By Ava Malkin
As an FDA-Registered 503B Outsourcing Facility, SKNV produces over 120+ customized topical medication formulations dedicated to addressing a variety of dermatological conditions. To ensure that providers have a convenient process of prescribing our medications to patients and that patients can easily access our medications, we offer two main models: Dispensing-In-Office and Direct-To-Patient. Today, let’s explore the former, addressing the benefits for providers and patients, as well as how practices can implement dispensing-in-office offerings into their offices, all with some insights from SKNV’s West Coast Regional Sales Manager, Jesse Paull.
Dispensing-in-office is one way that SKNV providers can prescribe our customized topical medications to make a clinical difference for their patients, as determined by each provider.
Through this model, providers’ practices order inventory of our tailored formulations, prescribing and dispensing them out of their offices and clinics to give patients access to SKNV medications at the time of their visit.
According to Paull, a typical reflection from SKNV providers who dispense our prescription medications is: “By improving accessibility and affordability, SKNV’s customized medications create a win-win scenario for both my patients and my practice.” To understand how this model presents a ‘win’ for providers and patients, here are the benefits of in-office dispensing.
By dispensing from their in-office inventories, providers offer integrated healthcare solutions for providers and their practices.
With on-site medication dispensing, providers can add a valuable revenue stream to their practices.
In-office medication dispensing allows practices to unlock a consistent and impactful flow of additional revenue.
“Think of this platform as a marathon mentality—volume versus margin. Over time, the revenue compounds exceptionally well, especially with refills, month after month,” Paull explained.
Imagine a practice that prescribes and dispenses 10 SKNV topical medications each day. This translates to a steady source of additional revenue, even within a single business day. Of course, practices often prescribe more than 10 medications, offering in-office options tailored to meet their patients’ needs.
“For example, we have a practice that has partnered with us for dispensing in-office (DIO) since 2018. This year, they will have exceeded 35,000 medications dispensed from their office,” Paull shared. This level of dispensing has not only contributed to substantial revenue for the practice but also fostered long-term patient loyalty.
“For example, we have a practice that has partnered with us for DIO since 2018. This year they will have exceeded 35,000 medications dispensed out of the office,” Paull explained. That marks an additional $700,000 in revenue for this loyal practice, and we are grateful that we were able to assist their partnership in generating revenue and providing customized medications to address a variety of patients’ dermatological needs.
Through in-office dispensing, providers also ensure patient-centered care. Patients can leave with their medications in-hand, meaning the providers know that the patient received their formulation and that they know how to use it.
Adherence can be difficult with topical treatment options; one study found that less than half of dermatological patients adhere to their topical treatments, usually because of unpleasant smells or textures (e.g., greasiness) [1]. Luckily, with SKNV’s medications, these factors are not a concern, and with our dispensing-in-office model, providers don’t have to worry about this daunting statistic.
“Care and satisfaction are quickly improved because you can monitor your patients’ process and progress while providing concierge-level service for your patients,” Paull stated. He added, “In today’s market, direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies are rapidly stealing patients away from local dermatologists at alarming rates.”
In a time where clinical efficiency and patient-centered care are of utmost importance to providers, in-office dispensing of SKNV medications is an ideal mode of prescribing for offices and clinics. Many of our SKNV providers told us they see better outcomes with our medication, increased patient loyalty, and more referrals, which supports this advantage of improved medication adherence.
“By dispensing customized medications, providers can create stronger patient loyalty, keeping them engaged and “sticky” with their practice,” Paull said.
While our medications are not ‘sticky,’ this model can help practices be ‘sticky,’ encouraging clinical efficiency in dispensing, where patients stick with topical medications tailored to target their skin needs and continue returning to the practice.
Providers who dispense SKNV medications in-office experience a streamlined prescription process. They eliminate administrative costs and promote prescription convenience, as our medications require no prior authorizations, nor insurance hurdles, nor medication substitutions.
“With SKNV, you’re liberated from this administrative burden, allowing you to refocus your time and energy where it matters most—directly with your patients,” Paull stated.
Remember the loyal practice that started with us in 2018? Paull explained, “That’s 35,000 prior authorizations and pharmacy callbacks avoided.”
