As national retail pharmacy chains, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Walmart shutter their primary care health clinics and retail stores, eliminate virtual care options and struggle to manage rising costs, pharmacist-led telehealth is bridging the gaps in care for millions of Americans. PharmD Live is leading this initiative, offering a virtual clinical pharmacist solution with Pharmacist Care Managers (PCMs) ready to assist physician clinics and their patients with telehealth consults. This approach to care reduces the workload on physicians and effectively manages chronic disease and medications.
PCMs provide needed support, from comprehensive medication management to resolving adverse drug events (ADEs), ensuring that patients receive rapid, consistent and comprehensive access to care. Furthermore, improved care quality and patient outcomes boost quality metrics for provider organizations participating in shared savings, value-based contracts.
Support for Chronic Disease Patients – Wherever they Live
For decades, retail pharmacies have served as accessible hubs for prescription services, wellness consultations and over-the-counter needs. Now, as chains reduce their footprint and face profitability struggles, patients across the U.S., particularly those in underserved communities, risk losing access to essential healthcare services.
This challenge brings an opportunity for PCMs to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility. Through remote patient monitoring, medication management and virtual consultations, PCMs help to ensure that patients continue to receive quality care, even as brick-and-mortar pharmacies scale back their presence.
The shift in retail pharmacy availability disproportionately impacts rural areas and low-income neighborhoods, where pharmacy access is already limited. Patients in these communities face higher barriers to care and are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes when faced with disruptions in medication access. For these populations, PharmD Live offers a lifeline, filling the gaps left by retail pharmacy closures.
PCMs, armed with AI-powered tools and telehealth platforms, can provide personalized, culturally competent care that considers each patient’s unique needs and preferences. By staying engaged with patients through virtual channels, these professionals play an active role in reducing the risk of medication non-adherence, ADEs and complications arising from poorly managed chronic conditions.
The Growing Need for Telehealth in Medication Management
With approximately 1,200 Walgreens locations set to close and CVS also navigating profitability challenges, community members who previously relied on these pharmacies for medication support are left vulnerable. Pharmacy closures create barriers to healthcare access, particularly for those with chronic conditions or mobility limitations. Many patients rely on pharmacies not only for prescriptions but also for essential counseling on managing complex medication regimens and understanding potential drug interactions.
PharmD Live PCMs are uniquely qualified to address these gaps by utilizing virtual care options. With expertise in pharmacology, medication management and chronic disease support, PCMs are equipped to monitor and guide patients virtually, offering continuity in care and an essential touchpoint for individuals who cannot easily access in-person pharmacy services. This shift allows patients to receive personalized remote support, which can be especially beneficial for those managing diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions that require ongoing medication adherence and monitoring.
How Telehealth Solutions Bridge the Gap
Telehealth models empower clinical pharmacists to manage patients’ medication needs remotely and, in doing so, maintain the quality of care that retail pharmacy closures could otherwise disrupt. Here are a few key ways telehealth solutions are meeting these essential needs:
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
Through RPM, PCMs can monitor patients’ medication adherence, blood pressure, glucose levels and other vital signs. Advanced telehealth platforms allow these professionals to track these metrics in real time and intervene when necessary, whether it’s adjusting a prescription or counseling a patient on lifestyle adjustments. This proactive monitoring minimizes the risk of complications and emergency room visits, ultimately helping patients maintain healthier lives without the need for regular in-person pharmacy visits. - Medication Therapy Management (MTM)
MTM has become a staple in chronic care management and PCMs are extending this service with virtual care solutions. Patients can meet with a PCM via secure video calls to discuss their medication regimens, side effects and potential interactions. These consultations are an ideal opportunity to educate patients on safe medication practices, improve adherence and optimize therapeutic outcomes. - Chronic Disease Support and Education
For individuals managing chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension, PCMs can provide disease-specific education, guiding patients in managing their conditions and supporting behavior change. This approach assists patients who may not have the time, transportation or resources to access in-person care. - Virtual Medication Refills and Delivery Coordination
PharmD Live PCMs streamline the process of medication refills and delivery, ensuring patients receive their prescriptions without having to leave their homes. By partnering with delivery services, the Company enables patients to receive prescriptions directly at their doorstep, an invaluable resource for those with limited mobility or limited transportation options.
The Future of Healthcare Access: Embracing Virtual Solutions
The healthcare industry is at a pivotal moment where traditional models are evolving rapidly. Registered Pharmacies have long been vital touchpoints in patient care, but as retail chains reevaluate their business models, it is crucial for healthcare providers to adapt. The rise of telehealth as a viable alternative offers a promising way forward to not only sustain continuity of care but also allow pharmacists to extend their reach beyond the physical limits of a retail setting.
PharmD Live emerges as part of this necessary evolution, helping to ensure that every patient has access to the care they need, regardless of location or circumstance. By integrating this virtual care model into a clinic, healthcare system or provider organization (ACO or IDN), our team can lessen the impact of pharmacy closures, prevent disruptions in patient care and support better health outcomes for diverse communities.
As the healthcare landscape continues to shift, the role of telehealth in medication management and chronic care becomes more critical. PCMs have an extensive knowledge of drug interactions and therapeutic outcomes and are ideally positioned to deliver impactful, patient-centered virtual care. This solution helps to protect the continuity and quality of care for millions, ensuring that no patient is left behind in the wake of industry changes.
Bridging the Gap to Accessible Care
PharmD Live is here to bridge the gap in accessible, pharmacist-led care. Our team of 100+ Registered Pharmacists — Pharmacist Care Managers (PCMs) – are ready to assist physician clinics and their patients with telehealth consults.
Our comprehensive virtual care services empower patients and providers to overcome the challenges posed by pharmacy closures and support optimal health outcomes through expert medication management, remote patient monitoring and more.
Contact PharmD Live today to learn how our telehealth pharmacists can support your organization in delivering consistent, high-quality care to every patient—no matter where they are.
