Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
October is American Pharmacists Month, a time when we recognize pharmacists’ contributions to their patients. Currently, rapid changes in practice are opening up new avenues for pharmacists to contribute to patient care, including legislative and regulatory changes recognizing pharmacists as providers, OTC availability of drugs or devices that have historically needed a prescription, and new technology to guide medication use such as pharmacogenomic testing.
In this American Pharmacists Month edition of Pharmacy Today, you’ll learn more about how pharmacists are helping optimize patient care in innovative and emerging ways. For example, a new study on pharmacogenomics highlights the needs for pharmacists to play a key role in interpreting test results and educating patients. Another story highlighting deprescribing efforts showcases a pharmacist-based deprescribing program that has decreased the prescription of anticholinergics by 83% and overall use of anticholinergics by 70%.
And more new doors will open to pharmacists as drugs such as oral contraceptives are considered for a prescription-to-OTC switch. In this article, Jenni Villavicencio, MD, an OB-GYN and family planning specialist, points out that pharmacists will be on the front line with changes such as these. “Community pharmacists are the first line of interaction. Just because something goes OTC doesn’t mean patients won’t ask questions and need guidance,” states Villavicencio.
But each of these emerging pharmacist roles and many others have one imperative need in common: payment. Without compensation for their services, it is challenging or even impossible for many pharmacists to expand their roles. This month’s cover story dives deep into payment reform and provides invaluable information on the current landscape and key terminology.
In this issue, you’ll also find the latest Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations on the flu vaccine and learn what changes will be in store for pharmacies with OTC hearing aid availability. You can get your questions answered about monkeypox and learn more about potential benefits of psychedelic medications. Also, be sure to check out this month’s CPE article on deprescribing to learn more about how you can help your patients.
Pharmacists are increasingly playing essential roles in improving patient outcomes, and I am thankful that we can celebrate pharmacists this month. But lack of payment will limit our ability to contribute to patient care. Securing compensation for pharmacists’ services is a critical step to enable us to continue to blaze new trails for our profession.
Have a great Today! ■