Adrian's telepharmacy: just one example of stimulus' positive results in rural Minnesota

[Commentary] These are difficult economic times for everyone, but economic challenges are magnified in rural areas. The good news is that, thanks in part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have made significant strides in getting our economy back on the right track. Recovery Act investments have not only helped Minnesota's rural economy in the short term, but will also continue to pay off well into the future.

The city of Adrian, located in Nobles County in the far southwestern corner of the state, recently used Recovery Act funds to establish a telepharmacy. For most of its 130-year existence, Adrian enjoyed the services of a hometown pharmacy. Unfortunately, the pharmacy closed in 2008. A hometown pharmacy meant that seniors in the town of 1,250 people did not have to travel far to fill prescriptions. It also helped draw people to other local businesses downtown. Using a $100,000 Recovery Act grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development mission area, Adrian was recently able to establish a telepharmacy downtown. Using video, audio and data technology, a pharmacist at a central location in nearby Worthington oversees the filling and verifying of prescriptions by a technician at the telepharmacy in Adrian. Images captured at the remote location allow the pharmacist to review, approve and document all transactions. One-on-one patient consultations are also conducted using the ScriptPro Telepharmacy technology. [Landkamer is the state director of USDA Rural Development in Minnesota.]