In a time of disconnected healthcare silos with protected health information not being readily accessible or interchangeable and patient’s being confused about their diagnosis and the medications they take, pharmacists across the nation bridge the divide. Pharmacists provide essential patient healthcare knowledge and direction by pulling together the healthcare team. Pharmacists’ geographic proximity and good standing within the community provide patients a trusted, accessible location of care. And while they often have more face-to-face time with patients than other healthcare providers, pharmacists are still struggling to overcome the obstacles of time, reimbursement and health provider collaboration that limits their ability to practice to the top of their license.
But, new applications of technology are providing pharmacists the ability to practice to the top of their license and change the trajectory of patient lives. By connecting with local health providers and the patients they serve through remote patient monitoring programs, pharmacists can expand patient services and create a seamless path of connectivity. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools are making it possible for pharmacists to play a greater role in patient education, chronic disease management, medication adherence and ultimately detect a deteriorating patient more quickly. RPM technology pulls together a multidisciplinary team with pharmacists in the patient facing role.
While remote patient monitoring programs have been around for years, COVID-19 has pushed providers to utilize digital health options to their fullest and thus RPM programs have gained popularity. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have embraced reimbursable evaluation and management CPT codes that help healthcare teams get paid for providing better, more comprehensive outpatient monitoring.
RPM platforms like Dignio provide a seamless patient interface for Bluetooth devices to automatically upload patient physiologic data like blood pressure, blood sugar, oxygen levels, etc. for closer patient observation while connecting the health team for improved communication and treatment plan management. Pharmacists, as clinical staff, can band together the healthcare team to reduce overall health dollars spent and improve patient outcomes.
Dignio Enables Connected Care
A University of Washington review of studies found substantially improved outcomes as measured by markers such as hemoglobin A1C, cholesterol, blood pressure, and adverse drug events when pharmacists have a greater role in patient care.
Pharmacists appear to be embracing this role. A study in the journal Pharmacy revealed that fewer pharmacists devoted their time primarily to dispensing medication in 2019 (34%) compared to 2014 (40%).
The good news is that tools are now available for the transition to move even faster. As a company, Dignio is dedicated to making healthcare less dependent on time and place through technology that helps care teams and patients communicate and interact. For providers, Dignio does this through an interconnected digital ecosystem that brings providers, caregivers, and patients together. The Dignio Care app specifically enables physicians, providers, and now pharmacists to collaborate more closely on patient care and practice at the top of their license, leading to improved outcomes.
Here at Dignio, we help community, LTC, and specialty pharmacists leverage remote patient care technology in order to practice at the top of their license, allowing pharmacies to deliver greater value to patients and caregivers, while generating more profitable revenue for the pharmacy location.
If you’d like to see how we can help pharmacies make an even bigger positive impact in communities and drive greater profit margins while doing so, feel free to reach out to our Connected Care Team today!