How Pioneer Pharmacy Solved DSCSA Compliance Across Pharmacy and Wholesale Operations

DSCSA compliance is no longer optional and for pharmacies with wholesale operations, the stakes are even higher.

Pioneer Pharmacy Services, a high-volume long-term care pharmacy serving more than 50 nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across Michigan and Ohio, faced a challenge many pharmacies are confronting today: how to meet tightening DSCSA traceability requirements without disrupting daily operations or risking business continuity.

With 24/7 operations, multiple daily delivery cycles, and a co-located wholesale distribution business, Pioneer needed more than a checkbox solution. They needed a DSCSA compliance platform that could support both, pharmacy and wholesale workflows, seamlessly, accurately, and at scale.

This is how they did it and why their approach offers a roadmap for pharmacies preparing for DSCSA enforcement.

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The Growing Risk of DSCSA Non-Compliance

During a routine state inspection, Pioneer was alerted to upcoming DSCSA enforcement deadlines. While full enforcement had not yet taken effect, regulators made one thing clear: pharmacies needed to prepare now.

For Pioneer’s wholesale distribution arm, the risk was immediate.

New federal requirements mandated serialized, DSCSA-compliant transaction files for every outbound shipment. Without a compliant system in place, Pioneer faced a stark reality:

• Lost wholesale customers
• Inability to ship product
• Potential suspension of wholesale operations

“We were losing business,” said Lead Pharmacist Hussein Salman. “We were not able to sell to anyone without a legitimate DSCSA system in place. If we did nothing, I would not be able to do any business when it comes to wholesale.”

Like many pharmacies operating both retail and wholesale models, Pioneer needed a way to maintain compliance without slowing down staff or compromising patient care.

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One Location, Two Regulated Businesses, One DSCSA Solution

Pioneer’s operational model made the challenge more complex. In addition to long-term care pharmacy services, Pioneer Pharmacy Wholesale Distribution supplies products to hospitals, wholesalers, and healthcare partners—all from the same facility.

That meant any solution had to:

• Support both pharmacy and wholesale DSCSA requirements
• Integrate into existing workflows
• Be intuitive for staff in a fast-paced environment
• Withstand state and federal inspections

After evaluating multiple vendors, Pioneer selected LSPedia’s OneScan Pharmacy Pro for pharmacy operations and Pharmacy Pro + for wholesale distribution.

The deciding factors? Speed of deployment, ease of use, and the ability to manage end-to-end DSCSA compliance from a single platform.

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Fast Implementation, Minimal Disruption

Implementation didn’t require months of onboarding or operational downtime.

Hussein traveled to LSPedia’s headquarters for hands-on training, walking through scanning procedures, system navigation, and DSCSA workflows.

“It was very helpful; very easy,” he said. “Within two days, my system was running. I highly recommend it to everyone.”

This rapid deployment allowed Pioneer to move quickly from compliance risk to compliance readiness without overwhelming staff or redesigning core processes.

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DSCSA Compliance Embedded Into Daily Workflow

With OneScan Pharmacy Pro in place, Pioneer standardized receiving and verification across pharmacy operations.

Staff scan inbound shipments using:

• Tote-level SSCC barcodes
• Individual 2D unit barcodes

Serialization data appears instantly, allowing receiving and verification to happen in real time without manual reconciliation or switching systems.

On the wholesale side, Pharmacy Pro + automates the creation and transmission of DSCSA-compliant outbound files with every shipment. The integration between pharmacy and wholesale systems ensures serialized data flows cleanly, even within a shared facility.

“The files go through right away, and there’s no delays,” Hussein said. “We’re able to grow our business by using them.”

The Results: Inspection-Ready and Built for Growth

By implementing OneScan Pharmacy Pro and Pharmacy Pro +, Pioneer achieved full DSCSA compliance across both sides of the business and gained measurable operational benefits.

Business Continuity Restored
The wholesale division avoided shutdown and regained the ability to serve hospitals and partner wholesalers.

Inspection Readiness
Pioneer reports high confidence in passing a DSCSA inspection today.

Integrated, Efficient Workflows
Receiving, scanning, verification, and outbound documentation are now consistent and streamlined across operations.

Improved Customer and Trading Partner Trust
Full product traceability allows Pioneer to quickly identify a product’s origin, manufacturer, and transaction history.

“I’m a proud customer,” Hussein shared. “Everything is smooth. Scanning is smooth. It’s so easy to use and most importantly for patients, it’s peace of mind.”

Why This Matters for Pharmacies Preparing for DSCSA Enforcement

Pioneer’s experience highlights a critical lesson for pharmacies and wholesalers alike: DSCSA compliance doesn’t have to be a bottleneck.

With the right platform:

• Compliance becomes part of daily workflow
• Staff efficiency improves instead of declines
• Inspection readiness becomes continuous not reactive

As DSCSA enforcement accelerates, pharmacies that wait risk scrambling under pressure. Those that prepare now gain stability, confidence, and a competitive advantage.

Want the Full Story?

Download the full Pioneer Pharmacy case study to see:

• Detailed workflow diagrams
• Specific DSCSA use cases across pharmacy and wholesale
• Implementation insights from Pioneer’s team
• A deeper look at how OneScan automates EPCIS validation and exception

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