Digital Pharmacist project adds pharmacist appointments to healthcare and social welfare services

The Digital Pharmacist project is piloting remote and in-person pharmacist appointments in the wellbeing services counties of Pirkanmaa and South Ostrobothnia. The goal is to strengthen clinical pharmacy competence in healthcare and social welfare services and to create operating models that counties across Finland can use.

The Digital Pharmacist project is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and coordinated by DigiFinland. The project is being implemented in the wellbeing services counties of Pirkanmaa and South Ostrobothnia in cooperation with pharmacy operators.

The project is focusing on patients with multiple illnesses who take multiple medicines and for whom successful pharmacotherapy is a challenge.

Pharmacists supporting pharmacotherapy

At an appointment, the pharmacist reviews whether the patient’s medications are up to date and fit for purpose and whether they may have combined effects. The patient will also be given guidance on taking their medication at the appointment.

The project is also developing a pharmacist consultation chat service. The aim is to support cooperation between healthcare and social welfare services and enable smooth and timely consultations.

According to Aleksi Westerholm, who is a Master of science in Pharmacy and a Specialist at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, clinical pharmacy services could be beneficial to both patients and the service system.

“The wide-spread adoption of these services could reduce the burden and costs arising from problems in pharmacotherapy. There are major challenges in the success of pharmacotherapy regimens for chronically ill patients. Clinical pharmacy services and better multi-professional cooperation could help overcome these challenges,” Westerholm said. 

When pharmacotherapy regimens are implemented as intended and committed to by patients, this can reduce visits to emergency care and side effects from medication and improve the quality of life for patients. Digital services will make it easier to manage patients’ pharmacotherapy regimens and improve patient safety.

Pilot programmes generate practical experience in counties

In Pirkanmaa, the Digital Pharmacist model has been piloted at health and social services clinics. Pharmacists offer remote and in-person appointments and support other healthcare professionals in pharmacotherapy matters.

The experience gained from these pilots has been positive. Reviews of medication by pharmacists have improved patient safety, made arranging healthcare appointments easier and freed up doctors’ and nurses’ time for other tasks. A survey of healthcare professionals in the wellbeing services county of South Ostrobothnia carried out in April supports these conclusions.

Aiming for a nation-wide model

The Digital Pharmacist project is creating operating models that counties across Finland could use. At the same time, the project is generating practical experience in the use of digital platforms and information management solutions in new service models.

The project supports the objectives of the Government Programme to develop the use of the Kanta medication list, boost multi-professional cooperation and improve the safety and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy among older people and people with multiple illnesses. The lessons learned from the project will lay the foundation for possible wider adoption and further development after the project ends.

Inquiries

Aleksi Westerholm, Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 763, [email protected]
Maarit Vornanen, Project Manager, tel. +358 50 516 67070, [email protected]
Meri Järvenpää, Master of Science in Pharmacy, tel. +358 50 474 2430, [email protected]
Tero Mäkiranta, Specialist, tel. +358 46 921 1167, [email protected]