Queen's Price Chopper

For pharmacy manager Patrick McNeill, managing the CII logbook was nothing short of a daily headache. It was bulky, slow, and disorganized, creating a major roadblock that kept Queen’s Price Chopper Pharmacy #6 from operating at its full potential. Patrick knew their manual system wasn’t sustainable, but finding a better solution for controlled substances counts in an independent pharmacy felt like an uphill battle.

That changed when he discovered C2 Keep, a cloud-based, fully integrated controlled substances compliance solution. From the start, Patrick saw the value in replacing his outdated logbook with a system that was more accurate, compliant, and efficient. With pharmacy expertise at its core, C2 Keep understands his challenges and continues to work in his best interest. Now, Patrick saves hours every month, adding up to approximately $400 in savings. This allows him to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork, proving that compliance can be simple and stress-free.

Patrick understood the limitations of their CII logbook, but without a suitable replacement, his independent pharmacy had no choice but to keep using it. As demand for CII prescriptions increased due to Adderall shortages in the surrounding areas, the burden only grew. Keeping up with controlled substances counts became more time-consuming, forcing Patrick to spend even more of his personal time ensuring accuracy. “It felt like I was spending more and more time after hours logging in my CIIs,” Patrick explains. In total, he was spending an extra 30 to 40 minutes, three times a week, just on controlled substances counts. When added up, that meant $400 in additional labor costs per month, which was time and money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Realizing that their current system was unsustainable, Patrick and his team began searching for a way to eliminate the manual logbook. “Before C2 Keep, we were literally looking into the laws to determine if we could stop using the book,” Patrick says. Their determination to improve their workflow led them to C2 Keep, a solution that would finally allow them to ditch the logbook for good.

Patrick first discovered C2 Keep through his pharmacy management system provider, Liberty Software. Recognizing this as the solution his independent pharmacy needed to move away from the manual logbook, he jumped at the opportunity. Once onboarded, Patrick and his team saw an immediate improvement in their controlled substances counts, making compliance faster and more accurate.

A key factor in the smooth transition was C2 Keep’s seamless integration with their existing software and wholesaler. “Since you were already integrated into our software and wholesaler, it was a no-brainer,” Patrick explains. With C2 Keep in place, the tedious process of controlled substances counts became effortless, allowing Patrick and his staff to focus on patient care with greater peace of mind.

The first major difference Patrick noticed between C2 Keep and the manual logbook was its accuracy. With the manual system, human error was unavoidable. Patrick and his staff frequently encountered issues such as misinterpretations of handwriting, incorrect entries, or missed logs altogether. Even small mistakes in controlled substances counts could lead to compliance concerns, creating unnecessary stress for his independent pharmacy.

With C2 Keep, those errors became a thing of the past. The system automates controlled substances counts, making it nearly impossible to overlook or mis record an entry. “You can’t really miss one because you have the cards that are loaded in when the prescription is filled, and it’s right there waiting for you,” Patrick explains. After transitioning to C2 Keep, Patrick and his team realized just how many avoidable mistakes they had been making. “Things are more transparent, the counts better match, and there’s a lot more visibility on where the tablets are,” he adds. With greater accuracy and clarity, C2 Keep has transformed the way they manage controlled substances.

Although Patrick’s primary reason for investing in C2 Keep was to improve CII inventory management, he has discovered several unexpected benefits along the way. One standout feature is C2 Keep’s DEA compliance report generation, which gives him confidence in handling controlled substances counts. Even though he hasn’t needed it yet, knowing that he has a reliable system in place offers reassurance. “Hopefully, I will never have to use it for a DEA audit, but it’s nice knowing that I can rely on your software if that ever happens,” Patrick explains.

Another key advantage is the insight and visibility C2 Keep provides into his CII inventory. With the ability to track the complete history of each controlled substance, Patrick can easily monitor movement and ensure accuracy. For an independent pharmacy, where compliance and efficiency are critical, this level of transparency is invaluable. The peace of mind C2 Keep brings to Patrick and his staff is something their old CII logbook could never provide.

At the helm of C2 Keep is CEO Roland Achenjang, a former pharmacy director who has personally experienced the same challenges Patrick and his team have faced. “He’s a pharmacist as well, and we were able to relate with some of our experiences,” Patrick explains. This firsthand understanding makes it easy for Patrick to collaborate with Roland and the C2 Keep team to tailor the solution to meet the controlled substances counts and compliance needs of his independent pharmacy.

For an independent pharmacy, having direct access to leadership is a significant advantage. “The fact that I can email the owner and get a response back, that’s kind of nice,” Patrick notes. In contrast to larger companies, where personalized support is often hard to come by, C2 Keep offers a hands-on approach. Patrick can work directly with Roland to get the assistance he needs and share ideas that help shape the platform as it continues to evolve. This collaborative relationship ensures that C2 Keep not only supports his pharmacy today but also grows alongside it in the future.

When you look at everything C2 Keep has done for Patrick and his staff, the impact on their controlled substances counts is remarkable. Instead of conducting counts three times a week, Patrick now does them just once every quarter. Thanks to a streamlined workflow, he no longer has to worry about logging errors or discrepancies and can focus solely on completing the counts. “It’s nice that I can just go ahead and put in my counts when I’m doing my entire CII cabinet and then just print it off when I’m done,” Patrick explains.

From both an operational and financial perspective, the benefits are undeniable. Patrick now saves up to 9 hours every month, reducing labor costs by up to $400. For an independent pharmacy, these savings make a significant difference. Patrick now has more time to focus on patient care, and he also gains valuable personal time to spend with his family. This is something that would have been impossible with the tedious manual logbook.