What should I ask about a pharmacy’s delivery runs to seniors and care homes?

Begin with the routes. Ask for a typical week of deliveries, grouped by day and area, and the number of care homes and individual clients served. Ask who drives, whether they are employees or contractors, and how deliveries are checked off. Look at how missed or late drops are handled and recorded.

Next, ask about the care homes. Are there written agreements, or do they order out of habit? What do the homes expect from the pharmacy, such as set delivery times or special packaging? Ask how long each has been a customer, and whether any has recently asked about other pharmacies. If one home accounts for a large share of the volume, understand why they stay.

Finally, look at the cost. Vehicles, fuel, driver wages and time all add up. Ask your accountant to compare them with the income that delivery supports. Also ask who takes over if the main driver leaves. Your lawyer can read any agreements with the homes and tell you whether they can pass to a new owner. Ask also about the timing of deliveries, since late runs affect those who depend on regular doses, and learn how the pharmacy tells the homes when something changes.

Key takeaways

• Get a typical week of delivery runs with homes and drivers.
• Ask whether each care home has a written agreement.
• Compare delivery costs with the income they support.
• Ask how the homes are told when a delivery changes or is late.