In this episode of Pharmacy View Podcast’s Full Scope Pharmacy Leadership stream, host, Chantelle Turner, a Pharmacist Leadership and Business Coach at TURN Pharmacy Leadership, engages in a dynamic conversation with Marta Stybowski, Pharmacist, Director & Founder of Fusion Health Space, and Director of Friendly Pharmacy (Vic).  In this episode, Marta shares their extensive experience in Community Pharmacies, talks about their passion for redesigning Pharmacy spaces beyond conventional norms, emphasizes the holistic approach to design, and offers valuable insights into the complexities of optimizing physical environments for operational success. Join the discussion as they explore the unique challenges of Community Pharmacies, the importance of tailored design solutions, and effective communication strategies for project success.

Marta's passion lies in redesigning Pharmacy spaces, moving beyond conventional floor plans. They emphasize a holistic approach to Pharmacy design, considering operations, people, and functional aspects. With over ten years of diverse experience in Community Pharmacies across different locations, Marta shares their journey, including pursuing an MBA and working as a Consulting Pharmacist. This journey eventually led to the founding of Fusion Health Space, focusing on workflow and operational consulting.

Marta highlights the term "fusion" in their approach to Pharmacy design, emphasizing the blend of regulatory, building code, consumer expectations, and operational logistics. They discuss the unique challenges of Community Pharmacies and stress the need for a Tetris-like design puzzle to harmoniously blend these diverse elements. Marta advocates against a one-size-fits-all approach, underscoring the importance of understanding each Pharmacy's unique needs, from team dynamics to business objectives.

Communication emerges as a crucial factor in successful Pharmacy design projects, according to Marta. They stress the need for clear communication from Pharmacy owners and leaders, conveying the vision, objectives, and reasons behind the changes. Effective communication helps build positivity, alleviates fears, and ensures every team member is informed and excited about the transformations.

Marta delves into the intricacies of strategically placing the right people in designed spaces for optimal functionality. They provide an example of aligning design with actual utilization, emphasizing the need to consider skills and services required to meet community needs. Marta also explores the integration of processes and technology in Pharmacy systems, using prescription processing as an example. They highlight the importance of adapting processes to evolving technologies and assessing physical space to accommodate these changes.

The episode concludes with Marta discussing the challenges of incorporating team input into Pharmacy design projects. They value insights from the broader team, emphasizing the importance of balancing input with efficient decision-making. Marta shares successful experiences of well-communicated processes, staff engagement, and collaboration with leaders in achieving project objectives.