Madison, Wis.-based UW Health's virtual injection classes teach patients how to self-administer medications at home to keep them out of clinics for nonemergency procedures due to COVID-19.
Once a drug is prescribed, the pharmacy team sends the first dose of medication to the patient and sets up a virtual visit to demonstrate how to perform the injection. The patient is allowed to practice with a pharmacist overseeing via video.
Medications that are covered by the prescription benefit and can be injected subcutaneously with minimal risk of side effects, can be taught to patients, Shelby Gomez, clinical pharmacist of UW Health told Becker's.
About 85 patients have been taught how to safely inject their medications virtually. Patients rate the overall care and education received from the pharmacist as a five on a five-point Likert scale, according to Ms. Gomez.
UW Health said it plans to continue the virtual injection classes even as the pandemic slows down, due to patient, pharmacists and staff satisfaction with the initiative.
Ms. Gomez said UW Health also plans to expand the initiative to other speciality clinics.