What is the primary function of telepharmacy?

The primary function of telepharmacy is to enhance the delivery of pharmaceutical care through the use of telecommunications technology. This primarily involves providing services such as medication counseling, prescription verification, and the monitoring of specific pharmacy operations, which includes sterile compounding processes. Telepharmacy offers a means for pharmacists to ensure that sterile products are compounded safely and accurately, especially in settings where a pharmacist may not be physically present.

While selling prescription drugs online and administering vaccines remotely may involve aspects of telehealth and telemedicine, they do not align with the core objective of telepharmacy, which is focused on pharmacist-driven care and medication management. Similarly, increasing pharmacy sales through advertising does not pertain to the professional and clinical functions that telepharmacy aims to serve. Therefore, monitoring and verifying sterile compounding processes stands out as the central role of telepharmacy, ensuring both patient safety and adherence to regulatory standards.