Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many unforeseen changes in our personal and professional lives, from social distancing with our coworkers to counseling patients through plastic shields. One important shift that I hope will endure is the unified and proactive stance the profession of pharmacy has taken to respond to COVID-19.
In a joint statement issued earlier this year, major pharmacy organizations stood together to advocate for pharmacists as front-line responders, immunizers, and caregivers who are trained to test and treat infectious diseases. With flu season just around the corner, our role and opportunities to make a difference will continue to grow. This month’s Pharmacy Today cover story (page 26) highlights pharmacists who are expanding access to COVID-19 testing. You’ll find innovative pharmacist approaches for testing and triage, an overview of successful practice models, and tips for obtaining compensation for testing.
You’ll also find other helpful resources in this issue, from guidance on new and approved drugs (page 12) and supplements for stress and anxiety (page 18) to an update on the impact of COVID-19 on the opioid crisis (page 20). Stay up to date with your CPE credits with this month’s article on LGBTQ cultural competence for pharmacists (page 46).
Since the release of that joint statement in April of this year, we have seen continued professional collaboration and joint statements during the COVID-19 pandemic. APhA has been a leader, both individually and jointly with other pharmacy and medical organizations, in advocating for improved patient access to needed immunizations, medications, and testing, and supporting the essential role of pharmacists in responding to our nation’s public health needs.
These efforts are paying off. In August of this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized pharmacists to immunize children ages 3 to 18 during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of state laws or regulations. But this is just the beginning. If we want changes such as these to endure, we must continue to stand together to advocate for our profession. Learn more about APhA’s efforts and find resources for COVID-19 testing, treatment, and prevention at www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus.