NCR launches self-service prescription drop-off

DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp. has unveiled NCR Prescription Drop-off, a secure self-service kiosk solution that makes it simpler for retail pharmacy customers to drop off and pay for prescriptions during and after business hours.

On display this week at the 2008 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Pharmacy & Technology Conference in San Diego, this multi-channel solution helps customers avoid lines and eliminate multiple trips to the pharmacy by simplifying routine transactions. New prescriptions are submitted via kiosk while refill requests can be made via kiosk, phone or Web.

Once the request is made, the patient receives a bar-coded receipt and the request is forwarded to the pharmacist. When the order is ready, an email, phone or text alert is generated and sent directly to the customer, who presents the bar-coded receipt to the cashier or pays for the prescription on the kiosk.

According to a 2007 study conducted by Wilson Health Information, an independent healthcare consumer research company, convenience is one of the top three drivers of pharmacy customer satisfaction along with price and overall professional services. The same study also found that short lines, convenient store hours and 24-hour pharmacy access are key drivers to customer satisfaction.

"Retail pharmacies face a significant challenge when it comes to meeting consumer demands and building loyalty," said Chakri Toleti, vice president, Healthcare Industry Marketing, at NCR. "Self-service technology gives pharmacies the opportunity to minimize wait times for their customers — a key factor for increasing satisfaction and overall convenience. It also enables pharmacists to spend less time receiving prescriptions, which frees them up to focus on more productive tasks, such as answering medication-specific questions."

The pharmacy drop off solution also allows pharmacies to target the distribution of relevant health information to customers. When picking up prescriptions, customers have the option of printing information about specific drugs or conditions at the kiosk or requesting that this information be sent to them as an email.