Telepharmacy

Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmaceutical care via telecommunications to patients in locations where they may not have direct contact with a pharmacist. It is an instance of the wider phenomenon of telemedicine, and is being used by more and more pharmacies internationally.

Overview

Telepharmacy services include drug therapy monitoring, patient counseling, prior authorization and refill authorization for prescription drugs, and monitoring of formulary compliance with the aid of teleconferencing or videoconferencing. Remote dispensing of medications by automated packaging and labeling systems can also be thought of as an instance of telepharmacy. Telepharmacy services can be delivered at retail pharmacy sites or through hospitals, nursing homes, or other medical care facilities.

Benefits

The benefits of telepharmacy include improved access to pharmaceutical care in areas where there may be a shortage of pharmacists, improved patient outcomes, and reduced medication errors. It also allows for a broad expansion of direct patient care roles for pharmacists, such as practice-based medication reviews.

Challenges

Despite the benefits, there are also challenges associated with telepharmacy. These include the need for regulatory changes to enable the practice, the need for more research to understand the impact on patient safety and outcomes, and the need for technological infrastructure to support the practice.

See also

• Pharmacy
• Telemedicine
• Pharmaceutical care
• Drug therapy

References

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