Ride the Wave of Pharmacy Surge: Three Ways to Support Community Heroes

Pharmacy TImes;

The continued upward trend in testing and vaccination demand, coupled with staffing shortages, technology gaps, and never-ending to-do lists, exacerbates spikes in patient volume and workload for pharmacy professionals.

It’s no secret that pharmacists have been challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to an overwhelming list of daily responsibilities, pharmacists face the clamor for COVID-19 vaccinations, treatment, and testing, especially in response to the Omicron variant. For example, the number of fully vaccinated Americans has steadily increased since summer 2021, with 63% of the population currently fully vaccinated. And the pace of vaccinations does not appear to be slowing down.

As of January 20, 2022, 86 million booster-eligible people in the United States had not received their booster dose. The continued upward trend in testing and vaccination demand, coupled with staffing shortages, technology gaps, and never-ending to-do lists, exacerbates spikes in patient volume and workload for pharmacy professionals.

The positive aspect of these challenging times is an abundance of new opportunities for pharmacies as clinical service providers. The pandemic proved that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to expand their expertise beyond the traditional scope of work, such as dispensing medications, and make a dramatic impact within their local communities. With 90% of Americans living within 5 miles of a pharmacy, pharmacists have assumed a larger, more active role in consumer-driven health care and now play a vital role in removing barriers to patient care.

The public perception of pharmacists is changing. Patients view their pharmacists as trusted caregivers to support a range of health needs beyond medication dispensing. Population health, consumer-driven health care and federal/state legislation have also contributed to the evolution in pharmacists’ roles.

I recently sat down with Michele Belcher, president of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), to hear her stance on the fundamental and growing role of pharmacists in consideration of the challenges COVID has presented. As NCPA President and owner of Grants Pass Pharmacy, in Grants Pass, Oregon, Michele offers a unique perspective on the current and future state of the pharmacy profession.

Running her family-owned and operated pharmacy, Michele understands the critical role independent community pharmacies play in caring for patients across their region. Michele’s insightful and candid points support an emerging theme: Now is the time to turn the pharmacy profession’s COVID challenges into positive long-term change.

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