Pharmacists Rise to the Challenge of Expanded Roles

Yvette C. Terrie, BSPharm, RPh
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to put an immense burden on the nation’s health care system and has altered the delivery and practice of health care in many ways.

Health care professionals, including pharmacists, are overcoming those challenges with dedication and ingenuity and continuing to provide quality care to patients. Pharmacists are, for example, addressing concerns from especially anxious, fearful patients amid the cold and influenza season.

The CDC indicates that an estimated 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy, providing easy access to patients.1 In a July 2020 report, the CDC indicated that despite the challenge of dealing with the pandemic, pharmacists have maintained the delivery of critical health services to patients, including those patient populations at greater risk for COVID-19–related complications.1 The CDC report also noted that pharmacists are in a vital position to deliver priority pandemic responses, including COVID-19 testing, point-of-care testing for chronic disease management, and vaccinations.1

Pharmacists have also been instrumental in providing patients with reliable information about the prevention, detection, treatment, and management of COVID-19.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) indicates that the scope of practice for pharmacists has broadened during the pandemic, with more patients seeking care from pharmacists and more pharmacies anticipating increased point-of-care testing and expanded immunization services.2

A recent survey conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) explored how the pandemic is modifying community pharmacy practice. Respondents said that the pandemic may result in more pharmacies offering point-of-care testing (61.3%) and immunizations (52.1%) and expanding their scope of practice (56.9%).2 The majority (61%) also said the pandemic increased consumer demand for online products and availability.2 Additionally, the respondents have increased curbside delivery or extended delivery services (82.4%) and increased their online presence or social-media advertising (37.5%) in recent months. Respondents also noted that these changes are expected to continue even after the pandemic, as will pharmacy employees’ use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks.2

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