Co-authors: Michell Zulu, PharmD; Kelli Brignac
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Introduction
Access to health care, especially in rural areas, is often a challenge. Although rural health care is threatened by a wave of rural hospital closures, a recent analysis published in the Journal of the American Pharmacy Association showed that nearly half of Americans live within one mile of a community pharmacy, while 96.5% live within 10 miles of one. Pharmacists have long been the most accessible front-line health care professionals for most people – and that’s even more true as technology advances an ever-evolving health care landscape. Today, telehealth and virtual pharmacy services have emerged as pivotal solutions to address the challenges of medication access, prescription adherence and convenience.
For employers and benefits advisers, these innovations offer promising strategies to improve employee health outcomes while containing costs. The rural health crisis is a significant concern in the United States, where more than 60 million individuals reside in rural areas with limited access to health care services. Although most Americans live within 10 miles of a community pharmacy, proximity does not equal convenience. Hurdles like transportation, limited pharmacy hours, inaccessible or an inadequate number of staff members, available time off work and other issues arise. These barriers contribute to poor medication adherence, which leads to unmanaged chronic conditions, more serious complications and – ultimately – higher health care costs. This paper evaluates the transformative potential of telehealth and virtual pharmacy services, particularly in the context of the current rural health crisis and limited health care access for patients in remote or underserved areas.
1. Improved Access to Care
Telehealth and virtual pharmacy services have significantly improved access to health care for employees in rural and underserved areas, ensuring that they receive timely consultations, medication management, and chronic disease support. Even employees in urban or suburban communities benefit from more efficient access to pharmacists without having to take time off work.
Virtual Consultations
Telehealth platforms have enabled employees to connect with health care providers and pharmacists for consultations, prescription refills and medication counseling from the comfort of their homes or workplaces. This convenience can reduce barriers to care and enhance medication adherence, thus reducing costly, life-threatening complications.
Medication Management Support
Virtual pharmacy services offer comprehensive medication management, including medication therapy management (MTM), adherence monitoring and side effect management. Pharmacists can review medication regimens, identify potential issues, and provide personalized interventions to improve both prescription adherence and patient outcomes.
Chronic Disease Management
Telehealth and virtual pharmacy services play a crucial role in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma. Regular virtual check-ins, remote monitoring and timely interventions help employees maintain optimal health and prevent complications.
2. Enhanced Convenience and Flexibility with Virtual Pharmacy Services
Telehealth and virtual pharmacy services can provide employees – whether they live in rural, urban or suburban communities – with greater convenience and flexibility, allowing them to access health care services without disrupting their daily routines.
Remote Biometric Monitoring
Advanced remote monitoring devices enable employees to track vital signs, such as their blood pressure, glucose levels, and heart rate, from their homes. Health care providers and pharmacists can remotely monitor these metrics and provide timely interventions as needed before they result in a major medical event or serious complication.
Remote Interventions
Pharmacists can deliver remote interventions – such as adjusting medication dosages, side effect management, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle counseling – based on real-time biometric data. This proactive approach ensures that employees receive continual, personalized care.
Telehealth Platforms
User-friendly telehealth platforms facilitate seamless communication between employees and health care providers. Features such as video consultations, secure messaging, and electronic health records (EHR) integrations enhance the overall care experience and allow patients to access support when they need it, not just when their provider’s office or local pharmacy is open.
3. Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes
In the U.S., 60% of adults suffer from at least one chronic condition. And those same chronic conditions are behind much of our nation’s health care spending, with costs coming in at $1 trillion in 2016 alone. But early intervention and effective primary care is proven to reduce costly, avoidable hospitalizations. By incorporating telehealth and virtual pharmacy services to improve medication adherence and assist with chronic disease management, health plans can experience significant cost savings.
Emergency Room Visits
Telehealth services provide employees with immediate access to health care providers, reducing the need for emergency room visits for many non-urgent issues. This can both lower health care costs and minimize the burden on emergency services.
Hospitalizations
Effective remote monitoring and timely interventions can help prevent complications that might otherwise lead to hospitalizations. By managing chronic conditions proactively, telehealth and virtual pharmacy services reduce the incidence of costly, potentially avoidable hospital stays.
In-Person Consultations
Virtual consultations and virtual pharmacy services offer a cost-effective alternative to in-person visits, saving both time and money for employees and employers. This approach can also reduce the strain on health care facilities, allowing them to focus on patients with more critical needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Improved Access to Care: Telehealth and virtual pharmacy services can bridge the gap in health care access for employees in rural or underserved areas, providing them with timely consultations, medication management, and chronic disease support without the need for physical travel.
- Convenience and Flexibility: Telehealth and virtual pharmacy services offer greater convenience for employees, allowing them to access health care services without disrupting their daily routines. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those with demanding work schedules or mobility or transportation limitations.
- Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes: By reducing unnecessary emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and in-person consultations, telehealth and virtual pharmacy services can contribute to significant cost savings for employers and their health plans. Improved medication adherence and chronic disease management regularly lead to better health outcomes and reduced health care costs.
Discussion
As the health care landscape continues to evolve, telehealth and virtual pharmacy services are becoming increasingly vital in addressing the challenges of medication access, prescription adherence and convenience. By leveraging these solutions, employers and benefits advisers can optimize their health plans, improve employee health outcomes, and reduce health care costs.
Recognizing the value that telehealth and virtual pharmacy services bring is a critical step toward creating a sustainable and value-driven health care ecosystem. Employers who integrate these services into their benefits teams are well-positioned to navigate the complexities of modern health care, ensuring that their employees receive the best possible care at the lowest possible cost.
Moreover, the success of telehealth and virtual pharmacy initiatives highlights the potential for these services to drive innovation in health care delivery. By embracing the expanded role of telehealth and virtual pharmacy services, employers can unlock new opportunities for cost savings and improved health outcomes, ultimately enhancing the value of their health plans and supporting the well-being of their workforce.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the integration of telehealth and virtual pharmacy services into employer-sponsored health plans represents a strategic investment in both employee health and financial sustainability. These services offer a convenient, flexible, and cost-effective solution to the challenges of medication access and adherence, ensuring that employees receive high-quality care regardless of their location.
Employers who recognize and leverage the value of telehealth and virtual pharmacy services will be better equipped to meet the challenges of modern health care, ensuring that their health plans deliver optimal benefits and value for their employees.
