Numark Ltd has launched an intranet network exclusively for its members and introduced an integrated patient medication record and electronic point of sale system. Both these developments were announced at the Numark conference in Penang, Malaysia, on October 13, and are the first such services to be available to community pharmacists in Britain.
The private intranet network has been designed to improve members' access to Numark branded e-mail and internet facilities, and mirrors Numark's currently available support services. It also allows access to the worldwide web through filtered, evaluated information links.
Announcing the network, Mr David Wood (Numark's marketing director) said that time pressures on pharmacists had prompted Numark to look at ways in which it could reduce the effort involved in keeping abreast with stocking issues, promotions and order processing.
Numark pharmacies registering for the package will receive a pack comprising a single CD holding the program, the pharmacy's allocated user name, a password and an e-mail address.
Also on the CD are instructions on how to install the Numark-branded versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Outlook e-mail facility as well as instructions on how to connect to the intranet for the first time and activate the account. On-screen instructions will then guide members through the logging-on process.
The information that pharmacists will be able to access from the intranet includes a directory of staff at Numark's central office, details of promotions, a list of suppliers, updates on recent Numark services, a browse facility for details on own-brand products, a net version of Numark's catalogue highlighting the "top 50" products and their availability, a list of out-of-stock items and an automated ordering service.
Subscribing to the private Numark network will cost Numark members £10 a month. Telephone calls into it will be at the local rate.
The other information technology initiative announced at the conference, the integrated PMR/EPoS system, allows over-the-counter purchases of medicines to be cross-referenced with patient records and possible drug interactions checked.
Numark has developed this initiative in conjunction with Positive Solutions Ltd, which provided the Analyst EPoS system, and IMS Health, which provided the Mediphase PMR system.
The hardware required to run the system is available to Numark members through a leasing arrangement. Alternatively, they may purchase the equipment outright.