Ellis Holloway

Telepharmacy is a type of pharmaceutical service wherein patients and pharmacists engage with each other remotely via communication and information technology services.

Telepharmacy, including most other services under telehealth for patients, is gaining more traction during the COVID period.

Top 6 Ways Telepharmacy is Creating an Impact During the Covid-19 Pandemic

1. Offers numerous benefits

Telepharmacy can be utilized by adequately credentialed and prepared pharmacists to monitor pharmacy activities and deliver logistical, medical, and administrative services remotely. 

Pharmacists could also leverage telepharmacy to optimize healthcare access, facilitate reliable awareness and knowledge flow, deliver expert medication management, and help in assessments. 

They can also refer patients to a virtual doctor in BC, Canada, to receive a higher degree of healthcare when diagnostic evaluations become necessary.

2.  Consistent rise in telepharmacy adoption rate

An increasing proportion of regions have approved exemptions or altered legislation to allow the utilization of telepharmacy for a variety of pharmacy operations such as order processing and drug-utilization evaluations, analyzing medical data, processing insurance payments, and performing therapeutic procedures.

3. Emphasis on the inclusion of telepharmacy in policy

Pharmaceutical associations advocating pharmacists' interests have made policy suggestions about the COVID-19 epidemic. 

The major policy areas highlighted in the suggestions include:

• the need to reduce administrative obstacles to handling staffing and workflow challenges,
• permit pharmacists and pharma technicians with legitimate credentials to practice across states, especially through telehealth, and 
• allow them to perform regular pharmaceutical operations remotely as needed, for instance, prescription data entry and script verification, etc.

4. CDC promotes telepharmacy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that pharmacists who offer chronic disease and medication management products and services that don't mandate in-person patient visits could also employ telephonic, telemedicine, or telepharmacy approaches like a virtual doctor appointment in BC.

5. Drug store chains standing in support

The NACDS is advocating for prompt government policymaking that would enable pharmacists to significantly enhance the nation's reply to the ongoing pandemic when immunizations and other products are under development.

6. It can expedite economic recovery

Industry leaders believe that empowering pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through telepharmacy can prove to be a game-changer in rebounding the economy to pre-Covid levels. 

States can authorize online prescriptions, remove limitations on Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments exemptions, recognize out-of-state pharmacy licenses or join into state reciprocal agreements, and lay back regulations on telepharmacy and pharmacy technicians to achieve this.

WalkInVirtualClinics is a great virtual care platform for patients where they can avail online booking for walk-in clinic appointments. So don't delay any further and connect with our compassionate team to reclaim control of your health.

Reference blogs:

3 Big Lessons for Virtual Healthcare in the Future

Making Virtual Medicine a Vital Part of Your Clinic in Abbotsford