Speed and convenience have become the new standard. Today’s consumers expect instant service, whether it’s next-day delivery on online orders, AI-powered assistants ready to answer questions at any time, or the ability to pre-order meals with a few quick taps. Pharmacies are no exception. Patients can now request refills through mobile apps, have medications delivered to their doorsteps, and even consult with pharmacists virtually. But with all these added conveniences, how can pharmacies find the time to keep up?
One part of the answer lies behind the counter: bulk actions. These activities allow pharmacy teams to complete repetitive tasks quickly and accurately, freeing up valuable time for patient care and operational priorities. In this blog, we’ll explore how bulk actions are used in pharmacy workflows, what compliance challenges pharmacists should be aware of, and how C2 Keep’s bulk action features make controlled substance compliance safer and more efficient. The goal is to streamline workflows in a way that enhances safety, accuracy, and patient satisfaction. With the right systems in place, controlled substance compliance does not have to be a time-consuming burden.
Bulk Actions in Pharmacy Workflows
According to Noloco, bulk actions are operations that allow users to perform the same task on multiple records, items, or data points at once. This approach is becoming increasingly common across industries, especially in software, where automation and efficiency are key. In the pharmacy environment, bulk actions are already a regular part of many workflows across the supply chain.
For example, a drug manufacturer may process bulk orders for wholesalers authorized to purchase specific controlled substances. Likewise, pharmacies often use automated systems within their pharmacy management systems to reorder high-demand medications in bulk. Beyond ordering, bulk features are also used to flag expired medications, update drug information, export large datasets, or apply settings to a specific group of drugs.
The purpose of these bulk actions is simple: to streamline operations, save time, and reduce repetitive manual work. However, when it comes to controlled substance compliance, implementing bulk actions can be more complex without the right tools and clear guidelines. Some processes require additional safeguards and oversight to maintain compliance. The next section explores these challenges and how pharmacies can use bulk actions effectively.
The Challenges of Quickly Logging Controlled Substance Activities
Controlled substance compliance is already a meticulous process that demands accuracy at every step. However, factors such as diversion and human error can make this process more complicated, particularly when bulk actions are used.
Consider this example: your pharmacy receives a bulk order of ten containers of gabapentin, each holding 30 units, from a new wholesaler. Normally, your primary wholesaler ships gabapentin in containers holding 50 units. Because one of your technicians is used to that packaging, they accidentally bulk confirm that 500 units were received instead of the actual 300. This small mistake creates a discrepancy of 200 unaccounted-for units, an issue that could quickly escalate into a costly controlled substance compliance problem if not detected early.
To prevent situations like this, pharmacies need strong protocols that identify discrepancies before they become major issues. One effective safeguard is requiring back-counts after each controlled substance activity. A back-count involves performing a physical count to confirm that the actual quantity matches what was recorded. In the example above, a quick back-count would have immediately revealed the error, allowing the team to correct it before it impacted compliance records.
Even with proper safeguards, performing bulk actions manually in logbooks or spreadsheets is still time-consuming and prone to oversight. This is one reason many pharmacists avoid using bulk actions for controlled substance compliance at all. That’s where C2 Keep provides a better solution. By reducing human error and automatically detecting diversion risks, C2 Keep allows pharmacies to confidently leverage bulk actions while keeping records accurate, efficient, and fully compliant.
Simplify Compliance with C2 Keep
At C2 Keep, we understand how demanding controlled substance compliance can be. Since our start in 2020, we have grown to support more than 2,000 pharmacists and staff across the United States. By integrating directly with your pharmacy management system and wholesalers, C2 Keep offers a comprehensive suite of bulk action features that streamline compliance workflows without compromising accuracy or safety.
Here’s how pharmacies use C2 Keep’s bulk actions to save time and stay compliant:
- Initial Inventory Upload: Upload existing inventory data in bulk when onboarding a new pharmacy location to get started quickly and reduce manual entry errors.
- Receiving Ad Hoc Orders: Add and confirm one-time orders in bulk from new wholesalers without needing to set up a separate integration.
- Purchase Order Details: Attach and organize key order information in bulk for easy access during audits or inventory reviews.
- Bulk Confirm: Integrated wholesaler orders automatically appear in your dashboard, allowing pharmacists to confirm multiple orders at once with a single click.
So how does C2 Keep ensure safety and accuracy? It all comes down to automation and precision. C2 Keep automatically pulls order details from integrated wholesalers and performs all necessary calculations behind the scenes, reducing the risk of incorrect entries or missing quantities. Whenever a controlled substance is dispensed, destroyed, sold, or returned to stock, the system performs the math for you, eliminating the potential for manual calculation errors.
To further enhance accuracy, C2 Keep allows pharmacies to require a back-count after each controlled substance activity. This verification step ensures recorded quantities align with what is physically on hand, strengthening accountability and supporting a culture of compliance.
With C2 Keep, bulk actions become a powerful way to simplify compliance, improve safety, and give pharmacists peace of mind knowing that every transaction is recorded correctly.
Conclusion
In today’s rapidly changing pharmacy landscape, successful controlled substance compliance requires workflows that are both efficient and effective. Prioritizing one over the other can lead to errors, wasted time, and unnecessary risk. As the DEA and other regulatory bodies continue tightening oversight to combat opioid misuse, compliance requirements for pharmacies and their supply chain partners are becoming more complex than ever.
Manual processes are struggling to keep up, pushing pharmacy teams to their limits and leaving less time for patient care. Now is the time to modernize your approach to compliance and ensure your pharmacy is ready for the future.
Take the first step toward safer, smarter compliance. Schedule a demo with C2 Keep to see how our automated tools and bulk action features can streamline your workflows, enhance accuracy, and help your pharmacy stay ahead of evolving regulations.
