October 2024

We have entered the digital age and, as pharmacists, we remain leaders in advancing health and quality of life and ensuring that medication use is optimal, safe, and effective for all people at all times. Digital tools and telehealth capabilities open new avenues for early detection of illness, real-time alerting of changes in health conditions, connecting patients with resources and research, and alleviating the stress and burn out on the care team.  As we launch the Section of Digital and Telehealth Practitioners (SDTP), our mission is to be the home for pharmacy professionals who focus on integrating digital health and telehealth into patient care, and to provide a community where members can learn, grow, and contribute to optimizing health outcomes for all through the effective use of digital and telehealth technologies.

To achieve our mission, we will center around four primary goals: 

• Advance patient care through digital health and telehealth
• Support the integration of digital and telehealth solutions in pharmacy operations
• Prepare the pharmacy workforce for a digital future
• Support the pharmacy profession to lead in digital innovation 

As our section matures, and with the help of ASHP member volunteers, we aim to meet key practice needs for our profession within digital health and telehealth. This includes alignment on standard definitions for digital health, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring to create a common language; evaluating the benefits, risks and appropriateness of digital tools in their application to clinical care; discussing the development and expansion of digital and telehealth programs; exploring the role and competencies of the pharmacist in digital and telehealth; and bolstering education for pharmacy clinicians, staff, and leaders on novel technologies.

As we stand on the brink of a new era in healthcare, the potential for digital and telehealth solutions to revolutionize our field is boundless. By embracing these innovations, we can not only enhance patient care but also empower our pharmacy workforce to lead with confidence and creativity. Let us seize this opportunity to shape the future of pharmacy, where technology and compassion work hand in hand to deliver unparalleled health outcomes. Together, we can transform challenges into triumphs and pave the way for a brighter, healthier tomorrow.

I invite each of you to join us on this exciting journey. The Section of Digital and Telehealth Practitioners is seeking volunteers to serve as subject matter experts for projects, educational programs, resources, and other activities related to digital health and telehealth. Get involved, share your insights, and be a part of the transformation by applying today.

As Paul W. Abramowitz, CEO of ASHP, once said, "Telehealth is an opportunity for the pharmacy profession to extend its reach to patients, to provide optimal medication management and complex patient care." Let us be the bridge and lead the way to a healthier future. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare.