FROM ‘FARM-FIX’ TO ‘PHARM-FIX’: WHY PHARMACY DESIGN MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK
Many pharmacies are unknowingly working around inefficiencies that cost time, frustrate staff, and diminish patient experience. And often, these workarounds aren’t new – they’ve simply become part of the routine. In a world where pharmacy is evolving rapidly toward a more clinical, service-based model, these invisible inefficiencies can become major roadblocks.
Growing up on a farm, I’m all too familiar with the term ‘farm-fix’. For those who haven’t heard it before, it goes something like this: a piece of equipment breaks, so you tie it up with a bit of wire you happened to have in the back of the ute – just until you can fix it properly. Then, 20 years later, that bit of wire is still there. It’s working, technically – but far from optimal.
Having worked in pharmacy for many years across different states and pharmacy models within Australia, I’ve started noticing a similar trend – what I’m now calling the ‘pharm-fix’. This happens when pharmacies patch up inefficient systems, workflows, or spaces with temporary solutions that gradually become permanent habits. These fixes might keep things running, but they don’t support the evolving demands of a modern pharmacy business.
In today’s constantly changing pharmacy environment, adaptability is crucial. But if your operations are still relying on pharm-fixes, it might be time to pause and review:
• Is your current setup enabling best-practice workflow?
• More importantly, is it supporting your team and enabling you to deliver an outstanding pharmacy experience for your patients?
Sometimes, the issue is as simple as a fridge door that opens the wrong way – and everyone just walks around it. Or continuing to deliver consultations at the counter, instead of using the consult room – which, let’s be honest, may now be filled with a year’s worth of claimable scripts. These might seem like small compromises, but over time they add up to lost time, awkward experiences, and frustrated patients.
A Simple Change, a Loyal Patient
Let me share a recent example that shows just how important patient experience can be.
A patient presented with an uncomplicated UTI. I invited her into the consult room, asked about her symptoms and medical history, and provided treatment. Partway through, she paused and said, “This experience is so much better than the last time I sought help for a UTI.”
She explained that during her previous visit (at another pharmacy), she had to discuss her symptoms over the Scripts Out counter, which made her feel terribly uncomfortable. The advice she received was the same – but the setting made all the difference. She left saying she’d definitely be back to us next time.
A simple change. A valuable outcome: a new loyal patient.
If your consult room is being used for storage or isn’t fit-for-purpose, consider what an upgrade could mean – not just for efficiency, but for patient connection. Privacy, dignity, and professionalism are increasingly expected by patients — especially as pharmacists deliver more clinical services.
Beyond the Patch Job
Too many pharmacies are operating in outdated, organically evolved spaces. Rooms repurposed. Equipment shoved wherever it fits. Layouts that were once ‘good enough’ are now barriers to efficiency and quality care.
Now more than ever, pharmacies need spaces that align with how modern pharmacy operates – with a focus on clinical service delivery, patient experience, and team wellbeing. With the expanding scope of practice for pharmacists, design is no longer just about shelving and dispensary flow – it’s about enabling consults, vaccinations, screenings, and more.
It’s easy to fall into the pharm-fix trap:
• Adding new services wherever there’s space
• Setting up equipment wherever there’s power
• Making do, rather than making it better
But I encourage you to pause and ask:
• Is your pharmacy layout helping or hindering your team?
• Are your patients receiving the best care in the most appropriate setting?
• Are your workflow optimisation strategies actually working?
• Are you ready to support the expanded clinical role of pharmacists?
If the answer to any of these is no, or even maybe, it’s time to consider a pharmacy redesign or refit. And not just to make it look good, but to make it work better. Design is not just about aesthetics – it’s about outcomes.
Never underestimate the power of a well thought out pharmacy design. The right design can enhance patient loyalty, improve staff satisfaction, and importantly drive business growth.
It’s Time to Rethink Your Pharmacy Space
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, it’s time to move beyond patch jobs and temporary fixes. Stop holding onto your pharm-fixes and see what a thoughtfully designed pharmacy space can do for your business.
Your pharmacy layout shouldn’t be holding you back – it should be working with you. Whether you’re planning a full pharmacy refit or just looking to improve the dispensary workflow, now is the time to rethink your space.
A good pharmacy refit isn’t about starting from scratch – it’s about working with your unique space, your business goals, and your patient care model to create a tailored solution.
Let’s Talk Solutions
Click the links below to find out more about how we, at Fusion Health Space, can help you create a pharmacy environment that optimises workflow, enhances the patient experience, and ultimately grows your bottom line.