Onco-Hematology Telepharmacy during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Experience of Two Years

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Hospital Pharmacy Service (HPS) to adapt the outpatient pharmaceutical care services to ensure continuity and prevent exposure of onco-haematology outpatients to the virus. This situation was used to optimize clinical outcomes, accessibility and security through the establishment of a telepharmacy program (TP). Two years later, we describe the experience and analyse the impact. Material(s) and Method(s) The HPS coordinated with the Oncology and Haematology Services a TP that included - Adaptation of schedules to make appointments. - Database in Excel. - Organization with delivery company. - Acquisition of resources. - Implantation and extension to all candidate patients. - Analysis of results and quality control. TP was implemented on March 23, 2020 and continues today. The patients have an appointment for first telematic consultation (start of treatment), successive consultation (continuation or switch) or successive home delivery. Results and discussion: 533 deliveries were performed to a total of 142 patients in 2 years, since the implementation of the TP 408 deliveries to 136 patients during the first year and 125 to 51 during the second year. The maximum activity was in April 2020, which represented 43%. 120 visits to the HPS were avoided. Virtual pharmaceutical care was carried out for initiations or changes to 112 patients and 53 calls were answered by telephone consulting interactions, adverse effects, dosage or requesting deliveries. On the first 3 months, home deliveries did not suppose cost since Civil Protection carried them out voluntarily. After that, the rate was 14 euros/shipment, whichmeant a total of 3.400 euros in the studied period. Satisfaction surveys were conducted on 64 random patients 97% rated the service received as excellent;the remaining 3% as good. The medication arrived in optimal conditions in 98% of shipments. In those cases that needed to contact the HPS, 91% always did;9% usually. Conclusion(s) 100% of patients would like to maintain this service in the future. However, in the last year, shipments have decreased by 70% compared to the previous year. TP has changed the practice of outpatient pharmacy and allows to adapt the pharmaceutical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.