Addressing challenges of providing remote inpatient clinical pharmacy services

Abstract

Telehealth and virtual/remote inpatient clinical pharmacy services have evolved exponentially over the past year, which has underscored unique barriers and limitations. This ACCP commentary identifies challenges to providing remote inpatient clinical pharmacy services and outlines guidance on overcoming them. The main challenges discussed are broadly categorized as legal/regulatory, administrative, technology and equipment, clinical service and provider, patient/caregiver, and equity.Nevertheless, opportunities to provide equitable patient care through remote inpatient clinical pharmacy services are numerous and will likely be sustained past the pandemic. Thus, future implications and opportunities are also envisioned.