- CVS Health Corp CVS is piloting a system, enabling pharmacists to process prescriptions in part remotely, in order to tackle the shortage of pharmacists.
- The move, the WSJ reported, would enhance store working conditions and customer experience.
- The technology equips pharmacists to asses and enter prescription information remotely without compromising patient privacy.
- CVS has implemented the technology in 8,000 of its more than 9,000 U.S. drugstores.
- About 400 of CVS's 30,000 pharmacists are engaged in preparing prescriptions at central locations, from their homes or in remote stores.
- The initiative will reduce the store pharmacists' workload, providing them time to offer services, including vaccinations and health screenings.
- "It's really a way to make the processing of prescriptions much more efficient," the report quoted CEO Karen Lynch.
- However, some practitioners have raised concerns about the plan's success amid chronic short staffing.
- The scope of CVS's rollout is limited in part by state regulations that require drugstores to have a certain number pharmacists on site or prohibit remote drug verification.
- CVS rival Walgreens Boots Alliance WBA said the shortage of pharmacists and technicians had affected its revenue.
- Price Action: CVS shares are trading higher by 0.06% at $102.64 in premarket on the last check Monday.
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