FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

MODULE: RISMH202
PROGRAM: PHARMACY
GROUP MEMBERS
BONDAYI TANATSWA B R225040M 0784028894
CHUMA CAROLINE R225040C 0778354009
JOMAIRWA TADIWANASHE R225121P 0775715335
MACHEMEDZE TAWONGA R186669L 0771855390
MANYANDE TADIWANASHE R212712D 0715517756
MARENJE TRACY R199131Q 0776703513
MHONDA SYBILLINE C R225074J 0788262362
MUDZAMI REUBEN R225034N 0785288253
Question A

Identify and describe 10 innovations that are currently in use in your discipline, useful

in the field of health.

Innovation is transforming the field of pharmacy practice, leading to groundbreaking

advancements in patient care. From cutting-edge technologies to novel approaches, these

innovations are reshaping the way pharmacists deliver healthcare services. Let's dive into the

future of pharmacy and discover how these innovations are revolutionizing patient care.

1.Telepharmacy:

Telepharmacy breaks the barriers of distance, allowing pharmacists to remotely provide

medication consultations and services to patients. With video conferencing and virtual

platforms, patients can conveniently access expert advice, medication management, and

counseling, regardless of their location. This innovation ensures improved accessibility and

patient-centered care ( CA Keeys, K Dandurand, et al April 2002). Telepharmacy is an

innovative approach that utilizes telecommunications and information technology to provide

pharmacy services over a distance. It has enabled the expansion of pharmacy services to rural

and underserved areas. It improves access to pharmacists and pharmacy services for patients

in remote locations. It allows for real-time consultations between local pharmacy technicians

and remote pharmacists. The use of telepharmacy technology streamlines workflows and

allows pharmacies to operate more efficiently. Patients experience shorter wait times and

more convenient access to care.

2. Medication Therapy Management (MTM):

healthcare providers, and payers. Through medication reviews, identifying drug interactions,

and providing personalized interventions, pharmacists ensure that patients receive the most

effective, safe, and cost-efficient medication therapies for their specific needs ( J DaVanzo, A

Dobson, et al 2005). Identifying the challenges that affect MTM services in pharmacy

practice is necessary to seek improvement in MTM delivery. This ongoing process of

identifying and addressing challenges drives innovation in the field of medication therapy

management. Integrating innovative telehealth solutions into interprofessional care models

has facilitated pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management. This integration has

expanded the reach of MTM services, particularly in remote and underserved areas,

enhancing access to comprehensive medication management

3. Pharmacogenomics:

Pharmacogenomics, the study of how an individual's genetic makeup influences their

response to medications, represents an innovative method in pharmacy and medicine. It

enables the customization of drug therapy based on an individual's genetic profile, leading to

more precise and effective treatment regimens. This personalized approach has the potential

to optimize medication selection and dosing, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Innovative pharmacogenomic approaches are being developed to reduce disease and

disparities in medication response. By considering genetic variations related to medication

response, researchers aim to tailor treatments to individual genetic profiles, potentially

addressing disparities in drug efficacy and adverse reactions( AE Guttmacher, FS Collins,

2005).
4. Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Software

DUR software analyzes prescription data to identify potential drug interactions, duplications,

or contraindications, improving patient safety.

Drug utilization review (DUR) is an innovative method applied in pharmacy and medicine to

ensure the safe and effective use of medications. It involves a systematic review of patients'

medication regimens to identify and prevent medication-related problems, such as adverse

drug reactions, drug interactions, inappropriate prescribing, and medication errors. DUR is an

essential component of medication management, as it helps pharmacists and healthcare

providers optimize patient outcomes while minimizing the risks associated with medication

use. One of the key aspects of DUR is its focus on evidence-based practice. Pharmacists and

healthcare professionals utilize clinical guidelines, latest research, and patient-specific factors

to conduct comprehensive reviews of medication regimens. This allows for personalized

interventions that consider the individual patient's needs and health status (SJ Kim, KT Han,

et al, 0ct 2018). Innovative technology plays a significant role in advancing DUR.

Pharmacists are increasingly leveraging electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy

management systems to conduct DUR in real-time. These systems can flag potential issues

with medication orders, provide alerts for drug interactions, and facilitate communication

among healthcare providers to resolve medication-related concerns promptly (SI Prada, JS

Loaiza, Feb 2015).

