Telepharmacy

[rph3664]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Has anyone here done this, or worked at a place that uses it? I have a feeler extended to a company that does it, and was wondering what you all thought about it.

 

[rxmommy7]

I work at a small independent store, and we have a telepharmacy. In the beginning it was awful - so many bugs with the technology, and it was non-functional most of the time. Now the connection works quite well most of the time and I feel it is a very good thing that that small community has a pharmacy again. I think the experience with it will vary greatly based on the tech you have staffing it - whether they are comfortable being very independent or if they will drive you insane calling all the time with questions!

I have also worked in the telepharmacy occasionally (which yes, totally defeats the purpose of it since I am a pharmacist) and it is generally dreadfully boring because it is usually so slow!!

 

[rph3664]

This company provides that service for critical access hospital and other facilities that do not have a 24/7 onsite pharmacist. The nurse faxes the order into the system, and instead of being accessed in the pharmacy, they are accessed remotely so all orders are evaluated by a pharmacist before anything reaches the patient. This is a fairly recent concept.

 

[spacecowgirl]

This company provides that service for critical access hospital and other facilities that do not have a 24/7 onsite pharmacist. The nurse faxes the order into the system, and instead of being accessed in the pharmacy, they are accessed remotely so all orders are evaluated by a pharmacist before anything reaches the patient. This is a fairly recent concept.

That sounds more like remote verification than telepharmacy. Telepharmacy is having a tech fill and dispense prescriptions on site. The pharmacist views the bottles and prescriptions via TV and can also provide "face to face" counseling to patients via two way cameras.

Why not use CPOE with remote verification? That's what we have at my CAH.

 

[rph3664]

That sounds more like remote verification than telepharmacy. Telepharmacy is having a tech fill and dispense prescriptions on site. The pharmacist views the bottles and prescriptions via TV and can also provide "face to face" counseling to patients via two way cameras.

Why not use CPOE with remote verification? That's what we have at my CAH.

The company's website used the word "telepharmacy" but I have heard the term "remote verification" used too. One of the places I interviewed at but haven't heard from yet uses it on the overnight shift, and the other place I haven't heard from has 24-hour coverage and does it for another hospital in the system.

 

[rph3664]

I had another contact today with such a company, and it looks like they're needing people to fulfill a 2-month contract, starting in April. If neither outstanding job extends an offer, and they want me, I just might do it!

Just one bad thing - it's in a city 5 hours away. But if that's what I have to do to work as a pharmacist again, that's the way it is, and maybe it will lead to something permanent.