Association Perspective
Scott J. Knoer, MS, PharmD, FASHP, APhA EVP and CEO
Pharmacy teams across the profession, especially our community pharmacy teams, are stressed and stretched.
Before COVID-19, we had issues with understaffing and inappropriate metrics. The increased demands, coupled with an expansion and use of our services without additional labor or resources, has exacerbated an already critical issue.
Our pharmacists are burned out. There is a national pharmacy technician shortage. Many pharmacies have had to reduce hours and service access due to staffing shortages. This is not good for pharmacy staff, and it is not good for patients who desperately need our care.
While there are many issues in play, a critical contributor to pharmacy burnout is a pharmacy payment model that does not support the sustainability of existing practices. PBMs have siphoned any reasonable profit from the pharmacy drug benefit, and since we are not recognized providers by Medicare—which is a driver for other payers—pharmacies are not compensated for our clinical interventions.
In some cases, this will not sustain practices or provide resources to ensure patient safety while trying to keep our pharmacies open. In fact, many pharmacies are closing. And where are most pharmacy closures? They are in underserved communities, further decreasing access to care for our patients in inner cities and rural areas.
But beyond the payment model there are other issues impacting workplace and well-being issues. APhA is fighting hard to improve well-being for our members, protect patient safety, and shine a light on what our teams are battling. We need you to continue telling your positive—and negative—stories through the resources and tools developed by APhA and NASPA.
Utilize the Pharmacist’s Fundamental Responsibilities and Rights document as the framework for discussions to address what you need to meet your responsibilities to your patients and communities.
As APhA President Sandra Leal, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA, has said, “let’s use our voices” for those who cannot speak for themselves—and that includes our colleagues.
Some of the APhA resources and tools related to well-being listed below can also be found at www.pharmacist.com/wellbeing.