5. Clinical Pharmacist Integration:

The integration of clinical pharmacists represents an innovative and impactful method in

pharmacy and medicine, contributing to improved patient outcomes and enhanced healthcare

delivery. This approach involves the active involvement of clinical pharmacists in patient
care, medication management, and interprofessional collaboration. Clinical pharmacist

practitioners play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital

readmission rates. Their expertise in medication management, therapeutic interventions, and

patient counseling contributes to optimizing medication therapy and promoting better health

outcomes. The integration of clinical pharmacists fosters interprofessional collaboration,

involving pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in

comprehensive patient care. This collaborative approach ensures that all stakeholders

contribute their expertise to optimize medication therapy, leading to improved patient safety

and outcomes. Successful integration of pharmacists in accountable care organizations and

medical home models has been documented, showcasing the valuable contributions of

clinical pharmacists in these healthcare settings ( E Goodrick, T Reay, 2011)The integration

of clinical pharmacy services into various healthcare settings, such as primary care clinics

and patient-centered medical homes, has yielded positive results in improving patient care

and medication management.

6. Flexible Production

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) allows industry players to increase or decrease

production as per demand. To lower manufacturing costs and make the most use of it, it relies

on computer administration and merges multiple production models. Further flexible

manufacturing decreases energy usage, boosts productivity and reduces waste.

Precision medicine is based on the concept of treating each patient as an individual. The

ultimate goal, whether at the clinical level or during drug discovery and development, is to

adapt treatment to the most appropriate group of patients. Advances in data analysis provide

new insights into how the human body responds to drugs. Because of this data and advanced

manufacturing techniques, personalized medicine becomes a reality. Drug exposure models

are used to examine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs to

determine the proper dosage depending on age, gender, comorbidities, and other clinical

information.

8. Nonhormonal Alternatives for Treating Menopausal Hot Flashes

New therapies, such as selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs) and

gabapentin, offer effective relief from menopausal hot flashes without hormonal side effects

9. New Treatment for LDL Reduction

Innovations in lipid-lowering drugs, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, have improved management

of high cholesterol. These drugs reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels more

effectively than traditional statins

10. Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is an innovative field that combines nanotechnology and medicine to develop

specialized pharmaceutical formulations. It offers promising solutions for drug delivery and

therapeutic applications. Nanoparticles, due to their small size and large surface area, offer

several benefits as drug delivery systems . They enhance solubility, bioavailability, and

permeability of drugs, leading to improved pharmacokinetics .Nanoparticles can cross

biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, pulmonary system, and tumour
endothelium, allowing targeted drug delivery can be designed to achieve sustained release

behaviour, improving the efficacy and stability of drugs

1. Keeys CA, Dandurand K, Harris J, Gbadamosi L, Vincent J, Jackson-Tyger B, King J.

Providing nighttime pharmaceutical services through telepharmacy. Am J Health Syst Pharm.

2002 Apr 15

2. Lordan D, Vorhees N, Richards C. Telepharmacy offers hope for rural hospitals. National

pharmacist shortage prompts innovative approach to hospital-based services in Washington

state, Oct 2002

3. DaVanzo J, Dobson A, Koenig L, Book R. Medication Therapy Management Services: A

Critical Review. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2005

4. Guttmacher AE, Collins FS. Realising the promise of genomics in biomedical research.

JAMA. 2005

5. Kim SJ, Han KT, Kang HG, Park EC. Toward safer prescribing: evaluation of a

prospective drug utilization review system on inappropriate prescriptions, prescribing

patterns, and adverse drug events and related health expenditure in South Korea. Public

Health, Oct 2018

6. Prada SI, Loaiza JS. Comparing the Medicaid Prospective Drug Utilization Review

Program Cost-Savings Methods Used by State Agencies in 2015 and 2016. Am Health

Drug Benefits. Feb 2019

7.Petrova, E., 2013. Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry: The process of drug discovery

and development. In Innovation and Marketing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Emerging

Practices, Research, and Policies (pp. 19-81). New York, NY: Springer New York.