Bridging the Gap: How Technology is Empowering Pharmacists to Transform Patient Care

The healthcare landscape is evolving, and pharmacists are poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring optimal patient outcomes. With their deep understanding of medications, they are uniquely positioned to bridge the care gap, especially for complex patients navigating multiple prescriptions and providers. Clarest Health, through its innovative technology solutions, is empowering pharmacists to step into this expanded role, streamlining workflows, improving communication, and ultimately enhancing patient wellbeing.

"Pharmacists are truly the kind of best educated experts in medication," says Erin Mattingly, VP of Marketing at Clarest Health. "All physicians know about medication, but they don't study it like pharmacists do." This expertise becomes crucial when patients are on multiple medications from various specialists, or when they transition between care settings, leading to potential medication discrepancies and adverse interactions.

Traditionally, retail pharmacists were the go-to medication experts. However, the sheer volume of patients in modern retail pharmacies has diminished their ability to provide in-depth consultations. This is where Clarest steps in, aiming to create a cohesive medication management plan across the post-acute care continuum.

Megan Wagnon, director of Products at Clarest Health and a pharmacist herself, echoes this sentiment. "The climate has shifted where that bandwidth is significantly less," she notes, referencing the challenges faced by retail pharmacists. She also highlights the gaps that often arise in hospital settings, where patients may be discharged with medications intended for short-term use, leading to potential misuse.

"Our goal is to really look at that entire patient journey and say, ‘where do we need to create that cohesive line and insert that medication expertise?’," Mattingly explains. "And how do we do it with technology that makes it easier across the board?"

Clarest’s approach is to follow the patient throughout their healthcare journey, addressing adherence gaps, preventing medication errors, and providing crucial education. This holistic strategy is exemplified by their key offerings: