Guide to Pharmacy Visits
The following is taken from NCPA’s Guide to Pharmacy Tours for Elected Officials. Click here to view the full guide.
How to arrange a tour
Start with the national or state legislator’s local district office. Sound out the staff about schedule availability and receptiveness. The best way to offer an invitation is in a personal meeting with the legislator, but an invitation offered through the staff is acceptable.
When to schedule
When the legislator is back home on a weekend, or when the Congress or state legislature is in recess. Offer several potential dates and times, possibly using a community event as your hook. The BEST time to schedule is during an election campaign when the official is actively seeking opportunities to meet with constituents.
What to prepare
Nothing elaborate or staged. Prepare your staff and managers with background information about the legislator. A simple interaction with the daily workings of a community pharmacy will be informative enough for the legislator without any additional bells and whistles. Prepare a simple fact sheet “profile” of your pharmacy operations, e.g. number of patients per month, number of Medicare prescriptions filled last year, number of employees, years your business has served the community. It is good to have a photographer to document the event in an unobtrusive way and notify the local newspapers, radio and TV stations.
Make time for a “quiet” personal talk
Set aside some time for a one-to-one talk with your legislator about one or two critical issues facing community pharmacy. This helps build your personal relationship and establishes you as a professional health care information resource.
What to expect
Be prepared for questions from the legislator and his or her staff. This is where your prepared fact sheet on your pharmacy’s operations, patients etc. comes in handy. Know your facts from studying issue briefs, so you can comfortably address questions.
How to conduct the tour
Naturally. Just as with any other visitor, don’t lobby them too much with political issues during the tour. The important thing is for them to see how your pharmacy plays a vital role in community health care. Talk about your patients and patient care concerns. You will have achieved your purpose if they gain a favorable impression and view you as a resource.
