Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
Merriam-Webster defines the word “closed” simply as “not open,” implying a largely passive effect. From this perspective, closing something removes it from existence. It was there before, but it is not now. When a pharmacy is closed, though, the resulting impact on communities and patient care is far from passive. Vulnerable patient populations are actively and significantly affected when they lose out on a pharmacist’s care.
As reported in this month’s Pharmacy Today Innovations cover story (page 22), we are in the midst of an epidemic of pharmacy closures across the nation, largely because of increasing barriers to reimbursement and pharmacy profitability. But studies continue to show that shuttering pharmacy doors decreases patient adherence to medications, especially in older adults and those with chronic illnesses. When combined with the knowledge that pharmacy closures are more likely to occur in areas serving primarily low-income, uninsured, or publicly insured patients, it is clear that we are approaching a potential crisis in patient care and in our profession.
Pharmacists play an essential role in their communities. Whether educating patients about newly approved medications (pages 12 and 17), helping them stay up to date on their immunizations (pages 18 and 20), preventing harmful medication errors (page 33), or thwarting adverse events with chronic medications such as benzodiazepines (page 41), pharmacists make a difference. You can learn more about these topics, important professional issues, and potential steps to combat pharmacy closures in this issue of Today. APhA will continue to advocate on behalf of pharmacists and the patients they serve.
In many ways, we are just beginning to see the downstream effects of pharmacy closures on patient care. How do we measure the impact of a pharmacy’s closure on patients? What is the value of a pharmacist in his or her community? I would argue that the value of a pharmacist on patient care is immeasurable. Simply put, patients need their medications. And patients need their pharmacist—now more than ever before. Continue to tell your stories. We will!