Tele-pharmacy in rural Scotland: a proof of concept study

Abstract

Community pharmacy services delivered remotely using tele-technology are feasible and acceptable. A larger study should be undertaken to confirm the potential of the TPRSS to reduce health inequalities in rural areas.

Application of telepharmacy: Importance of a pharmacy technicians' role

“…Implementation of telepharmacy requires that many important aspects are previously analyzed. Data presented in [9] are the result of a very comprehensive study, and these data and method of analysis may be used as the starting point, when some new telepharmacy system is prepared for initialization. Tested system was installed in one small village in Scotland, i.e.…”

A tele-pharmacy update

“…There is an excellent report about a tele‐pharmacy pilot study in rural Scotland that served as an excellent proof of concept demonstration. And it should be mentioned that that pilot project has now been installed as part of a routine service in the Scottish highlands with only minor modifications …”

“…And it should be mentioned that that pilot project has now been installed as part of a routine service in the Scottish highlands with only minor modifications. [4] Canada has suffered a lack of pharmacists, prompting the Canadian government to test the concept of tele-pharmacy in 2003 at a hospital in Cranbrook, British Columbia. The addition of remote dispensing machines happened in Ontario in 2007.…”

The march of telehealth

“…Lastly, again in this issue, Inch et al . describe a remote robotic dispensing system linked by video to facilitate prescribing by pharmacists in the minor ailment service in rural Scotland.…”

“…However, qualitative research involving patients, informal carers, social care staff and pharmacists showed little appetite for being the 'first port of call' for alerts. [15] Lastly, again in this issue, Inch et al [16] describe a remote robotic dispensing system linked by video to facilitate prescribing by pharmacists in the minor ailment service in rural Scotland. Rural practice is facing something of a crisis in terms of attracting clinicians, and such developments will become increasingly important in the future.…”