Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
If I had to describe in a few words how I felt last month when I sat down to write my editorial for the April issue of Pharmacy Today, it would have been: uncertain … alone … and honestly a bit hopeless. We were facing many uncertainties for the future of our nation, health care system, and profession. These past months have been an overwhelming time for us all, personally and professionally.
Today, though, I find myself feeling quite different. For one, even though we are more socially isolated than ever before, as a profession we have come together in unprecedented ways. APhA and other pharmacy organizations have collaborated rapidly to issue a joint set of policy recommendations critical to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations call for pharmacists to have more access to test, treat, and immunize; ease operational and workflow barriers; address shortages; and reimburse pharmacists appropriately for their services.
I also feel that the value of the pharmacist’s role is being recognized in unprecedented ways. On April 8, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health issued guidance that authorized licensed pharmacists to order and administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests, including serology tests. In a statement accompanying the guidance, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar highlighted the vital role pharmacists play in the health care system.
Learn more in this issue of Today about the COVID-19 pandemic (page 20) and other important topics, including an update on the first oral nonstatin drug approved for high cholesterol in decades (page 15), new data comparing thiazides in blood pressure treatment (page 17), and the expanding role of pharmacists in point-of-care testing (page 18). Be sure to check out this month’s CPE activity on the pharmacist’s role in continuous glucose monitoring (page 37).
Although solutions are emerging, this time remains challenging for pharmacists as new recommendations are released almost daily. I strongly encourage you to explore APhA’s growing library of treatment and practice-based COVID-19 resources, available at www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus. With more than 90% of the U.S. population located within 5 miles of a pharmacy, there is no question that the need for pharmacists will continue to grow, no matter what the future holds.