Technology plays a huge role in pharmacy practice. Society’s dependence on technology keeps growing every day, there is even a fear that pharmacists won’t be needed very soon. There are many advantages to technology in pharmacy, however, there are also disadvantages. The usage varies from IT systems to automated dispensers which both have their positives and negatives.
Pharmacists use IT systems to manage labelling, medication records, and inventory. These systems help you save time and keep track of large populations while also providing the most accurate information. This time saved can be used to consult with patients more thoroughly and accomplish other tasks that a computer can’t do.
Technology can help expand your business into a telepharmacy which leads to more profit. However, telepharmacy are often run by technicians and can increase the risk of mistake. Most people feel more comfortable to be able to speak to a pharmacist face to face rather then asking through a less experienced person.
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Auto mated dispensers decrease the chance of medical errors and reduce waste. They are much faster than humans which makes the wait for a patient’s prescription at a minimum. Also, pills might look the same and cause confusion to pharmacist packaging many prescriptions at once. A person can also miscount pills which can lead to a person over dosing, but with a machine, this isn’t an issue. Sterilization is also another advantage of automated dispensers because medical contamination is limited.
Automated dispensers also have their disadvantages. If it was to break down, there would be a huge back track and it would probably cost a very high price to fix such technical machines. Another negative would be that not everybody knows how to use automated dispensers. Usually in a pharmacy only a couple of people are shown and allowed to operate automated dispensers for safety reasons.
I feel like mobile technology has had the most impact on pharmacists. There are apps to monitor asthma, glucose levels, heart rate, and remind patients to take their prescription. These apps save patients the drive to a doctor’s office for basic needs. This kind of connection between a person and pharmacist can make people suffering through diseases feel safer. The younger people might find more interest in their health because it’s on their mobile phone. However, not everybody owns a phone or tablet and not everybody knows how to operate one.
In conclusion, technology is a huge part of everybody’s life these days. There’s always advances and updates to keep up with in order to keep an efficient pharmacy running. There are many advantages to technology in pharmacy, however they come with their disadvantages. At the end of the day, mistakes are always prone to happen.
References
- The Impact of Technology on Pharmacy Practice
- Pharmacy Automation: A Review of the Literature
- Pharmacy Information Systems: The Effects of Information Technology on Pharmacy Practice
- Pharmacy Automation Can Improve Medication Safety
- A Snapshot from the Future of Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: expanding the role of technicians in hospitals
