Telemedicine has seen a growing demand during the pandemic, however, there are not adequate resources to develop virtual medical skills. Pharmer offers an essential platform for students to practice.
Our first year of school was during the COVID-19 restrictions and so many of our practical exams were through zoom. During the school year we were taught in person and not given the opportunity to try virtually. This was the inspiration to Pharmer. Many healthcare schools don't have opportunities to teach these skills and this way students can get the practice they need for the future.
What it does
Pharmer seeks to develop accomplished health professionals who are skilled in conducting medical exams and consultations through virtual means. Visitors to the website are prompted to select their title: Pharmacy, NP/PA, MD/DO, or Nurse. Then, the site takes them to a Google Doc, where they may select their availabilities and content they would like to practice. Our choices range from Medication Therapy Management (MTM) to physical exams to counseling patients on various medical devices. This would all be recorded and the student has the option to review and forward it to instructors or for their personal critique of their performance.
How we built it
We are a trio of aspiring health professionals with limited technical experiences and expertise. However, we relied on our own academic experiences, several pharmacy rotations, and work encounters to put our ideas onto paper (Google Sites, in this case:).
Challenges we ran into
We were limited in our technical skills, which was the biggest challenge that we faced. Secondly, it was difficult to narrow our focus from an overarching, larger issue we faced our profession. There were many different avenues that we could pursue and so it was crucial that we decided on an appropriate approach and idea.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are proud to have participated in our very first Hackathon! We cannot wait to share our experiences with the rest of our class at Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy in Virginia.
What we learned
We learned how many resources available for student health professionals, however, not many comprehensive and virtually adherent ways for students to grow.
What's next for Pharmer
Pharmer has great potential, especially in this era of telemedicine. This platform could be used by schools to connect patients to students in need of practice or even practitioners seeking advancement.
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