Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Combining Telehealth and Pharmacy Delivery

The increase of Telehealth popularity in America grew substantially during the global pandemic and has remained in demand even as COVID slowly disappears. One of the biggest problems raised about the current telehealth system is the lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to getting people the drugs they need to get well or manage their health condition.

However, at RxMile, we believe that robust pharmacy delivery services are the key to finding the right solution – find out more about both industries below and learn how a pharmacy delivery service can be designed to ensure quality consumer care.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth allows a patient to get the healthcare they need without leaving their home. Sometimes referred to as telemedicine, the telehealth service allows a healthcare professional to assist a patient with prime service over the internet or a phone call.

In most cases, telehealth appointments are carried out online and will allow open but secure communication between the two parties. This could be via a video call, telephone call or a messaging service. Remote monitoring is also possible, allowing a healthcare professional to view vital signs and information that certain devices can report on.

Telehealth is not available for all conditions but can be used for the following:

• Test or X-Ray results
• Mental health services such as counseling and medication management
• Follow-ups after surgery
• Skin conditions
• Recurring conditions like migraines
• Physical or occupational therapy
• Care issues such as coughs and colds
• Treatment for ADD and other similar disorders

What Does Telehealth Cover?

Many people think that Telehealth is just another word for having a remote appointment with a medical professional and while it does do that, it also offers a lot more. Currently, Telehealth can be split into four key areas:

1. Live Audiovisual

This is when a person communicates with a medical provider via an audiovisual device such as a computer or smart device in order to get advice and support with a specific medical need. Medical practitioners use this method to diagnose, consult and treat individuals, saving them from having to attend an in-person appointment when it is not needed.

2. Medical Data Sharing

This part of telehealth covers sharing things such as medical notes, scans, photos, and data from a provider to an expert in a specific field in order to get support with diagnosis. This saves patients from being sent from one medical expert to another and can reduce diagnosis and treatment time.

3. Patient Monitoring

If a patient needs to have regular observations taken, recorded, and shared for health monitoring this can be done via Telehealth to avoid long waits for appointments or lack of data security.

4. Mobile Health

This branch of Telehealth is concerned with sharing public health notices and educational materials to people via their smart devices in a bid to improve the population’s general health.

What Can a Pharmacy Delivery Service Offer?

One of the biggest issues with Telehealth currently is being able to get patients the drugs they need in a timely fashion. Traditionally, a patient would visit a medical expert in person, and be issued a prescription that they could then cash with their local pharmacy.

However, as Telehealth practitioners are usually physically far away from their patients, it is important that there is a solid relationship with a pharmacy that can dispense medication as required.

This need for prompt medication delivery across the country may seem like a logistical nightmare, but with companies like RxMile offering independent pharmacy delivery services, it is easier than you may have first considered. In fact many are embracing the RxMile technology and opting to start a pharmacy or medical logistics company, where otherwise they may not have before. With more pharmacy courier companies springing up, we are evolving into the future of medication delivery and being part of it.

From offering a delivery portal to real-time tracking, contactless signatures, proof of delivery, refill tools, and compliance support, you can now offer telehealth and pharmacy services in a streamlined and effective way without expecting your patients to leave the house.