Telepharmacy and Digital Health Integration
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Abstract
Telepharmacy and Technologies for digital health have transformed healthcare delivery by improving accessibility, efficiency, and patient outcomes. This review explores the historical evolution, tools, components, applications, challenges, and emerging developments in telepharmacy and digital health integration. Telepharmacy, which involves delivering pharmaceutical care through telecommunication technologies, has proven effective in addressing pharmacist shortages, enhancing medication safety, and improving chronic disease management. Digital health leverages information and communication technologies to process clinical and genetic data and to optimize patient care and healthcare operations. Numerous advantages arise when telepharmacy and digital health are combined, including increased accessibility, patient convenience, cost savings, efficient medication management, and improved health outcomes. The historical evolution of these technologies’ spans from early automation in the 1950s to the current era of digital integration and interconnectivity. Global policies and patient-centered care initiatives have further promoted the adoption of digital health tools. However, challenges such as limited technology proficiency, confidentiality concerns, algorithmic bias, and device accessibility must be addressed to ensure inclusive and equitable healthcare delivery. Emerging developments and innovations in telepharmacy and digital health integration promise to transform healthcare by enabling uninterrupted access, personalized care, improved patient-provider connections, and a widespread community health impact. In order to overcome challenges and provide fair access for everyone, stakeholders must work together to realize this objective.
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