In the pharmacy profession, one of the challenges of advocacy is finally putting our hard-won initiatives into practice in an efficient and safe manner. This can be concerning to many pharmacists because they must consider how their action, or inaction, will effect both the healthcare system and their patients’ lives. In the article “Open Letter to Employers of Pharmacists: Listen to Their Concerns,” Ernest Boyd addresses the positive and negative impacts recent legislative changes have had on Ohio’s pharmacists, while also emphasizing the importance of continuing to advocate for our profession on the home front – our work places.
In this article, Ernest Boyd appeals specifically to pharmacist employers. He explains that the current overwhelming concern of most pharmacists is not the actual implementation of new patient services such as MTMs, CMRs, and immunizations, but finding time to add these activities into their current workflow with their limited number of resources. He also highlights the prevailing concern of many pharmacists that their employer’s increasing expectations of meeting specific number goals are interfering with their ability to provide good and safe patient care. As he states, we are a profession “that wants to serve while still maintaining the profitability of our businesses.” I agree that pharmacists can and should be able to offer these exciting new clinical services to patients alongside their traditional dispensing activities. The answer to overcoming these challenges, he explains, is efficient and meaningful dialogue between employers and employees. It is only by working together that we will be able to continue advancing both the pharmacy profession and patient care.
Interesting topic! This article really hits home to the logistics of providing additional services while balancing the expectations of the employer. I’d be interested to hear what the pharmacists think versus what the pharmacies think of these advances!