Program aims to give rural counties better access to medications

Via Christi Health Systems is launching "E-Pharmacy," which will allow its pharmacists to use technology to cover rural areas that don't have round-the-clock pharmacy coverage.

WICHITA, Kansas, July 22, 2008 -- A Via Christi pharmacist fills prescriptions as part of her day job. But come October, it could also be her night job. That's because a new program called E-Pharmacy will use Via Christi pharmacists to serve hospitals in areas that lack round-the-clock pharmacy coverage.

Thirty-seven Kansas counties have none or just one pharmacy or pharmacist. But Via Christi's new E-Pharmacy System will help fill that tremendous void.

"The physician writes a medication order for a patient, that is sent by a scanner or a fax machine to the pharmacist, wherever they are located,' said Jim Garrelts with Via Christi Wichita Health Network. 'The pharmacist has two monitors in front of them. On one, is a digital image of the doctor's order. On the other, they see the pharmacy information computer system."

This, among other things, will enable the pharmacist to check for proper dosages and drug interactions. All are important extra steps for patient safety taken before nurses dispense medication. Right now, in many rural areas, proper dispensing lies solely in the hands of nurses.

Meanwhile, pending State Board of Pharmacy approval, the E-Pharmacy System would also allow residents in rural areas, who don't have access to pharmacies, to have their doctors order medication via two-way interactive video. Then patients could pick up the medicine at their local hospital. That way, the pharmacist could actually view the nurse dispensing the medication.

But George Sanhbene, owner of Wichita's Barney's Deep Discount Drugs, worries about technology replacing humans.

"Those hospitals can buy a computer, and have a pharmacist located in Wichita, and take care of 10 pharmacies across the state, and there's no need to hire pharmacists,' Sanhbene said.

But with so few pharmacists to hire, Via Christi says the E-Pharmacy is the answer to the problem.

The E-Pharmacy System is set to begin in October in Manhattan and Pittsburg.

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