PipelineRx Announces Investment from The California HealthCare Foundation to Foster Improved Patient Care Through Advanced Telepharmacy Solutions
The investment seeks to expand healthcare resources and increase medication safety for patients in rural and remote are
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—February 18, 2015— PipelineRx, a leading clinical telepharmacy platform company supporting medication management, today announced continuing support from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) to help improve quality of care by expanding ways pharmacists can be accessible to more patients in the acute setting. In addition to the funding, PipelineRx is pleased to announce an alliance with the Rural Healthcare Center (RHC) of the California Hospital Association to extend the availability of telepharmacy services and technologies to rural and critical access networks. CHCF made an initial investment in PipelineRx in 2012.
Research has shown that rural hospitals have higher rates of medication errors due to a shortage of pharmacists during night and weekend hours. The cost effective, technology- supported solutions offered by PipelineRx provide an opportunity to improve medication safety in critical access hospitals by increasing the number of medication orders that are reviewed by a pharmacist before being dispensed.
Since first offering telepharmacy services over five years ago, PipelineRx has viewed critical access networks and associations across the U.S. as key partners in improving access to healthcare services for rural and remote communities. With all three organizations based in California, this unique alliance has an opportunity to impact pharmacy care and reduce medication errors in California. California has 34 critical access hospitals that currently don’t have access to 24/7 pharmacist care and quality review for administration of medications in the hospital setting.
“It is the commitment of companies such as PipelineRx to deliver solutions to all types of hospitals – including the smallest and most rural – that enables our healthcare system to evolve and offer better quality at lower cost for all Californians,” shares Margaret Laws, director of the CHCF Innovations for the Underserved program.
“Many Critical Access Hospitals struggle with limited staff availability and therefore limited hours of on-site pharmacy coverage,” says Peggy Broussard Wheeler, vice president of Rural Health Care and Governance at the California Hospital Association. “Telepharmacy companies like PipelineRx may be a solution to fill the gap and have a positive impact on medication safety in these communities.”
“We are pleased to have received this second investment from the California HealthCare Foundation, which will enable us to further develop our remote pharmacy solutions for critical access and safety net hospitals,” states Brian Roberts, CEO of PipelineRx. “We are taking the same advanced technologies and integration services that we offer to integrated delivery systems (IDNs), and repurposing the tools for small and rural hospitals to gain the same efficiencies.”
About the California HealthCare Foundation
The California HealthCare Foundation works as a catalyst to fulfill the promise of better healthcare for all Californians. We support ideas and innovations that improve quality, increase efficiency, and lower the costs of care. The CHCF Health Innovation Fund invests in sustainable, scalable business models with the potential to significantly lower the cost of care or improve access to care for underserved populations.
About the California Hospital Association
As one of the largest health care trade associations in the nation, CHA represents more than 400 hospitals and health systems in California, including 34 critical access hospitals. The association provides its members with public policy development, issues management and legislative advocacy services at the state and federal levels. CHA has offices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.