Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are GapLink’s services?
GapLink identifies new opportunities to reduce a hospital’s pharmaceutical spend and provides customized support as part of the pharmacy team to get related changes approved and implemented. GapLink services come with minimal risk to hospitals and health systems.
How much pharmacy time does the No-Obligation Solution Impact Analysis require?
GapLink only requests to sign a confidentiality agreement with the hospital or health system and be given temporary online access to primary wholesaler purchase information. Operational and clinical pharmacy leaders do not invest any time up-front in validating or vetting potential opportunity. In the analysis detail, opportunity obviously needing further validation is identified. Some pharmacy leaders provide a list of active hospital cost savings initiatives or initiatives recently approved, but not yet implemented, prior to completing the Solution Impact Analysis. This information is helpful to make the analysis more accurate in identifying only new opportunity. Download the Example Solution Impact Analysis
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Will this make the Pharmacy Department look bad?
No. GapLink wants the Pharmacy Department to shine. We understand that the primary purpose of hospital pharmacies is to support and promote high quality patient care. Pharmacy Leaders must prioritize available resources to best exceed goals related to these purposes. A GapLink Cost Savings Resource Partner is positioned as an expert on the pharmacy team to boost specific cost reduction activities. Some leaders utilize the documented hard-dollar savings to meet budget reduction demands, while others rely on GapLink to help extend pharmacy services. A partnership with GapLink means full collaboration with and support of Operational and Clinical Pharmacy Leaders.
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What is GapLink’s process for getting solutions approved?
GapLink seeks to seamlessly integrate a Cost Savings Resource Partner with the pharmacy team. Most hospitals and health systems already have an effective mechanism for moving proposed changes through the hospital’s approval process. For these clients, GapLink adapts to the existing path for getting solutions approved. GapLink understands that a successful approval process is one that can be consistently followed and allows for effective collaboration. GapLink has experience with different medication management infrastructures and inter- and intra-departmental collaboration strategies. As a result, we can offer suggestions, when appropriate, to improve an existing approval process. GapLink also has experience with creating the vision for new infrastructure and collaboration strategies for large multi-hospital health systems needing to maintain system-wide standardization efforts.
Do GapLink services overwhelm the Pharmacy Department?
No. Pharmacy Leaders set the pace for approving and implementing cost savings solutions. A Cost Savings Resource Partner provides content for, manages and supports, but does not unilaterally create the project plan. This flexibility prevents pharmacy resources from feeling overwhelmed.
What makes GapLink different from other consulting companies that focus on hospital cost savings?
GapLink specializes in supporting cost savings efforts in hospital Pharmacy Departments. Please take time to read our commentary on Five Key Qualities to Expect from a Hospital Pharmacy Cost Savings Partner. These five qualities are important to GapLink. Download the 5 Key Qualities to Expect from GapLink
Does GapLink have experience with following larger cost savings consulting companies?
Yes. GapLink’s solutions and unique approach have provided hospitals and health systems with significant pharmacy savings opportunity despite recently being contracted with larger cost savings consulting companies.