Magnets have revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry — from increasing organization in the office to removing metal shavings in processing lines, they play an integral role in pharmacies. Magnets can improve overall efficiency and organization in the pharmacy office, while also removing tiny ferrous particles mixed in with drugs before they even arrive. If you work in the pharmaceutical industry, consider implementing these magnetic solutions into your day-to-day to keep consumers safe and your office organized — we’re outlining everything you need to know about using magnets in pharmacies in this blog post.
Labeling Shelves and Baskets
When a patient arrives to pick up their prescription, it's important to find the correct prescription as quickly as possible to avoid long lines from forming. One way to improve efficiency is with adhesive magnets or bendable silicon magnetic clips to label shelves and baskets. If your pharmacy has metal shelves or storage baskets, you can use adhesive magnets; on the other hand, if they are not metal, you can use magnetic clips. With adhesive magnets, you can remove the seal from the adhesive side and attach a sign or label to it. This will let you easily label metal shelves and baskets and move around labels as needed. If your pharmacy has non-magnetic shelving or baskets, magnetic clips are the ideal solution. Simply open the clip to place a sign or label in between and secure it by closing the clip. From there, you can clip it onto the necessary shelf or basket. Tip: you can write on the magnet with a chalkboard marker, which is ideal for labeling as you can easily erase it and move the clip.
Sorting Paperwork
Another effective way to implement magnets into your pharmacy is to organize and sort paperwork with bendable silicone magnets. Sometimes, paper clips are unreliable — they bend and fall off easily. Bendable silicone magnetic clips are the ideal upgrade — they even hold up to 16 sheets of 8.5” x 11” paper. Simply, open the magnet clasp, place papers between the clips, and secure it shut. Now, you don’t have to worry about losing important paperwork if the paper clip breaks. Additionally, you can use bendable magnetic clips to organize a filing cabinet — clip the paperwork together and label the magnet with a chalkboard marker. With these simple and effective tips, paperwork will be more organized so you can easily find it.
Magnetic Signage
In a previous blog post, we talked about using magnetic signage in warehouses and retail stores to label processes, store merchandise, discounts, etc. Similarly, you can implement magnetic signage inside or outside your pharmacy. With neodymium disc, bar, or adhesive magnets, you can attach signage to a magnetic surface. Magnetic signage is ideal for creating hanging POS advertisements, advertising store discounts, or labeling inventory. Magnetic signage allows you to easily move signage around your store with minimal effort. Also, magnetic signage is durable (whether it's inside and outside your business), and it is cost-effective.
Magnets and Lab Coats
To keep your lab coat secure while on the job, you can replace the buttons on your coat with sewing magnets or magnetic clasps. Sewing magnets and magnetic clasps are often used in adaptive clothing to transform the way people with disabilities get dressed, but they can also be helpful in pharmacies or labs. By doing this, your coat will be secured, and you can easily take your coat on and off. Watch this video to learn how to replace pant buttons with a magnetic clasp — you can follow the same steps to replace the buttons on your lab coat with magnets.
Sorting Drugs with Magnets
Prior to drugs arriving at a pharmacy, they go through multiple processes to ensure they are safe for consumers. For instance, drugs go through a magnetic separator in processing lines to remove any ferrous contaminants or scraps that could be dangerous if consumed. Similar to food processing, magnetic separators remove harmful contaminants and prevent consumers from painful, or potentially deadly situations. Rare earth magnets — Samarium Cobalt and neodymium — are commonly used in processing because of their strong magnetic field and ability to attract fine contamination, but Alnico is another option as it’s better suited to attract larger metal pieces. Many separator systems will use both types of magnets to ensure that drugs don’t contain dangerous particles.
Contact Apex Magnets Today!
Whether you’re looking to implement magnets in your pharmacy to optimize internal processes or improve production lines, Apex Magnets is here to help. We sell adhesive magnets, silicone bendable magnetic clips, neodymium disc magnets, Samarium Cobalt magnets, and more that are ideal for pharmacies. If you have any questions about which magnet is best for your specific application, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1.304.257.1193. We also offer custom magnets in many shapes and sizes within certain parameters. Fill out our custom magnet request form, and we’ll review your RFQ within 1-2 business days and provide you with a quote for free. There’s no obligation to purchase. To learn how to get custom orders fast, click here.
