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Healthcare professionals worldwide continue to adapt to challenges posed by COVID-19 by implementing such services as telehealth to provide patient care. Among those ensuring access to comprehensive pharmaceutical care via virtual technologies are faculty and students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP).

“This pandemic has completely disrupted our lives in all ways, including how we teach and care for patients,” said Kelly Gable, PharmD, SOP professor and director of well-being and resilience.

Gable has helped implement telehealth services at her clinical practice site in St. Louis, where she works as a psychiatric pharmacist. Amid the pandemic, Gable’s clinic has seen an increase in behavioral health needs in the community, and telehealth has allowed convenient, virtual access to patients.

She guides fourth-year pharmacy students completing Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) at her clinical site, allowing them an active role in telehealth appointments. Through an efficient, streamlined patient care process, students review patient medication profiles and check for medication concerns.

“It is incredibly valuable for our future pharmacists and healthcare providers to learn how to be flexible in their delivery of patient care,” said Gable. “Incorporating students in this process forces them to think practically, innovate and respond to the greatest healthcare needs of our communities.”

“In the future, we will likely see a shift to a more hybrid form of care, where some appointments are offered via telehealth and others in-person, depending on the needs of each individual patient,” added Gable.

Exposing students to telehealth is essential for preparing them for changes within pharmacy practices now and in the future, according to SOP Clinical Associate Professor Jennifer Rosselli, PharmD.

“Clinical rotations that incorporate telehealth allow pharmacy students to achieve the learning outcomes that are required for graduation, especially in instances when the pharmacy setting has restricted or limited students’ on-site access,” Rosselli said. “It is critical that pharmacy students have ample opportunities to practice the skills and apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom and in lab simulations through real-world pharmacy practice experiences.”

Molly Jorns, of Tallula, is a fourth-year pharmacy student who has assisted SOP faculty in continuing care throughout the pandemic. During an APPE with Rosselli, Jorns offered telehealth services at SIHF Healthcare clinics in O’Fallon and Belleville.

“Telehealth visits have pushed me to adapt and think creatively to ensure patients receive quality care despite not meeting in person,” said Jorns. “Virtual visits are also a great resource for patients who may have barriers to obtaining healthcare, such as difficulties with transportation or lack of childcare, which are associated with office visits.”

Under the guidance of her pharmacy preceptors, Jorns made medication changes, counseled on medication use and information, suggested lifestyle modifications, and developed follow-up care to optimize patient health and medications. Video calls allowed Jorns to teach people with diabetes how to prepare and use injectable medicine.

Currently, Jorns is serving the SIUE community on another rotation with SOP Professor Chris Lynch, PharmD, by conducting virtual medication consultation visits for University faculty and staff.

Throughout the pandemic, Lynch has utilized his students’ expertise in technology to conduct compassionate remote care. In spring 2020, his students designed a confidential patient registration process, performed pre-screening telephone interviews and completed draft versions of patient documentation for each patient seen.

Lynch believes the transition to telehealth services has strengthened both practicing faculty members’ and students’ flexibility in adapting to change, allowing them to learn new facets of empathy while caring for patients under the tremendous stress of COVID-19.

“We believe the experiences gained during the pandemic will allow our utilization of telehealth to continue to grow after the pandemic ends,” he said. “When used in conjunction with traditional in-person visits, telehealth offers a service that is more time effective for the providers and more convenient for the patients.”

Along with providing telehealth services, SOP faculty and students are also assessing patient preferences. Under the mentorship of Rosselli and Professor Chris Herndon, PharmD, fourth-year students Kellsey Hediger and Ryan Moran surveyed patients of SIHF Healthcare who have experienced both telehealth and in-person visits with a clinical pharmacist.

The research team found that 71% of patients interviewed prefer telehealth or a combination of telehealth and face-to-face visits during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic ends, 46% of interviewees indicated they would like telehealth visits to remain a part of their care.

Photo: SOP fourth-year student Brittany Vordtriede (L) and Chris Lynch, PharmD, (R) conduct a telehealth visit with patient Vicki Lottes (bottom).