MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Maxwell Pharmacy has recently made many technological advances to enhance airmen preparedness and readiness while improving customer experiences.
One advancement is a new shelving unit system created by GSL Solutions with radio frequency identification technology, a unique lockable electronic cabinet design, and three-dimensional storage drawers with real-time tracking. The system streamlines processes like printing labels and patient pick-up, making the medication pick-up process easier and quicker for customers.
The Maxwell pharmacy has updated their Tricare online Secure Messenger Service by allowing patients to send medical-related questions, activate and/or refill prescriptions at any time. This update allows staff to process requests in a timelier manner than the previous method of voicemails. This system also allows the pharmacy to distribute mass messages about pharmacy closures and updates.
Another recent advancement, the pharmacy has made is the new Script Center kiosks located in the Maxwell Base Exchange and the Maxwell-Gunter Annex gas station. They allow patients to access their medications on their own schedule while cutting out the waiting-in line aspect of picking up prescriptions or worrying about training day closures. The pharmacy team packs, transports, and loads approximately 200 to 300 medications twice a week into the kiosks to ensure patient access.
"A lot of the changes, new software, and innovation come directly from the feedback our patients provide us, '' said Major Christian Banasky, 42nd Pharmacy Flight chief. "We are able to use that feedback to get funding, resources to help improve our patient experience."
The Maxwell pharmacy is already in the process of new innovative advancements to further enhance their patient experiences and their airmen readiness. The advancements include Military Health System Genesis to increase pharmacy capabilities vastly, Q-flow kiosk for faster in-person patient check-in, and Q-anywhere that will allow patients to check-in to appointments on their mobile devices.