Someone has to verify the drugs going into the machine and the final product, because at the end of the day, someone needs to be accountable.”. The advances in technology of all kinds, and their impact on the profession, are a serious concern. “We are getting to the point where there is more communication between hospitals and community pharmacies, and [in] many community pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens, walk-in clinics are located right next to the pharmacy,” said Aungst. Making use of this data can help the pharmacy provide better service to its customers. This gap is clearest when it comes to the problem of medicines adherence. The discussion regarding the role of pharmacy technician and pharmacy support workforce roles is strongly influenced by the discussion on A major concern throughout the healthcare community is the growing problem of drug addiction, especially as it relates to prescription opiates. How can pharmacists retain relevance in this brave new world? They can track patient histories to get a clearer picture of their current state of health. “These technologies help speed up the logistics of drug preparation and verification so patients get their medications faster,” said Aungst. While the pharmacy profession is well-paid and respected, it does have some negative aspects. Bar codes on bottles and containers allow the pharmacy staff to record what drugs and compounds they have on hand and in what quantities. Some systems require the techs to check off boxes to ensure each prescription has been verified, increasing efficiency with a simpler system. Training: Following graduation from a Pharm.D. They can help improve patient safety by potentially reducing medication errors. PHI is broadly encompassing as defined by HIPAA1: Protected health information means individually identifiable health information: Best-in-class events, experts and engagement for delivering innovative and compliant meetings and promotional programs. program, pharmacists seeking an advanced position, such as a clinical pharmacy or research job, may need to complete a one- to two-year residency. On the positive side, automation technologies can offer many benefits. The system, called electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), is still in its infancy, but it's expected to be implemented in pharmacies across the country within a short time. In addition to having walk-in clinics located in some of its pharmacies, Walgreens recently partnered with Theranos, a high-complexity laboratory that can perform lab tests quickly with just a few drops of blood. New systems are enabling pharmacies to provide better resources to their employees, which means customers can benefit from improved service. We should not have to work for technology,” said Aungst. “We are in a good position to seize the initiative and use technology to take us places we couldn’t before.”, He noted that when used correctly, technology could lead to improved patient care. Role of Pharmacists ... new research evaluating how pharmacist services affect immediate and downstream care costs, particularly as part of health care teams, will ... the use of health information technology (HIT), … To some degree, pharmacists are interested in information technology because we can envision it increasing efficiency in our daily tasks and improving our access to vital information. This serves as a method for verifying the technician's count was accurate. By customizing each individual's service, the pharmacy boosts its overall efficiency. Several types of robotic, computer-controlled devices for measuring drug doses for customers have come to market at the time of publication. For example, expanding your business into telepharmacy can enable your pharmacy to add an additional location where you might never be able to start a full-service pharmacy.. Also, updating your payment process to include mobile pay or chip … With technology changing current medical thought and practices, it is critical for pharmacists to embrace the use of technology to expand pharmacy services and grow beyond traditional roles. Don't miss out on all the great benefits an APhA membership has to offer. In addition to answering drug information queries, InpharmD collates information from accurate resources to speed up topic searching. Registered in England and Wales. For instance, some pharmacies have started offering apps that patients can download onto their smartphones, which let them know when it's time to take medications, when a prescription is running low, and can also let them send a refill request. For hospital pharmacists, technology has the potential to replace pharmacists in terms of dispensing roles, but it could also free up pharmacists to spend more time on the hospital floors so they can interact with patients and provide clinical information to physicians. Additionally, when a business is more in touch with its present and potential customers, the more chance it has to build a strong customer loyalty base. InpharmD, developed by Ashish Advani, PharmD, professor at Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy, is the first iPhone app to offer customized drug information. “We can use technology to leverage our services and functions when it comes to provider status, and I could envision that as a changing nature of our profession,” said Aungst. However, at the end of the movie, Mr. Bucket is rehired to take care of the robot. This means that pharmacists are in an excellent position to not only play a more primary role in treating illness, but also in preventive care. A phenomenal change is seen in the pharmacy industry where IT has boosted every sector. “A pharmacist could look up the remote tag and see if the medication is on the way, if it’s still in the pharmacy, or if it is on another floor because it got lost.”