatureRx is one such revolutionary e-prescription tool that converts private prescriptions into digital format.

Established recently in 2021, SignatureRx is an innovative technology that links private healthcare establishments to community pharmacies. Reece Samani, who serves as the company's superintendent pharmacist and CEO, initiated this brilliant invention. The technology generates unique codes and delivers them to patients via SMS or email. These codes correspond to individual private prescriptions. Patients have the freedom to visit any pharmacy in the country to collect their medication. The pharmacists then input the code into a designated section on SignatureRx's website to access the necessary details. This system is incredibly smooth and efficient, benefiting both patients and pharmacies.

The judges at the C+D Awards 2023 were very impressed with SignatureRx's offering and the future objectives of Reese's company. As a result, this emerging enterprise was named the victor in the Online Initiative of the Year classification during the event held last September.

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Reece is no stranger to achievements. As a tech entrepreneur and former C+D blogger, he was recognized on the esteemed Forbes 30 under 30 list last year. Additionally, his platform for booking locum workers, The Locum App, received the Online Initiative of the Year award at the C+D Awards 2020.

As he talks with C+D on a video call, he expresses his enthusiasm for the future of SignatureRx. He doesn't want to reveal too much information, but there are plans in the works to broaden the company's reach. He enjoys developing fresh ideas and innovative products, and is thrilled to see people using them.

We will persist in producing additional pharmacy products that individuals use regularly, thus enhancing their everyday life, enhancing their commercial activity and enhancing the consequences for patients.

How It Works?

Private prescriptions have been around for a while. With the rise of private healthcare, there are more chances for those who are ambitious to make use of them. Reece highlights that there was an obvious lack of service for patients who receive private prescriptions, which are frequently given during remote GP meetings or other appointments that suit the patient's schedule.

The author expresses amazement at the fact that patients had the ability to receive healthcare services whenever they needed them. They could consult with a private GP from afar or in person, but the method of obtaining prescriptions was still archaic and relied on methods such as calling, texting, mailing, or emailing the prescription. The author found this outdated and wanted to improve this aspect to equal the efficiency of the NHS' EPS system. To do this, they came up with SignatureRx, which joins the surge of private GP appointments in the private sector and neighboring community pharmacies and creates a more unified system.

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According to Reece, many patients did not understand that the communication between private healthcare providers and NHS pharmacies was not very efficient. He adds that these patients were unaware of the fact that there is a separate administrative team that contacts pharmacies to deliver private prescriptions or emergency supplies.

It can be quite challenging to reach a pharmacy when they are busy, and even if you manage to do so, getting them to correctly receive an email, provide you with a code or send a fax can be an arduous process. Most patients are not aware of how complex all these steps are, and all they want is to get their prescription immediately.

Patients who are utilizing SignatureRx now have the ability to take control of when and where they pick up their prescriptions. Reece explains that the reason why people often opt for private health care is because they desire immediate access to medical treatment. Similarly, it's essential to have immediate access to medication. With SignatureRx, patients are given a code that they can take into any pharmacy of their liking. This flexibility empowers individuals to choose which pharmacy is best for them.

This idea is really convenient and patients liked it a lot. At first, the business only filled 50 prescriptions in its first month. Now, it fills 10 times the amount of prescriptions. However, Reece mentioned that the pharmacy teams didn't like the idea at first.

The author of the blog post mentions that pharmacies are typically resistant to change. They are accustomed to relying on outdated technology like the fax machine. In the first month of switching to a new prescription system, only 50 prescriptions were processed. Half of the pharmacies that received these prescriptions were unsure how to dispense them, as they were not used to this new system. Some even expressed their reluctance to adopt this technology.

He points out that the previous method of sending personal prescriptions through the mail had its disadvantages, both in terms of the complicated process and patient security. He states that though paper prescriptions have been sufficient for a long time, there are numerous issues with them. Patients may duplicate or misplace them, and others may redeem them without authorization. Furthermore, there is no method for tracing them.

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Additionally, how can you ensure that the patient receives the information promptly? What happens if you have a virtual appointment and the document you mailed to them goes missing en route?

By introducing a detailed "training component" that involved educating pharmacy staff on the functioning of SignatureRx, assuring its safety, and uploading Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the product's website, the situation took a turn for the better. Reece affirms that there was a significant improvement in the reception of the product.

Reece claims that SignatureRx's increased recognition among customers has been due to positive feedback from others, rather than aggressive advertising. In the pharmacy industry, it's common for people to adopt something new if they see others doing it. When individuals learn that something is successful elsewhere, they are more likely to take a chance and try it for themselves.

Luckily, the tool was embraced early on by Boots and Well Pharmacy, which allowed locums who worked at these chain stores to inform their colleagues at independent pharmacies when they worked there.

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According to him, the majority of drugstores are knowledgeable about the item. He states that it is quite charming. Whenever his father meets someone who works in a pharmacy, he mentions SignatureRx and boldly proclaims that his son owns it. Most people are already aware of the medication and acknowledge it. He is in awe of the fact that so many individuals recognize the brand.

SignatureRx has achieved a lot of success by providing straightforward and useful solutions to common problems. According to Reece, many of their products are services that he himself would use as a patient, doctor, or pharmacist, after noticing that there was a gap in the market for them. With a team of seven skilled developers working hard to improve their offerings, this talented young pharmacist is poised to continue making a big impact.

He expresses his fondness for technology. When he mentioned he was pursuing pharmacy studies, people assumed he would only be a salesperson. However, they failed to recognize the vastness of the degree. There are numerous things to discover, and there are also various job opportunities after graduation.

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Despite achieving much success in pharmacy, Reece was taken aback when he received his second C+D Award last year. He confesses feeling "overwhelmed" for 30 minutes after his name was called out and he received the trophy on stage. Reece chuckles about feeling extremely anxious prior to the award ceremony and his watch indicating his heart rate was too fast. Given that he did not anticipate winning, he was elated and ecstatic about it.

As Reece Samani gains more recognition in the pharmacy industry, it's only a matter of time before he earns yet another award to display proudly alongside the others on his mantel. With his consistently impressive achievements, any new endeavor he takes on is sure to be a triumph.

Be sure to mark your calendars for September 19, 2024 - The Brewery in London will host the highly coveted C+D Awards. Think you or someone you know has what it takes to bring home a C+D Award? Take a look at the categories for the 2024 awards and submit your nomination now.