Ensuring Continuity of Medicines Supply by Empowering Pharmacy Services with Remote Clinical Support
Lead Participant:
TITAN PMR LTD
Abstract
During March 2020, community pharmacies went into overdrive as patients flocked to stores amid the panic of Covid-19\. Every pharmacy faced unprecedented demand, dispensing several times their usual prescription volumes. At the same time, they experienced stock shortages and staff absences which has added further pressure. Some pharmacies have also had to lay on additional delivery services, stretching their resources and increasing costs.
The current situation has greatly impacted the pharmacy sector putting extreme burden on pharmacists on the frontline, many of which are close to breaking point. If pharmacists were to fall ill and if pharmacies were to close, this would significantly disrupt the supply of medicines across the country and reduce a valuable NHS resource for health advice at a time when this is needed the most.
We considered how our technology could offer an innovative approach to supporting the sector during the Covid-19 crisis. Our new pharmacy operating system, Titan, was accredited by NHS Digital in 2019 making it the first new dispensing system to launch into the pharmacy market in over 10 years and aims to transform the way prescriptions are processed. The solution has now been implemented into 30 'trailblazer' sites across England and Wales with ambitious growth planned this year.
Titan is the only cloud-based pharmacy platform on the market capable of breaking down the dispensing process into distinct digital stages. The step which crucially requires pharmacist involvement is that of clinically checking every prescription. In light of Covid-19, we explored an idea where clinical checks could be performed by remote pharmacists working from home. This would redistribute workload and greatly ease pressure from pharmacies whilst mobilising untapped resources at the same time.
Our new concept of Titan Teams introduces an 'Uber' style service to pharmacies, significantly improving their chances of coping in the months ahead whilst upholding patient safety. The Business Led Innovation Grant will enable us to develop a functional system which complies with all regulatory and professional requirements. We will initially release this system to Titan Trailblazer sites within a matter of weeks and once the model is proven, then make this available to the wider pharmacy sector alongside Titan.
---EXTENSION FOR IMPACT---
Whereas the original project targeted 'high street' pharmacies, the Extension of the project will allow us to implement Titan Teams to large scale warehouse pharmacies. The Covid pandemic has driven greater volume to online pharmacy providers and many of these operators have seen exponential growth in their dispensing activities. This growth has put strain on their operations. Where such pharmacies use Titan, we have the potential to introduce Titan Teams allowing them to distribute and outsource the clinical services to pharmacists working from home. This innovation would make a significant contribution to the success of online pharmacy services.
The current situation has greatly impacted the pharmacy sector putting extreme burden on pharmacists on the frontline, many of which are close to breaking point. If pharmacists were to fall ill and if pharmacies were to close, this would significantly disrupt the supply of medicines across the country and reduce a valuable NHS resource for health advice at a time when this is needed the most.
We considered how our technology could offer an innovative approach to supporting the sector during the Covid-19 crisis. Our new pharmacy operating system, Titan, was accredited by NHS Digital in 2019 making it the first new dispensing system to launch into the pharmacy market in over 10 years and aims to transform the way prescriptions are processed. The solution has now been implemented into 30 'trailblazer' sites across England and Wales with ambitious growth planned this year.
Titan is the only cloud-based pharmacy platform on the market capable of breaking down the dispensing process into distinct digital stages. The step which crucially requires pharmacist involvement is that of clinically checking every prescription. In light of Covid-19, we explored an idea where clinical checks could be performed by remote pharmacists working from home. This would redistribute workload and greatly ease pressure from pharmacies whilst mobilising untapped resources at the same time.
Our new concept of Titan Teams introduces an 'Uber' style service to pharmacies, significantly improving their chances of coping in the months ahead whilst upholding patient safety. The Business Led Innovation Grant will enable us to develop a functional system which complies with all regulatory and professional requirements. We will initially release this system to Titan Trailblazer sites within a matter of weeks and once the model is proven, then make this available to the wider pharmacy sector alongside Titan.
---EXTENSION FOR IMPACT---
Whereas the original project targeted 'high street' pharmacies, the Extension of the project will allow us to implement Titan Teams to large scale warehouse pharmacies. The Covid pandemic has driven greater volume to online pharmacy providers and many of these operators have seen exponential growth in their dispensing activities. This growth has put strain on their operations. Where such pharmacies use Titan, we have the potential to introduce Titan Teams allowing them to distribute and outsource the clinical services to pharmacists working from home. This innovation would make a significant contribution to the success of online pharmacy services.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| TITAN PMR LTD | £74,990 | £ 74,990 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Tariq Muhammad (Project Manager) |