. Pharmacists are accessible in all healthcare settings: inpatient, … “If you go back 20 or 30 years before the widespread use of the Internet, patients and providers relied on pharmacists for drug information because we had the information, and they didn’t,” said Aungst. The bar codes also make it easier to confirm that the right product has been delivered, stored, retrieved and dispensed to customers. “I like this story because despite all that robots can do, it reminds me that pharmacists will need to be part of the operations. Today, many mobile apps coming on the market are capable of processing drug interactions, performing medication identification, and serving as drug information services. Donald J. Dietz, RPh, MS. Aungst noted that pharmacists need to jump in and take the reins in terms of clinical content when it comes to developing tools for patients and providers. In two recent articles, Trupti Sarang lent her expertise as a clinical pharmacist. According to Aungst, technology is something that plays in to pharmacists’ run for provider status. advances in the design, and use of drones), we must be concerned for the future of … According to the company’s website, the service has more than 20,000 scientific journals, more than 20 million scientific articles, and several other resources. A total of 43.4% of hospitals use computerized data mining to identify patients in … Advancement of technology … One study identified 6.5 adverse events related to medication use per 100 inpatient admissions; more than one fourth of these events were due to errors and were therefore preventable.2 Among serious medication errors, about one third occur at the ordering stage of the medication process, another third occur during medication administration, and the rema… How to Become One: Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D. “One potential outcome that could be a positive for pharmacists interested in expanding their services would be the ability to see patients, conduct laboratory work, and follow up at the pharmacy without relying on outside services,” said Aungst. The pharmacist “has a huge scalability to reach as many people as possible.”. Computer technology helps pharmacies better manage their supplies. One way forward may be to embrace this technology, thanks to a new generation of apps being developed that aim to bridge the gap between GP surgeries, community pharmacies and patients. In this environment, exciting opportunities emerge for … Faxed and emailed patient census data, neither of which are … For pharmacists worried about being replaced by technology, Aungst offered the story of the 2005 remake of the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Subscribers submit complex clinical questions through the website or the app and receive customized, evidence-based responses within a requested time period. This site is part of the Informa Connect Division of Informa PLC. I Like to Work Directly with Patients. “There is no question that these machines are replacing traditional technician and pharmacist roles.”. Artificial Intelligence. With advances in artificial intelligence and ‘fuzzy’ logic (an approach to computing based on ‘degrees of truth’), and in logistics and supply (e.g. landscape may affect the demand for these services in the future. “I have been meeting with pharmacists and students interested in leveraging technology and using it in pharmacy practice, so as a whole we do have active players involved, but we could use more support across the profession.”. Pharmacists will be relied upon to answer the really “hard” questions that patients can’t quickly google or look up the answers to, Aungst noted. Copyright © 2021 Informa Connect Limited. In the new version, Mr. Bucket is replaced by a robot to screw the cap on toothpaste. Many technologies coming on the market may help patients and other health care workers with drug information. With that in mind, here are 5 technology-dependent trends that are increasingly making an impact on pharmacy. Another improvement in pharmacy service has been the implementation of machines specifically engineered to count out individual doses. This accessibility allows them to perform more patient care activities, including counseling, medication management, and preventive care screenings. Not all patients can or need medication therapy monitoring by pharmacists. The efficiency of workflow is especially important in a pharmacy, where customers may only have a limited time to wait for service. “Could someone do the same for pharmacy?”, Today, there are many machines on the market capable of filling prescriptions and checking medications. The Impact of New Technology on Pharmacy. As society’s use of technology continues to increase, and as technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, digital health is here to stay. Apps for adherence. Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199, registered office 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG. While this type of system is certainly beneficial to the individual, it also collects data that helps the pharmacist offer more efficient and personalized services to each customer. The implementation of data analytics has helped the government and healthcare industry identify the misuse of opiate pain killers, especially where one prescriber may seem to be operating a pill mill. Technology advances in pharmacy include innovations that improve medication safety, efficiency, and patient compliance. “This will have huge ramifications because not only does the pharmacy have that laboratory data, the patient’s provider will want that data, which will need to be shared through an integrated electronic health record system.”. One such service is the telepharmacy, which brings pharmacy services to the internet. “Technology offers hospital pharmacists the ability to counsel more patients, have a greater visibility on hospital floors, and expand clinical roles, but only if we are willing to take a leap of faith and embrace change,” said Timothy Dy Aungst, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy at MCPHS University in Worcester, MA. Most of which will affect patient care greatly from ordinary to exemplary. Get the latest pharmacy news in your inbox. “We can sit back and keep practicing as we see what works, while the rest of the field flies past, or we keep up with changes and keep relevant. A pharmacy is a business and, just like any other business, each pharmacy has competitors, which may be local, regional, or national. Ten years earlier, only 13 percent of pharmacis… Number 3099067. Over the past 40 years, information technology has had a major impact … Pharmacists need to develop technologies how we want them to be.”, APhA sponsored Professional Liability Insurance. Pharmacists may work in drug stores, hospitals, clinics and other settings. “We need to stay abreast of what is coming out and get involved with technology at the development phase,” said Aungst. Although this could eliminate a patient’s trip to the community pharmacist, a medication identification app could have a positive influence during the hospital admission medication reconciliation process. “Technology offers hospital pharmacists the ability to counsel more patients, have a greater visibility on hospital floors, and expand clinical roles, but only if we are willing to take a leap of faith and embrace change,” said Timothy Dy Aungst, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy at MCPHS Un… Technology is helping pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals emerge from the functional "silos" that make it difficult for them to communicate with each other, according to Michele Vilaret, Director of Telecommunications Standards for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. by Ayers Career College on October 15th, 2019 in Articles Career Training News Pharmacy Tech Training. The result: pharmacists will use HIT to positively affect patient care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the cost of care. Aungst used the example of Uber’s rise to success to demonstrate the danger of becoming complacent. From automation that can fill prescriptions to apps that provide drug information, there is a fear that technology may one day replace many of the hospital pharmacist’s and hospital pharmacy technician’s functions. While this process was once very time-consuming, modern technology has made it easier and faster to process a prescription. “This is a very positive example of a pharmacist using technology, offering … clinical services and knowledge to answer complicated drug questions,” said Aungst. Communication Skills & Pharmacy Technicians. The future of pharmacy has been an ongoing discussion for some years. