TORONTO — Telus Health announced today the launch of its new digital Virtual Pharmacy service, which the company says helps improve patients’ medication management by allowing them to set up automatic refill reminders for prescription medications that are shipped directly to their home.
In addition, the service “allows users to have unlimited one-on-one video and phone consultations with pharmacists from the comfort of their home, while also providing them with tools to keep track of their family’s medications through the service’s online dashboard,” a Telus Health press release says.
“As people’s lives continue to get busier, we need to focus on providing simple and convenient solutions that allow people to better manage their health and the health of their families,” said Sonya Lockyer, vice-president, pharmacy at Telus Health, in the press release.
“Not following medication instructions can negatively affect a patient’s health and costs our health care systems billions of dollars in unnecessary acute care interventions,” Lockyer added.
“Our new virtual pharmacy service is designed to make medication compliance easier, especially for those with chronic or acute conditions who need to manage multiple medications.”
According to a recent survey conducted by Leger on behalf of Telus Health, “one-third of Canadians missed picking up their prescription medications on time in the past year with the majority citing their busy lifestyle as the reason,” the press release says.
“Among these respondents, all of whom have their medications partially or fully covered by a benefits plan, nearly 60 per cent said it was because it slipped their mind and almost 50 per cent said it was due to work and family commitments.”
With Telus Health’s Virtual Pharmacy service, users can conveniently book appointments for pharmacy services including video or phone consultations with a licensed pharmacist. Virtual Pharmacy “is also an ideal digital tool for caregivers who manage medications for others,” the release says.
“As we shift to a more digitally-enabled world and more virtual health services become available, we must continue to emphasize the importance of care, compassion, and expertise, providing a more personalized experience that Canadians need and expect when managing their health,” said Jason Kennedy, RPh, general manager, Virtual Pharmacy at Telus Health.
“As a pharmacist myself, I understand the importance of being able to speak with an expert when it comes to your health, whether to ask questions about medications or other matters. As the role of the pharmacist evolves in Canada, so too must the tools used to access health services.”
Telus Health Virtual Pharmacy is currently available in English in all provinces, excluding Quebec, through a free mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
A French version of the service will be available in the coming months, according to the press release.
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Image provided by Telus Health.
