DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A TELEPHARMACY PROTOCOL IN A THIRD LEVEL HOSPITAL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
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European Statement
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Author(s)
YLENIA JIMÉNEZ LÓPEZ, MARIA ISABEL SIERRA TORRES, ENCARNACIÓN PÉREZ CANO, JUAN JEREZ ROJAS, CARMEN LUCÍA MUÑOZ CID, RAQUEL CLARAMUNT GARCÍA
Why was it done?
After the declaration of the national state of alarm due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Outpatients Pharmaceutical Care Unit detected the need to design a telepharmacy protocol.
This protocol was established with the aim of avoiding patient vistis to PS, thus reducing the risk of outbreaks originated in the hospital.
Since March 19, 2020, the protocol has been implemented with no interruption.
What was done?
Due to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation, we developed a telepharmacy protocol for the outpatients of a Pharmacy Service (PS).
How was it done?
Circuit and stages:
1. Selecting patients candidates for telepharmacy, who were those with an appointment for collecting medication in the PS and had no other appointment within the hospital (with the doctor or for treatment administration).
2. Contacting with the patient or the caregiver via telephone to verify treatment adherence and the delivery data and place.
3. Packaging, highlighting the correct identification data and storage conditions.
4. Notifying to the delivery company.
This protocol was agreed by the PS, the hospital management and physicians involved.
The system was designed, in the first place, so that treatments were delivered by courier service to the patients’ addresses. Finally, due to logistic and economic problems, it was modified to make delivery through pharmacy offices (PO).
What has been achieved?
6.068 treatments have been delivered from 19/03/2020 to 30/09/2020: an average of 47 shipments per day.
In the 6068 shipments, there have been:
• 722 (11,9%) delivered through an external company (19 / 3-20 / 4/20)
• 756 (12,5%) delivered by the local courier (19 / 3-29 / 4/20)
• 4590 (75,6%) delivered through PO (8 / 4-30 / 9/20)
During this whole period, 14.496 patients (including telepharmacy) have been attended in the PS. The 6.068 deliveries mean that we have avoided 42% of hospital visits, thus minimizing the risk related to the pandemic.
The change in the delivery system has meant a cost reduction from 10.000 €/month with the first system to 0 €/month with the pharmacy office system.
What next?
Our telepharmacy protocol is still active. We keep working on ways to improve the communication with patients and increase the number of telecare services.