AP/Houston Chronicle examines telepharmacies in North Dakota

The AP/Houston Chronicle on Saturday examined telepharmacies -- virtual pharmacy systems located in rural drug stores -- in North Dakota.

Staff, usually a registered pharmacy technician or nurse, use remote cameras connected to licensed pharmacists who view the original signed prescription, label, bottle where the pills are stored and the patient's bottle. The pharmacist then approves the prescription and conducts a mandatory private consultation in real time with the patient.

North Dakota lawmakers approved telepharmacies in 2001 after many rural pharmacies went out of business. The following year, the state began the project at 10 volunteer sites. There are now 67 telepharmacies in the state.

Several other states -- Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming -- and the District of Columbia have adopted similar projects. Ann Rathke, director of telepharmacy at North Dakota State University, said it costs about $18,000, including equipment, installation and one year of Internet service to set up a site in North Dakota. The pharmacies pay a $175 annual licensing fee and the technicians, who usually need about two years of training, are paid about $15 an hour.

"It's not rocket science, and it doesn't cost a tremendous amount of money," Rathke said. Charles Peterson, dean of pharmacy at NDSU, said, "Every state is struggling with, the most part, the same issues," adding, "Access to health care in a rural setting is a problem for everyone. We have shown that this is a solution" (Kolpack, AP/Houston Chronicle, 9/6).