Who wouldn’t want to enhance the patient experience and adherence, while also optimizing practice efficiency at the same time? SKNV helps providers avoid all the troubling insurance contentions and unwanted medications, even 35,000 times over!
In addition to offering customized medication formulations, SKNV allows providers to customize the label on their topical Rx inventory.
“Your logo, name, address, and phone number are displayed on the dispensing label, enhancing your practice’s visibility and brand recognition with every prescription,” Paull said.
So, with in-office dispensing, SKNV hands the metaphorical torch over to providers: providers get to add another revenue stream to their practice, providers give patients their tailored topical Rx, providers avoid operational difficulties, and providers’ names are on the medication label so patients remember the simply and easy experience. We want to empower providers to streamline patients’ access to medications that can make a clinical difference for them, as determined by the provider.
Now that it is clear how providers may benefit, it is also essential to address the enhanced patient experience as a result of SKNV’s in-office dispensing model.
On average, SKNV topical medications dispensed in-office cost $55 for patients, which is lower than the average copay. In other words, providers being able to generate revenue does not imply egregious pricing for patients but instead ensures that they get immediate access to their topical medication at a reasonable price.
Leaving their provider’s office with their SKNV formulation in hand also means patients can begin using the medication as soon as they are prescribed it, highlighting further convenience and empowerment.
Receiving their prescription immediately ensures patients understand how to use their customized formulation. This eliminates the risk of unclear instructions or misuse due to confusion. With this improved comprehension, patients are more likely to adhere to their SKNV medication, which stands apart from any branded or generic options.
“Physicians know what works best for their patients. This helps to ensure patients receive the medication that works best for them… When patients leave with their medication in hand, their understanding is enhanced, and their compliance rates increase,” Paull explained.
SKNV is an FDA-registered 503B manufacturing facility, and our 120+ topical formulations are dedicated to addressing a variety of patients’ skin needs. Manufactured in Florida, our menu of customized medications features formulations clinically different from branded or generic medications.
“These medications are special and clinically different* because we can remove parabens, dyes, fillers, and other harmful excipients often found in commercially available medications,” Paull stated.
Therefore, in-office dispensing ensures ease of prescription and distribution, and SKNV’s Rx specifically add the assurance of quality.
To begin prescribing SKNV medications through in-office dispensing, a provider should connect with their nearest SKNV consultant and assess if they are a good fit to partner with SKNV.
“The best way to do this is by pulling a medication report as it eliminates the guesswork. It gives a clear breakdown of what’s currently being prescribed and how often. This ensures the practice avoids over-ordering and prevents under-ordering for their patients’ future needs. It’s a proven system that makes inventory management seamless,” Paull reasoned.
After coordinating with one of our incredible consultants to order an inventory for their practice, providers receive medications directly to their office or clinic.
“Once the medications ship/arrive, we follow up with multiple all-staff trainings. We go over talking points with everyone so that they are all well-versed on the facts and conceptual points for their patients. We also provide plenty of marketing materials such as patient brochures that reinforce all of the above information,” Paull explained. After explaining the advantages of SKNV’s customized medications, the ease of dispensing from an in-office inventory, and the benefits for the practice and its patients, providers can begin their dispensing-in-office process.
To begin on-site medication dispensing, all a provider must do is enter the medication into the patient’s profile in their EMR by selecting SKNV pharmacy, choosing the SKNV medication name, and writing the 5-digit lot number in the pharmacy note field.
The purpose of this simple selection is that we keep inventory for our providers. There’s no need for practices to implement inventory management software because SKNV’s system speaks to their EMRs, keeping track of whatever formulation a provider inputs and pulling it from their inventory.
After submitting the EMR information, a provider can immediately hand their patient their SKNV formulation, customized to target that patient’s specific skin needs, as determined by the provider. After paying, the patient can leave the office with their medication in hand.
Overall, if providers want to feel empowered by an additional revenue stream, increased patient adherence and loyalty, operational efficiencies, brand promotion, affordability, time-saving for patients, and clinically different medications they should consider SKNV’s dispensing-in-office model for their practice.