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September 10, 2014
Prototype Offers a Sneak Peek Into the Pharmacy
Tampa, FL—What will the pharmacy of the future look like?
of the Future According to a prototype created by the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy, it will be far more than a place to just fill prescriptions. “The job of the pharmacist was never to only put pills in bottles,” according to Kevin B. Sneed, PharmD, USF’s pharmacy dean. “In this pharmacy, the pharmacist will be a partner in your health. We aim to offer true patient-centered care.” The onsite pharmacy, dubbed Pharmacy Plus, is a model for providing innovative patient engagement, education, and monitoring, Sneed said, adding, “The entire space offers technology at its core while providing a personalized experience with on-site pharmacists who are part of the entire healthcare team. It will be patient-centric to optimize health.” The prototype includes: • An Rx robot that will dispense most medications, freeing the pharmacists to engage in therapeutic patient care • A system of integrated electronic medical records to connect seamlessly with other health providers • A private space for the emerging clinical applications of personalized pharmacogenomics counseling that also includes innovative methods for pharmacists to interact with patients In addition, a range of technology and applications for tablets, smartphones, and laptops will be available to help patients find more information and tools to manage their medications. QR codes will direct patients to the web for more details about their conditions and the drugs prescribed for them, including web videos that show them proper use of the medications and cautions about potential side effects. Mobile health devices also will be on display so that patients can learn more efficient ways of managing their health. The model also includes a telehealth module, showing how communication with pharmacists can be enhanced using that technology. The prototype, which will be ready for use this month, will be employed to train pharmacy students. “The passion behind what we’re doing is so we can teach our students that there’s a better way to help patients manage their medications,” Sneed said. The overall goal of the space, he added, is to change the way patients access pharmacist expertise to better manage their health. |
U.S. Pharmacist Social Connect
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