Technology and Drugs

Today, our dean and her P4 rotation student hosted a Colorado Sunset Legislation Review. In essence, Colorado is a little special in that the Board of Pharmacy and Colorado Pharmacy Society work together to create or modify new legislation. Of the 13 or 14 proposed Sunset points, 2 of them involved drug dispensing specifically for pets and fall under the veterinary side. Along with that, 2 positions of the State Board of Pharmacy would be added that would have a veterinarian advisory role. Yes, this is purely an addendum, but this shows how involved this legislative process is.

Other current legislation involves electronic prescriptions accepted from doctors, and reclassifying pharmacists as "healthcare" providers. As of right now, we are not considered healthcare providers according to state legislation, since we were first called druggists and never reclassified. Other more modern legislation include intern and pharmacy supervision, practice development hours. Our dean along with the other Pharmacy school, Regis University, has lobbied for legislation that would allow for other healthcare providers to work with students in pharmacy practice. The intention of this legislation was to help fulfill requirements of accreditation that mandate interprofessional work and team setting. (Yes, I did think of how IPE would fit into this category). It does make sense that nurses can be as educated as other health professionals to teach vaccines to pharmacy students and so forth. THis was the logic that was presented by our dean and her rotating student.

In contrast, other legislation are not as logical such as, allowing the unlicensed healthcare providers (doctors, pharmacists,nurses) to practice without a license for 30 days. Yes, this could work for newly graduating health professionals, but then there is a loophole. For example, what would stop someone from saying that they were going to get a license, and never do. In that case, that 30 day lapse becomes 30 days of increased risk of different forms of malpractice.

As far as innovation, a biotech company is looking to implement technological legislation that slowly integrate fingerscans, retinascans for i.d. for patients when filling out prescriptions. LIkewise, providers would also be responsible for registering and completing these same finger/retina scans. Far fetched, but I think it does move in an interesting direction.

REgardless, this goes with my theme of technology and drugs. Aside from administrative contributions, technology can leave a positive impact to how we treat our patients and patient compliance.

Read more about it here: Wall Street Journal