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Solving the PMR Integration Challenge with Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

We understand that integrating with Patient Medication Record (PMR) systems is one of the biggest hurdles in digital pharmacy

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A Familiar Story of Frustration

In our decades of work across the UK digital pharmacy sector, we have seen one common challenge consistently act as a bottleneck to innovation: integrating with Patient Medication Record (PMR) systems. For ambitious pharmacy groups looking to embrace digital transformation, this single issue often represents an insurmountable wall.

The reality is that very few PMR systems offer modern, flexible APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Those that do often have limited functionality that doesn't meet the complex needs of a growing business. This digital ceiling prevents pharmacies from getting critical prescription and patient data out of their core system, stifling efficiency and blocking the development of new services.

Like many of our clients, we have directly engaged with PMR suppliers on numerous occasions, advocating for enhanced API support. The response is almost always the same: it's not possible in the short term, as their development roadmaps are filled with other priorities. This leaves pharmacies stuck, unable to innovate at the pace they want.

But what if you no longer had to wait for the PMR suppliers? 

A Proven, Low-Risk Solution: RPA

In recent years, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has become a trusted and popular solution across many health-sector industries for this exact problem. There are, for instance, no less than three companies offering automated bulk GP patient registration into EMIS Web using RPA. This technology provides a way to interact with legacy systems without needing an API.

Blueberry has recently been working with a number of customers to apply this proven RPA approach to major PMR systems. We are using it to build automated processes that can electronically add new patients, update records, or extract critical data for reporting and analysis—all without a single line of code from the PMR provider. 

How RPA Works - And Why It's Not Reverse Engineering

It is crucial to understand that RPA is not hacking or reverse engineering. It is simply software that mimics the actions of a human user. An RPA "robot" logs into the PMR with a standard user account and interacts with the system through the user interface, just as a pharmacist would. It clicks buttons, types in fields, and reads data from the screen.

RPA does nothing that a member of your staff couldn't do manually; it just does it 10 times faster, 24/7, and with perfect accuracy and reliability. It automates the repetitive, manual tasks that consume your team's valuable time. 

Flexible Deployment to Match Your Needs

We can deploy RPA in multiple modes to suit your specific operational requirements:

  • Dedicated Digital Worker: For high-volume, back-office tasks, the RPA can be set up on a dedicated PC in your hub or office, working through tasks like a full-time digital employee.
  • Assisted Automation: We can also create tools that watch "over the shoulder" of your existing staff. This mode can automatically collect data or complete fields in the background as your team works with the PMR, improving data quality without disrupting their workflow. 

See Our Progress

PMR integration no longer has to be a roadblock to your company's growth. We would be happy to demonstrate our progress in this exciting area and discuss how RPA could unlock new efficiencies for your pharmacy group.

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