Technological innovations can help pharmacists to spend quality time with patients

Dec 1 2014

Managing Director and founder of Webstercare, Gerard Stevens AM, has told an audience of pharmacists from throughout Asia Pacific that technological innovations are best adopted when they can support the pharmacist to engage personally with the customer.

Australia’s FAPA conference contingent: (l to r) Ethe Stevens, Gerard Stevens, John Jackson and John Bell.

Mr Stevens was invited by organisers of the recent (October 2014) FAPA conference in Malaysia to speak on the topic, Innovative pharmacy practice through cutting-edge robotic technology. But when introducing his presentation, he told delegates that any discussion about technology in pharmacy was only complete when the human element was considered.

“When properly used, robotics and other technologies can deliver a raft of benefits for the patient, the pharmacist and the pharmacy organisation,” Mr Stevens said. “Key among these is a reduction in the impact of human error on dispensing accuracy, improved efficiencies in staffing and work processes, and the ability to gather and give meaning to raw data that can help further support patient health goals and organisational performance.

Mr Stevens said that it was important that among these benefits was the ability to free up the pharmacist to spend more time face-to-face with the patient.

“And that’s where the real health magic can happen – when the pharmacist can devote quality time engaging with the patient to find the best solutions to their health concerns.

“We must always remember that for the patient, this is a deeply personal situation and all the technology in the world – while it may inspire some level of confidence – becomes largely irrelevant when it comes to taking medication and health advice from the pharmacist,” he said.

“It goes both ways too. A personal connection supports the pharmacist’s goal of better understanding and meeting the patient’s specific and individual health concerns.”

Mr Stevens said that pharmacists, with time freed up by technology, have the opportunity to find out more about the patient such as what might best motivate them to adhere to the medications they’ve been prescribed.

“For many it will be a desire to live independently for as long as possible. For others it might be to regain their old lives and activities. For even others it will be to minimise stress on their family.”

Source: http://www.webstercare.com.au/