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is exploring the development of an app to identify tablets and capsules. Pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team, and are among the most trusted and accessible health care professionals. The use of modern technology and information systems help pharmacists service customers faster and significantly reduce the likelihood of errors in prescription refills. Technology systems also provide a place to document pharmacy activities that improve patient care across the health system. Electronic Prior Authorization Additionally, they can consult with real pharmacists about their medication or medical concerns. Technology trends affect businesses on many levels. He noted that companies that produce medication adherence apps may not even involve a pharmacist or have one on the clinical staff. He feels that technology could pave the way to expand pharmacy services so that pharmacists can do more, but pharmacists need to take control now so traditional roles aren’t eliminated or replaced. Student pharmacists and practicing pharmacists need to keep an eye out for opportunities where technologies can be incorporated into pharmacy practice. “Pill identification apps could be a threat, but they could also be great in the grand scheme of things because it would free up that technician to have more time to dedicate to patient care responsibilities,” said Aungst. © Copyright 2021, American Pharmacists Association All Rights Reserved. Become a member today and see what APhA can do for you. Making use of new tech innovations is helping pharmacies compete in the commercial marketplace, but also allows them to improve the services they offer. Excessive prescriptions for certain drugs can be identified and flagged by the system, alerting a pharmacy to at-risk customers. Pro: Technology can help increase your business’s profits. Real-time visibility into patient status. “One could imagine technology replacing people, but we’ve seen the opposite,” said Scheckelhoff. An emerging technology that has the potential to improve patient care is placing remote tags on medications dispensed in hospitals. “If we don’t, everyone else will make the technology without pharmacist input. Aungst pointed out that pharmacists do not develop many of today’s apps, websites, and programs. Using technology can potentially create new revenue streams for your pharmacy. By customizing each individual's service, the pharmacy boosts its overall efficiency. Advances in health care technology such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and electronic medical records (EMRs) free up pharmacists’ time by automating certain tasks so they can dedicate more time to patients. Pharmacists rely heavily on technology to help them do tasks that are often complex. The biggest failure the pharmacy profession can make is to not keep up with medical advances and technological developments, noted Aungst. Medication errors in hospitals are common1,2 and often lead to patient harm. As technology continues to evolve, the medical field as a whole is trying to learn how to adjust to technology, noted Aungst. When an employee is efficient, he turns out to be productive. We strongly believe that only digital health can bring healthcare into the 21st century and make patients the point-of-care. The pills are poured onto a tray and examined by the machine for accuracy. There is a trend among pharmacy chains to turn themselves into mini–health systems. We cannot be complacent with current practice, but rather question how can we get better,” he said in an interview with Pharmacy Today. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of computer science that emphasizes the … Little time was spent “under the hood” discussing the car’s engine and power. “I don’t think any taxi driver thought that they would eventually have competition like this, but there is because someone thought of something different,” Aungst explained. Ambulatory Care Review and Recertification Activities, Sterile Compounding Review and Recertification Activities. The digital revolution has made life more convenient for millions of people. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that pharmacists receive a national median pay of $111,570 per year. For example, all pharmacies use pharmacy management systems for medication records, dispensing, labelling, ordering and stock control. The introduction of new technological advances in Pharmacy Departments has allowed the . Understanding Pharmacy Technology. Besides enabling a transition in drug preparation and dispensing, technology also enables medication therapy management by pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians must have a wide range of technical skills and specialized knowledge to carry out their duties. “This leads to a job loss, and the family panics,” said Aungst. acquisition of new tasks by hospital pharmacist. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. “Imagine if a nurse calls the hospital pharmacy to ask where a patient’s medication is,” Aungst told Today. “We as pharmacists need to step up to the plate and be involved in the development process and give our two cents,” said Aungst. March 2015, Vol 3, No 3 - The First Word. Take a look and see just what new pharmacy technology there is. Fortunately, technological advances are improving this industry, just as tech is improving other aspects of healthcare. By now, most hospitals already make use of an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system, but pharmacies around the country are finding this system beneficial as well. Technology can have some adverse effects on your health, but there are ways to reduce the negative side effects so that you can still enjoy the benefits of technology… “We need to make technology work for us. 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