Did You Know You Need Fast and Reliable Internet (NBN) in Your Pharmacy?

Whether managing patient data, processing prescriptions, or conducting research, a pharmacy’s daily operations rely heavily on the internet. In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a reliable and high-speed internet connection is essential for running a modern pharmacy. This blog post will explore the requirements for a good internet connection in a modern pharmacy.

Speed and Reliability

A good internet connection should be fast and reliable, with minimal downtime or interruptions. Slow or unreliable internet can hinder the pharmacy’s workflow, leading to delays in filling prescriptions, communicating with patients and healthcare providers, and accessing critical patient information. Also, a reliable connection is necessary to avoid issues with software updates, security patches, and system backups.

Security

Pharmacies must follow strict security standards and regulations to protect patient information and maintain confidentiality. A secure internet connection is necessary to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive data, such as patient health records, financial information, and prescription data. A good internet connection must also have adequate firewalls, encryption, and authentication protocols to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.

Connectivity

Modern pharmacies rely on various software and devices to manage their operations, including electronic health record (EHR) systems, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and inventory management tools. A good internet connection must support these devices and software, letting them communicate with each other seamlessly. This connectivity ensures pharmacy staff can access patient data, fill prescriptions, and manage inventory in real time.

Bandwidth

Pharmacies must often transmit large amounts of data over their internet connection. A good internet connection must have enough bandwidth to support these large data transfers without slowing down the pharmacy’s overall network performance. Also, sufficient bandwidth is necessary for video conferencing with healthcare providers, remote patient tracking, and other telehealth services.

Customer Service

Finally, a good internet connection must be backed by reliable customer support. In the event of a connectivity issue or downtime, the pharmacy must be able to quickly and easily reach their internet service provider’s customer service team for support. A proactive and responsive customer service team can help reduce disruptions and ensure the pharmacy’s operations run smoothly.
A good internet connection is critical for running a modern pharmacy. From speed and reliability to security, connectivity, bandwidth, and customer service, pharmacies must carefully consider their internet needs to make sure they can provide high-quality patient care and maintain their competitive edge in today’s digital landscape.

What Is the Recommended NBN Speed for my Pharmacy?

Corum recommends a minimum of an NBN 50/20 service within a pharmacy.
This is to ensure that there is sufficient upload bandwidth to allow your computers to connect to online services such as Medicare, PBS and ERX, as well as cloud back up and cloud anti-virus services.

How Can I Check My Current Speed?

There are a many different speed test services on the internet that you can use to check your current NBN speed. This can help you make sure you are getting the speeds you are paying for with your provider but also to check you have sufficient bandwidth for your pharmacy size.

Using Ookla’s Speedtest:

Go to https://www.speedtest.net/ in your web browser.
Click on the “GO” button to start the speed test.
Wait for the speed test to complete. The test will measure your download and upload speeds as well as your ping time.
Once the test is complete, you will see your results displayed on the screen.

Using Google Speed Test:

Go to https://www.google.com/search?q=speed+test in your web browser.
Click on the “Run Speed Test” button.
Wait for the speed test to complete. The test will measure your download and upload speeds as well as your latency.
Once the test is complete, you will see your results displayed on the screen.

Both of these tests are free and easy to use. It’s a good idea to run the tests multiple times at different times of day to get an accurate picture of your internet speeds.

How Can I Check What Speeds I Can Get at My Current Address?

NBN services and speeds are changing all the time as NBN improve their infrastructure and implement new services such as Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).
To see what NBN speeds you have available at your local address, you can go to the NBN website and enter your address. It will then show you what speeds you can get. This will allow you to assess your upgrade options.

What Do I Do if I am in a Rural Location?

Often in rural areas it can be challenging to find a good internet provider. Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX which aims to offer high-speed internet connectivity at a relatively competitive price point.
Starlink uses a network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide internet connectivity. The network currently comprises more than 1,600 satellites, with plans to launch thousands more in the coming years. Unlike traditional satellite internet, which relies on geostationary satellites that orbit at a much higher altitude, Starlink’s LEO satellites are closer to the earth, resulting in lower latency and faster internet speeds.
Starlink offers 24/7 customer support to ensure that any issues or disruptions can be quickly addressed. This can help minimise downtime and ensure that pharmacies can continue to provide high-quality patient care.
We have seen Starlink working well in the pharmacy setting, so if you’re interested in exploring this option, we would recommend checking availability in your area.