Impact of telepharmacy services on hospital emergency care utilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

IntroductionTelepharmacy enables pharmacists to deliver clinical and medication-related services remotely, and its use has expanded rapidly in response to evolving patient needs and shifting models of care. While telepharmacy has demonstrated benefits across patient, provider, and system levels, its impact on hospital emergency care utilisation remains unclear, with studies report mixed findings.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of pharmacist-delivered telepharmacy interventions on utilisation of emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital readmissions.MethodsA systematic search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of telepharmacy services was conducted in November 2025. The primary outcome was the effect of telepharmacy interventions on rates of hospital admission and/or ED presentation. A meta-analysis was completed for studies that reported 30-day hospital readmissions and ED presentations.ResultsSeventeen RCTs involving 9692 patients were included. Three studies reported a significant reduction in 30-day ED presentations, and three studies reported a significant reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions. Seven studies (n = 1859 patients) were eligible for meta-analysis. Telepharmacy interventions were associated with a 6% absolute reduction in 30-day ED presentations (risk difference=0.06, 95% CI: 0.02-0.10, p =0.005). A non-significant reduction was observed in 30-day hospital readmission rates.ConclusionAcross a small number of heterogeneous RCTs, telepharmacy interventions were associated with a significant reduction in 30-day ED presentations but did not significantly reduce 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions. These findings highlight the potential value of telepharmacy in reducing emergency care utilisation.