Open AccessIncorporation of an Efficient Pharmacist Workflow During the Transition From In-Person to Telemedicine Geriatric Clinics in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Jeffrey Reist,
Brent Zahn,
Onyeche Oche,
Zacariah K. Shan,
Carri Casteel,
Richard C Dobyns,
Korey A. Kennelty
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.407
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1531-1937
pISSN - 0897-1900
DOI - 10.1177/08971900221109982
Subject(s) - telemedicine , medicine , pharmacist , pandemic , multidisciplinary approach , health care , workflow , geriatrics , ambulatory care , medical emergency , covid-19 , population ageing , telehealth , nursing , population , pharmacy , family medicine , disease , social science , management , environmental health , pathology , psychiatry , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
The COVID-19 pandemic created care continuity challenges for older adults in the ambulatory care setting. Similarly, maintaining the multidisciplinary team concept of geriatric care among healthcare practitioners working from home presented several logistical difficulties. It became apparent there was a need to address these problems to avoid care gaps in this vulnerable population. Realizing that in-person clinics could put vulnerable older adults at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, a workflow was proactively developed to convert a traditional in-person multidisciplinary geriatric clinic to a telemedicine-based model. A video patient encounter option within our electronic health record along with a secure on-line meeting platform was used to maintain a team-based approach to care. This resulted not only in a high level of efficiency in care delivery, but also ensured the safety of older adult patients served by the clinic. This model provides a template for the continued use of telemedicine as a strategy for the care of vulnerable older adults who experience challenges with attending in-person clinics.