A Team Effort Is Needed for Inventory Management | McKesson ideaShare

Effective pharmacy inventory management requires a collaborative and proactive approach. In an interview at McKesson ideaShare 2025, Thomas Sherrer, PharmD, co-owner of Poole's Pharmacy, highlighted that managing inventory is fundamentally a "team sport" that requires comprehensive involvement from all pharmacy staff. By getting team members to understand the broader goals and objectives, pharmacies can create a sense of shared ownership not just of inventory, but of patient care and satisfaction.

One key strategy he discussed is maintaining close relationships with trusted wholesalers while avoiding overreliance on automated systems. Sherrer advocated for a hands-on approach where team members actively monitor inventory, pricing, and potential changes, which would involve regularly checking prices, understanding reimbursement shifts, and being vigilant about potential discrepancies.

Sherrer also shared a personal journey where he used manual, handwritten tracking before eventually expanding to sophisticated software solutions. Currently, the pharmacy uses perpetual inventory systems that provide real-time insights into stock levels and leverage advanced reporting tools. By creating a culture of shared responsibility and using advanced tools strategically, pharmacies can optimize their inventory management, ultimately enhancing patient care and operational efficiency.

"It's a team sport. It's a team effort. So in doing so, getting everybody involved, getting everybody to understand, not just one person, because I find, and we know in pharmacy, you come and if you have all these ideas and you're trying to push them, and everything else is going every which way, then you don't get to accomplish everything," Sherrer said.