COVID-19-related stressors have exacerbated pharmacy workforce issues and intensified burnout among pharmacists, the American Pharmacists Association said Dec. 17.
The association outlined several short- and long-term remedies to address pharmacist burnout. Three such recommendations are summarized below.
1. Improve working conditions. Employers must ensure pharmacies are appropriately staffed so that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have adequate time to safely dispense medications, administer vaccines and speak with patients about their medications.
2. Ensure pharmacy team members' voices are heard. State pharmacy boards must have conversations with pharmacy team members, pharmacy leaders and organization executives to examine staffing levels, safety performance measures, technology use and more, the association said.
3. Address underlying payment issues. The payment system for pharmacy services is fundamentally flawed, the American Pharmacists Association said. Pharmacists and pharmacies are mainly reimbursed for dispensing a product, versus addressing a patient's clinical needs. Recognizing pharmacists as clinical providers in Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans would help address these payment issues, the group said.
Learn more here.