Clinical Pharmacy in 2020: an Alternative Future for Clinical Pharmacy in a Rural Setting

Abstract

This paper paints one of many possible futures for clinical pharmacy in the year 2020, the role of the pharmacist in that scenario, and the steps required to achieve that reality. In particular, the future of clinical pharmacy in the rural setting will be offered.An emerging issues analysis of global and national trends that are driving change will be used to critique the present. This is complemented by a causal layered analysis (CLA) of problems and issues that arise in rural pharmacy practice. CLA is a tool developed by futurists to explore current issues and paradigms at several different levels of knowing. A vision of rural clinical pharmacy will be offered, using the CLA as a template. Broad strategies to guide the move from current reality to the preferred future are briefly outlined.

A comparative evaluation of pharmacy services in single and no pharmacy towns

“…One alternative to the problem of accessing some common pharmacy medicines for rural people may be to introduce telepharmacy in select locations [ 6 ]. This may involve using computerised video link ups, the Internet and telephones [ 6 - 8 ] and automatic dispensing machines to provide common dosages of certain frequently used medicines under the supervision of an authorised health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse [ 7 , 9 ]. Mobile pharmacies, whereby a pharmacist travels with supplies and rotates among several small towns that do not have a pharmacy, may assist in improving pharmacy access for residents in such towns, providing licensing regulations are taken into account [ 10 , 11 ].…”