From Burnout To Breakthrough

 I spend more time entering data than caring for my patients.

That is how one specialty pharmacist described her daily routine, a sentiment that is becoming all too common across the industry.

A recent Barron’s article² sheds light on this growing crisis, underscoring the critical role pharmacy software providers must play in alleviating the strain. It highlights a pivotal industry shift: from labor-intensive operations to intelligent, tech-enabled systems that support both care delivery and workforce sustainability.

The Stakes are Higher

Source: IQVIA National Sales Perspectives, IQVIA Institute, May 2021; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Dec 2020

At Keycentrix, a founding member of NASP, we see this as a call to action—and an opportunity. The trends outlined in the article mirror the challenges we are already solving with Newleaf, our purpose-built pharmacy management software. Newleaf mitigates manual inefficiencies and unifies workflows—so specialty pharmacy teams can focus on what truly matters: better outcomes for patients.

Three Core Burnout Drivers—How Newleaf Helps Solve Them

1. Workflow Overload

   A study published in BMJ Quality & Safety⁴ estimates that data entry and documentation errors contribute to significant inefficiencies and burnout, which may eventually lead to patient safety concerns².

   

   Many specialty pharmacies rely heavily on spreadsheets, smartsheets and manual data entry to bridge the gaps left by inflexible systems. These ad hoc processes often lead to transcription errors, version-control conflicts, duplicated effort, and long hours, limiting the ability to scale effectively and maintain compliance.

   Newleaf automates and scales your workflows through tailored solutions and configurable business rules that integrate seamlessly into existing operations. Our API-Enabled architecture ensures that if a process can be automated, it will be—supporting better decision and fewer care delays.

   API-Enabled Architecture
2. Interoperability Issues

   A HIMSS Analytics survey states that 74% of health system executives cited data integration and interoperability as a major barrier to improving care quality and efficiency⁵.

   Specialty pharmacy data is typically scattered across multiple platforms: dispensing systems, EMRs and EHRs, benefits adjudication portals, and inventory management tools, complicating everything from adherence tracking to drug pricing and patient history review.

   Newleaf empowers your team to build a unified operational view

   Newleaf’s open integration framework works hard to bring your systems together, offering a robust query builder tool that routes data from virtually any source into your preferred business intelligence tools. Whether it is checking inventory levels, synchronizing patient histories, or aligning medication lists across systems, Newleaf empowers your team to build a unified operational view—making it possible to get a full picture of patient or process.
3. Compliance and Audit Fatigue

   Pharmacy Times⁶ reports that compliance and audit preparation can consume up to 20% of pharmacy staff hours during peak review periods⁴.

   Pharmacies must regularly produce detailed reports to meet the standards of accrediting organizations like URAC, ACHC, and The Joint Commission. These reports require careful tracking of turnaround times, adherence rates, clinical interventions, and outcomes reporting and manual report generation eats into time better spent on patient care.

   Newleaf generates more than one hundred reports on demand. This not only streamlines your accreditation process but ensures consistency and traceability without overburdening staff. Stay compliant while keeping your focus where it matters—on your patients.

Why It Matters Now

The specialty pharmacy sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by increasing complexity in both care delivery and payer demands. Moreover, the number of specialty pharmacies in the U.S. rose from 321 in 2015 to a staggering 3,200 in 2024. Pharmacies that continue to rely on outdated, fragmented systems will find it increasingly difficult to scale, stay compliant, and deliver the level of personalized care today’s environment demands—missing a great opportunity to improve patient outcomes.

In contrast, those that embrace automation, interoperability, and real-time insights will be positioned to lead—operationally, clinically, and financially.

As the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP)⁷ continues to emphasize, the future of specialty pharmacy depends on operational agility and data-driven care models. Success will require investment in technology that reduces administrative overhead, improves data accuracy, and enables proactive interventions that enhance patient outcomes.

At Keycentrix, we have seen firsthand how transforming reactive, manual processes into cohesive, intelligent systems delivers measurable value across the specialty pharmacy value chain. By introducing and enriching product features that reduce costly prescription errors and improve medication adherence, we help our partners strengthen care quality, minimize risk, and contribute meaningfully to improved population health sans the burnout.

References

1. PubMed Central, A Systemic Review and Pooled Prevalence of Burnout in Pharmacists, 2022
2. Barron’s, What’s Gone Wrong at Pharmacies? 2024
3. IQVIA Institute, The Use of Medicines in the United States, 2021
4. HIMSS Analytics, State of Healthcare IT Interoperability, 2022
5. BMJ Quality & Safety, Observational analysis of documentation burden and data duplication, 2023
6. Pharmacy Times, Reducing Compliance Burdens Through Pharmacy Technology, 2023
7. National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP), Specialty Pharmacy Practice Standards, 2024