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Retail pharmacies are grappling with a crisis due to increased workloads, staff shortages, and evolving consumer demands. To address burnout, reduced operating hours and store closures are being implemented.
Fremont, CA: Retail pharmacies are facing a crisis due to increased workloads, staff shortages, and changing consumer needs. This has led to reduced operating hours and store closures, aiming to improve work-life balance and address employee burnout. However, these measures also pose long-term workforce capacity challenges.
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The Decline in Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students
The U.S. is expected to experience a decline in pharmacists over the next decade, with many vacancies created by workers transferring to different occupations, such as remote pharmacy benefit admin positions. Additionally, fewer students pursue pharmacy degrees, and those entering the profession face a broad expansion of responsibilities. Despite aggressive hiring campaigns, pharmacy executives must find additional solutions to address the pharmacist challenges.
How can technology help?
Since the pandemic, pharmacists have embraced technology like automation, AI, analytics, and content management platforms to improve workflows, reduce frustrations, and create better work environments, attracting and retaining top talent.
Too Many Disparate Systems
The specialty pharmacy market, expected to grow through 2025, requires centralized information for pharmacists and technicians. Integrating systems like case management, EHR systems, prescriptions, and insurance claims can improve communication, clinical outcomes, accountability, and faster remittances. Centralizing workflows and data analytics can help retailers consolidate technology investments, maximize benefits, support compliance, and limit liabilities.
A Demand for Multitasking
Pharmacists and technicians are increasingly responsible for medication accuracy, customer service, and medical care. Large retailers are implementing advanced technologies like automation and robotics to streamline operations, including micro-fulfillment centers, QR codes, appointment scheduling, and automatic refills. Partners are needed to support product lifecycles and maintenance.
Safety First as Automation Can Minimize Human Error
With nearly 7,000 prescription and over-the-counter drugs in the US, errors are inevitable. Pharmacists must avoid medication mishaps to ensure patient care. Current technologies, such as automation software using auto-populating algorithms, reduce inaccuracies at the dispensing stage. This software saves time and act as a safety feature for choosing the right patient, verifying drugs, and calculating supply, reassuring pharmacists and technicians.
Patient Education, Awareness and Shifting Behaviors
Pharmacists can enhance community health by offering resources, facilitating one-to-one patient interactions, and utilizing technology for educational materials and communication, particularly for chronic condition medications, to improve medication adherence, omnichannel communications, media, smart screens, and remote patient monitoring.
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