Technological Trends: Keeping Pace With Innovations In Pharmacy Colleges

 


The field of pharmacy is constantly changing as a result of new technologies and discoveries. Pharmacy colleges have to be at the forefront and keep up with these changes in order for them to incorporate these innovations in their curriculum.

Below are some key technological trends that affect pharmacy education:

·       The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being employed in the development of new drugs, treatments, and personalization of patient care. AI has started to feature in the teaching syllabuses used by pharmacy colleges so that students can learn how to operate this very powerful tool.

·       Big data is another crucial trend in healthcare industry. These pharmacy colleges make use big data for purposes of analyzing patients’ data and identifying trends. Therefore, this information may help improve patient care and develop new treatments.

·       Telehealth has become a trend making accessing healthcare services easier for patients. Telehealth is taught as a course by Pharmacy Colleges to train its students on how they can provide care within this setting.

·       Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are now being used to create immersive learning experiences for pharmacy students. Some examples are simulating VR/AR virtual pharmacies or hospital rooms to perform ward rounds, attend meetings among other scenarios.

·     Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that has the potential to improve security and efficiency in healthcare transactions. Pharmacy colleges are finding ways on how blockchain can be used to track drugs and medications.

Apart from these particular technologies, there are several other factors impacting pharmacy practice:

·       A Call for inter professional education: As healthcare grows more complicated, health professionals must learn to work together. Thus, pharmacy colleges endeavor in developing programs of inter professional education to train students who will collaborate with other members of the healthcare team.

·       Lifelong learning is essential: To remain relevant in this dynamic field, pharmacists have to continue learning even after completing their studies. A number of continuing education programs have been developed by pharmacy schools to help pharmacists stay current concerning the latest developments.

·      Global health education is required: The world is becoming more globalized and therefore future pharmacists should be able to work in a global context. For instance, pharmacy colleges now offer classes on global health, as well as engage in international partnerships.

Pharmacy colleges in the following ways will be able to progress at the same rate as these advancements:

·        Invest in technology: Pharmacy colleges need to invest in the latest technologies that can be used by students. For example, this might involve buying new machines, making sure good programming exists and hiring teachers who are proficient in them.

·        Develop new courses: Pharmacy colleges need to develop new courses that reflect the newest technological developments. Some of these may entail AI, big data, telehealth, VR/AR and blockchain among others.

·     Partner with industry: Pharmacy colleges can partner with industry leaders so as to gain access to the latest technologies and resources. This is through research joint ventures; placements and invited speakers programs.

·      Encourage innovation: Pharmacy colleges should strive to promote an innovative culture for both their students and staff. This is through providing money for various research projects; sponsoring innovation competitions and creating a good environment for start-ups.


The pharmacy colleges can help their students prepare for the future of healthcare by keeping pace with these technological trends. Additionally, there are other ways in which technology is impacting pharmacy education as indicated below:

·         Social media: It enables the students and faculty to connect, share resources, and promote events.

·       Mobile apps: The development of mobile apps for pharmacy students is on the rise. This enables them to get into course materials, know how far they have gone and get in touch with fellow students.

·        Online learning: Online platforms for learning have made it possible for a student to take up pharmacy education from any part of the world.

Pharmacy education is being highly influenced by technology and pharmacy colleges need to stay up-to-date with these developments if they want to prepare their students for the future of health care.

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