From the Desk of the CEO

Let’s face it, pharmacists in the community setting have been stretched to their breaking points. Rock bottom reimbursements for drug products have made margins so thin that pharmacies are cutting staffing levels to bare-bones levels just to keep stores open.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, Executive vice president and CEO of APhA

A growing number of physicians are recognizing that the value pharmacists provide to the team is simply so great that they can no longer stay silent.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, Executive vice president and CEO of APhA

APhA’s long-standing policy, established by our House of Delegates and reaffirmed repeatedly by our Board of Trustees, is that pharmacists should be included as credentialed providers of  health care services and paid equitably to other providers.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, Executive vice president and CEO of APhA

APhA is pleased to announce that we’ve entered into a joint venture with the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and an Australian-based human resources technology firm, Locumate, to change the nature of pharmacist staffing. HealthShifts, LLC, is more than just a locum tenens agency. Rather, this new venture will put pharmacists in the driver’s seat in determining the nature of professional services in which they want to engage.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, Executive vice president and CEO of APhA

Most of you reading this month’s column are members of APhA.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, Executive vice president and CEO of APhA