Telepharmacy Benefits for Patients, Pharmacists, and Physicians (GP)

The pandemic has forced a change, some good and some bad, across all walks of life. Health care is no different. The traditional pharmacy model is evolving, and telepharmacy is getting popular. What are the benefits of telepharmacy for patients, pharmacists, and physicians? Let’s take a look.

What is telepharmacy

In the past few decades, the rapid advancement in digital technology and communication has allowed us to develop many different types of telehealth solutions. From simple voice-only calls to fully interactive multimedia platforms, telemedicine platform have become a viable solution for delivering high-quality healthcare across great distances.

Telepharmacy is a subset of telehealth/telemedicine. It is the practice of pharmacy in which the pharmacist provideTEs pharmaceutical care to patients at a distance. It is a perfect digital tool that offers many benefits for patients, pharmacists, and physicians.

The use of telepharmacy is growing rapidly in the United States and worldwide. In 2015, there were an estimated 4,700 tell pharmacies in operation in the US, up from just 1,700 in 2010. By early 2023, 28 US states will allow some form of telepharmacy. 

Telepharmacy Benefits for Patients

Telepharmacy can provide significant benefits for patients. Patients have increased access to pharmacy services, improved medication adherence, and decreased travel time and costs. In addition, patients can receive education and counseling on their medications from a pharmacist at a distance.

Moreover, telepharmacy solutions also offer attractive discounts and deals on refills. Patients can buy their meds at much lower rates than in traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies. 

Telepharmacy Benefits for Pharmacists

Pharmacists can use telepharmacy to reach more patients with their services. They can provide patient counseling, resolve medication errors and fill prescriptions remotely. In addition, pharmacists can use telepharmacy to offer clinical services such as blood pressure monitoring and cholesterol screenings.

• Increased Patient Accessibility

Telepharmacies allow pharmacists to provide medication therapy management services to patients who live in rural locations or have difficulty accessing traditional pharmacies. Patients often find telemedicine convenient and cost-effective.

• Reduced Drug Overuse

Telepharmacies help reduce drug overuse by educating patients about safe prescribing practices and medication counseling. They can also give patients feedback on prescription refills and encourage appropriate adherence.

• Improved Patient Care

Additionally, telepharmacy can help improve patient care by providing 24/7 access to pharmacy services and increasing pharmacists’ involvement in patient care.

Telepharmacy Benefits for Physicians

There are many benefits of telepharmacy for physicians, including increased access to pharmacy services, improved medication safety and quality, and increased patient satisfaction.

• One of the hard-to-ignore benefits of telepharmacy for physicians is increased access to pharmacy services. It can benefit physicians in rural or underserved areas, where access to a traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy may be limited. Telepharmacy can also help physicians who have difficulty getting timely appointments with their pharmacists due to scheduling constraints.
• Improved medication safety and quality are key pharmacist advantages that telepharmacy offers. By providing 24/7 access, pharmacies can help ensure patients receive the correct medications and dosages. Telepharmacies can also provide patients with valuable education and counseling services regarding their medications.
• Finally, increased patient satisfaction is another important benefit of telepharmacy for physicians. When patients have easy access to a pharmacist and receive prompt answers to their questions, they are more likely to be satisfied with their care.

Telepharamacy and Telemedicine are on the Rise

As of 2022, the United States has seen a rapid increase in telemedicine and telepharmacy adoption, according to the CDC. In 2016, about 26 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans that included telehealth services. That number increased to 28.8 million in 2017.

A study published by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2018 showed that telemedicine services are becoming increasingly popular among patients. According to the report, 1.9% of U.S. adults reported having used telemedicine services in the past year.

How to Choose The Right Telepharmacy/Telemedicine Platform

Whether a physician or a pharmacist, choosing the telemedicine platform best serves your needs and goals is essential. Here are some tips you should follow:

1. Find the Right Provider

The first step is finding the right telepharmacist solution provider. There are many different types of telehealth solutions out there today. Identify your needs and then choose a provider offering a platform that meets your requirements. 

If you don’t know what you need, just ask them questions about their services. Ask if they have any special features you want to consider.

2. Check Hippa Compliance 

Whether you plan to use a standalone telepharamacist platform or an all-in-one telemedicine solution, ensure that it is a hipaa compliance platform. It will ensure necessary security measures and regular patient data risk assessments.

3. Compare Pricing

Telehealth providers often offer discounts for bulk purchases. Be sure to compare pricing before choosing a provider. You may get better deals depending on how much you buy at once.

4. Consider Your Needs

Consider your needs when choosing a telehealth provider. Are you looking for a home-based solution? Do you need a mobile app? What kind of devices do you use? Will the solution compromise any of the advantages of being a pharmacist?

5. Always consider Hipaa Compliance

A hipaa compliance platform is a must if you offer people telepharamcy services. Since the platform will handle detailed information about an individual’s health status and medications, it must be secure and safe. This also impacts the trust and credibility of the platform in the long run. So don’t hesitate to ask your platform provider about HIPAA requirements. 

Final Words

Telepharmacy is transforming drug delivery. It is an innovative solution to many of the problems faced by patients. 

One of the most significant benefits of telepharmacy is that it, like other telehealth services, can help make healthcare more accessible. If you are a Pharmacist, adopting telepharmacy will allow you to reach a larger audience. You can fill prescriptions for patients in different time zones and geographic locations. It makes pharmacy services more readily available and convenient for those with limited mobility, time, or transportation options.

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