A test and treat program can look great on paper.
Then Monday morning happens.
Prescriptions are waiting. Phones are ringing. Patients need help. Staffing is tight. And now someone needs a point-of-care test.
Successful test and treat services have to work in that environment, not an idealized version of it.
Start With Clear Roles
One of the first questions every pharmacy should answer is simple:
Who does what?
Pharmacists and technicians can contribute differently to the service. Clearly defining responsibilities for patient intake, testing processes, specimen collection, clinical assessment, treatment decisions, counseling, documentation, and follow-up can reduce confusion and unnecessary workflow interruptions.
The stronger the coordination, the easier it becomes to integrate the service into the day.
Build the Workflow Around the Patient
Adding a new service shouldn’t mean adding unnecessary friction.
Think through the patient’s experience from the moment they request care.
Where does intake happen? Who identifies whether the patient may be appropriate for testing? Where is the specimen collected? When does the pharmacist become involved? What happens if referral is necessary?
Walking through those questions before launching or expanding a service can expose workflow problems before they affect patient care.
Prepare for the Barriers
Staffing and training aren’t the only challenges.
Pharmacies also need to consider reimbursement, documentation, supplies, patient awareness, regulatory requirements, and how increased service volume could affect existing responsibilities.
There may not be one workflow that works for every pharmacy.
The goal is to develop one that works for your team, your patients, and your practice setting.
Keep Improving the Service
Test and treat isn’t something a pharmacy implements once and never revisits.
Clinical recommendations change. Technologies change. Team members change. Patient needs change.
Your service should be able to change with them.
Annual education gives teams an opportunity to evaluate what’s new clinically while also asking an operational question:
What could we do better this year?
The 2026 Annual Point-of-Care Test and Treat Update is designed to help pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy organizations answer both sides of that question.
Get current on the clinical guidance. Strengthen the skills behind the service. Then take those ideas back to your workflow.
Join us live September 15 from 7:00–8:00 PM CT.