Gone are the days when pharmacists were solely responsible for dispensing medicine. Today, they have transformed into healthcare providers who not only fill prescriptions but also offer valuable insights and personalised care. This shift is largely driven by the power of data and advancements in technology.
Online prescription services and telehealth have had a major contribution to this role shift. However, with many emerging technologies maturing and going mainstream soon, this field is set to undergo another transformation. This level of change is why it’s important for aspiring pharmacists to get qualified from reputable institutions like the University of Findlay online pharmacy school, to prepare themselves to work in the ever-changing industry. Even for non-pharmacists, it’s good to be across this sort of information as it may one day affect you — below are some industry trends that you should watch out for:
Big Data Analytics
Pharmacists could potentially use data to tailor treatments for every patient, track treatment reactions and also adjust dosage in real-time. E-medical records, admin claims and clinical databases could be the main source of data that provides actionable insights. Greater interoperability of data and better data security measures would further accelerate this trend. However, the privacy of patients must remain a priority, ensuring that there is consent and clarity between all the involved parties.
Automated Dispensing
Automated dispensing has proven to be impactful in many ways. In fact, it can reduce the turnaround time from ordering medicines to administering them by a whopping 83%. There are major gains in inventory management and correct medication as there is no mix up between look alike and sound alike drugs. Human error in dosing is also avoided. Additionally, it leads to greater first-dose availability and eliminates the need for end-of-shift counting. Most importantly, it allows pharmacists to focus more on what matters: the patient. By not wasting time by hunting for the right medicine, ensuring its the right one, and then checking for the right dosage, the pharmacist can instead focus on being a better provider of healthcare by communicating with the patient, understanding their unique needs and identifying any necessary precautions.
Blockchain
35 Billion USD worth of pharma goods are lost every year due to temperature deviation in shipping. Counterfeit drugs are another major menace of the pharma sector. Blockchain could emerge as a white knight and help battle these supply chain issues. Blockchain technology would allow multiple partners to verify the authenticity of the drug and reaffirm the faith of the patient. Additionally, it could also be used to reduce prescription fraud by implementing a tamper-proof system to track all the issued prescriptions. This would also make pharmacies more compliant with regulations as data would be stored securely without any adulteration.
AI Drug Discovery
As large language models (LLMs) reach new levels of advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery is set to take the centre stage. Using generative AI has allowed researchers to make previously unthinkable connections and novel inferences, leading to new tangents of unexplored drug combinations. AI models could be used to repurpose existing drugs for new use cases and also speed up the discovery of new molecules.
Wearables & IoT
With all these changes and a growing population and healthcare landscape, pharmacists will have more patient data to work with. Wearable devices powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) come in various iterations. While smartwatches are fairly ubiquitous, rings, sensor patches and necklaces are also slowly gaining traction. These devices and tracking apps can allow the pharmacist to track the dosage intake and intervene if the patient misses a critical dose. Wearables would also ease the process of tracking the patient’s reaction to the treatment and look for adverse symptoms.
Dosing Software
Pharmacists will be able to do more with less. By integrating patient data with bespoke custom software, pharmacists can make dosing decisions more accurately with less time. These tools could also potentially reduce errors as decisions are made based on the historical data of the patient. If connected with clinical databases, these tools could provide an even greater level of accuracy as the insights will be drawn from much larger datasets.
Technology can enhance and enable better work from good pharmacists. That is why your education provider must have the right amount of exposure to such tech-driven processes in the curriculum. Having application-based knowledge will ensure that you graduate as a pharmacist who is ready to maximise the modern tools at your disposal and provide the best possible service to patients.
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