WATKINSVILLE, GA / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2025 / Small rural hospitals know all too well the challenges and risks associated with inconsistent pharmacy coverage. The potential for medication errors and staff burnout increase, and the strain of recruiting and retaining full-time or on-site pharmacists and pharmacy staff create yet another burden.
For good reason, remote pharmacy services are an option more and more rural hospitals are rapidly turning to. It allows them to maintain consistent pharmacy coverage, bridge gaps that could compromise patient safety and helps create greater workflow and operational efficiency within the pharmacy that extends to related hospital functions.
PharmD on Demand's remote pharmacy services is one option to consider, particularly since they are designed to serve small, rural hospitals and built by a company that understands, and has deep roots in, rural communities. Remote order verification, the cornerstone service of PharmD on Demand, has driven the company's 18-plus-year mission of supporting rural hospitals. They offer the expertise and flexibility needed to bridge gaps, maintain operational efficiencies, reduce risks-and save costs.
"Rather than a single hospital bearing the expense of having a pharmacist 24/7, we are able to provide pharmacist coverage for a fraction of the cost, as that pharmacist is able to provide services for multiple hospitals concurrently," says Jackson Dove, VP of Remote Pharmacy Services at PharmD on Demand.
With customizable options for nighttime, daytime and 24/7 coverage, rural hospitals can ensure continuity of care without overburdening their existing staff. For facilities operating with limited pharmacy staff and resources, this level of support from PharmD can be a game-changer.
Nightime-A Unique Challenge
While a lack of coverage at any time can be difficult, night-time hours can be particularly challenging. That's because many rural hospitals have no onsite pharmacist available after hours, leaving critical medication orders unreviewed until the next day.
"This delay can jeopardize patient safety. At the same time, it increases the morning workload and contributes to burnout for already stretched pharmacy staff," says Dove.
"We've helped rural hospitals improve patient safety by ensuring that medication orders are reviewed in real time," he says. "That also means, when pharmacy staff arrives in the morning, they don't face a backlog of orders that has accumulated in their absence."
Maximizing Daytime Efficiency
During the day, pharmacists in rural hospitals often juggle clinical duties, administrative meetings, and medication oversight, leaving them stretched too thin to operate efficiently. Remote pharmacy services can step in to provide relief where it's needed most.
"One of our partner hospitals shared that their pharmacist could finally focus on patient rounds because we handled routine verifications and also provided clinical review services during daytime hours," says Dove. "That's the kind of impact we strive for-allowing onsite pharmacists to handle those duties that only they can address, while delegating those items that don't necessarily require an onsite presence to our team."
Overview of Benefits
PharmD's daytime remote support enables onsite pharmacists to:
Dedicate more time to clinical priorities, like participating in patient rounds.
Participate in administrative responsibilities without compromising patient safety.
Seamlessly cover gaps caused by unexpected absences or reduced staffing.
Nighttime coverage ensures that:
Medication orders are reviewed immediately, reducing delays and preventing errors.
Morning operations run more smoothly, with no backlog of overnight orders.
Patients receive timely, accurate care even when pharmacy staffing options are limited.
We're Here to Serve Your Needs
Small, rural hospitals shouldn't have to compromise patient care due to staffing or budget constraints. With PharmD on Demand's Remote Pharmacy Services, rural facilities gain access to expert pharmacy support tailored to their unique needs.
Contact us today to find out how we can help your hospital meet its pharmacy needs.
PharmD on Demand: Remote Pharmacy Services Benefits
Partnering with PharmD on Demand for Remote Pharmacy Services results in measurable improvements for rural hospitals:
Enhanced patient safety through consistent, expert medication review.
Cost-effective staffing, with shared services eliminating the need for additional full-time employees.
Time savings for onsite pharmacists, enabling them to focus on collaborative clinical care and operations.
Flexible coverage tailored to meet each hospital's specific needs.
Proven support in emergencies, like during Hurricane Helene, when our team ensured uninterrupted care.
To learn more about PharmD on Demand, visit https://pharmdondemand.com.
CONTACT:
706-389-9500
info@pharmdondemand.com
Jackson Dove, VP of Remote Pharmacy Services
SOURCE: PharmD on Demand
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
