Adventist Health Launches Telepharmacy Service

In an effort to provide 24/7 pharmacy support to rural hospitals, Adventist Health has launched a new telepharmacy service. Dubbed TelepharmacyWest, the program is designed to fill the gap created by the lack of pharmacy oversight when small rural hospitals’ in-patient pharmacies close each day. With the launch of the program, Adventist Health can now provide seamless pharmacy services to both system and non-system hospitals in need of support in order to enhance patient medication safety.

The service, which was established by a grant from PacifiCare/UnitedHealthcare® to help rural hospitals create sustainable pharmacy improvements, is backed by a team of clinical pharmacists located on the campus of Glendale Adventist Medical Center. The department is under the supervision of Elwood Kwong, Pharm.D., pharmacist-in-charge, and Tanis Rhines, M.A., operations manager.

“Our program consists of highly qualified, customer oriented pharmacists working in a centralized, office-like environment, providing innovative solutions primarily for small and rural hospitals on the West Coast,” said Rhines.

“Thanks to remarkable technologies, we can aptly monitor patient medication use, drug-drug or food-drug interactions, medication allergies, pharmaco-kinetic antibiotic dosing, renal dosing and intervention measures as well as other patient safety related issues,” stated Kwong.

With the goal of providing “Big Solutions to Small Hospitals,” TelepharmacyWest offers a monthly intervention report that supplies details about order activities enabling each facility to maximize the safety and efficacy of drug therapy. The service also archives all orders for a minimum of three years as mandated by the Board of Pharmacy, and is secure and HIPAA compliant. Additionally, TelepharmacyWest offers guidance on formulary management and inventory control helping to improve pharmacy cost savings. For more information click here.