Let’s face it, social media is about way more than sharing vacation pics and cute videos of puppies. For businesses, social media can be a powerful tool to reach current and potential customers where they’re already spending their time. Since brother-owner duo Orlando and Kyle Palmer opened Baton Rouge-based Parker’s Pharmacy, they have used social media to engage with customers, share their pharmacy's vibrant personality, and build their business in just a few short years.

The healthcare industry is currently undergoing a rapid and comprehensive transformation thanks to a few factors. Technological advances have enabled healthcare organizations to restructure their business models around shifting consumer expectations and involvement in their own health care. And retail pharmacy is right in the middle of it all.

With retail pharmacy becoming highly commoditized, everyone in the industry is under pressure to provide a stellar customer experience to differentiate from the competition. In order maintain a high level of patient care and engagement, without burning out pharmacists, many companies have started to introduce automated technology to optimize their  workflow and meet customer demand for a speedy and friendly experience at the pharmacy counter.

Each year, five to 20 percent of the U.S. population will become infected with the flu. That’s between 16 million and 65 million people. The impact of influenza is much larger than most realize. Prevention is crucial – largely from vaccinations – and can be supported by employers, health clinics, physicians and community pharmacies.