Embracing Technology to Future-Proof Healthcare for the Next Pandemic

Even though COVID-19 has been at the forefront of most people’s minds for the past 18 months, it’s important to pause, take stock and examine the impact of its disruption. A recent Surescripts survey explored how pharmacists, prescribers and patients are engaging with each other today—and how the past 18 months have shifted the responsibilities and challenges they face. More than ever, the answers to these questions are critical for taking a collective approach to addressing those challenges.

 

New Report

Pharmacists, Prescribers and Patient Survey

Surescripts commissioned a 1,000+ respondent survey to explore how U.S. pharmacists, prescribers and patients are engaging with each other today—and how the past 18 months have shifted the responsibilities and challenges they face.

View the Report

The survey shows that COVID-19 intensified issues the healthcare industry was already facing; concerns with the cost of prescriptions, provider burnout and interoperability ranked among the top challenges for both pharmacists and prescribers.

Unsurprisingly, both pharmacists and prescribers shared that their responsibilities have increased. Yet only one in five pharmacists felt very prepared for their changing role during COVID-19.

But findings revealed bright spots too. Overwhelmingly, 99% of pharmacists and 91% of prescribers say it’s important for the industry to move toward team-based healthcare, and nearly half of pharmacists and two-thirds of prescribers report an increase in technology use over the past 18 months. Additionally, both believe that health IT tools could help make the prescribing process easier with tools that integrate electronic prior authorization, medication pricing information and drug alternatives.

How can we use these learnings to future-proof healthcare? The problems we’re seeing in healthcare today won’t be resolved on their own. If anything, they’ll be exacerbated during the next public health crisis, if we don’t take steps to address them now. The health IT tools we have today, along with the collective innovation we’re driving across the Surescripts Network Alliance, can help build a resilient and reliable healthcare system for tomorrow.