Developing a Sustainable Pharmaceutical Workforce and Workplace

In a press release by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), released on September 27, 2023, the organization collaborated with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to release a report on solutions for building a sustainable and health pharmacy workforce and workplace.

The report resulted from information and insights gleaned at a summit in June 2023. Participants, including individuals from independent and chain community pharmacies, health-system pharmacies, boards of pharmacy schools, and professional pharmacy associations, gathered at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA, to identify and propose solutions to the ongoing issue of pharmacist burnout.

Pharmacists across all healthcare settings are crucial in the United States healthcare system. As seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists can also be critical in public health efforts. Despite their vitality in healthcare, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the projected growth of pharmacy employment between 2021 and 2031 will only be 2%, which is significantly slower growth than other industries.

Many experts predict that this slow growth is due to poor workplace conditions, payment models and reimbursement issues, and the extensive pressures that COVID-19 placed on pharmacists.

"Pharmacists and technicians are an essential part of the healthcare workforce in this country. Pharmacies provide quality, accessible care to patients in a diverse range of communities. That's why NABP and its member boards of pharmacy have made supporting pharmacy staff well-being a high priority. We are proud to have partnered with APhA and ASHP to host this joint summit. The outcomes of the summit are a roadmap to building a more sustainable, healthier pharmacy workforce and workplace," said NABP Executive Director/Secretary Lemrey "Al" Carter, PharmD, MS, RPh, in the press release.

The report notes that summit participants discussed five major workplace themes:

• Practice advancement
• Mental health
• Workforce
• Regulations and requirements
• Technology and workflow efficiencies

Based on the discussions, the organizations identified multiple actionable solutions to improve work environments and foster a sustainable, healthy workforce.

"Occupational burnout is a threat to patient safety and the pharmacy profession," said Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD (Hon), FASHP, chief executive officer of ASHP. "The insights gleaned from the summit underscore the importance of taking pragmatic and meaningful steps aimed at risk factors that lead to distressing workplace conditions. We look forward to collaborating with our members and organizational partners to advance the actions identified at the summit to enhance workplace conditions and cultivate a resilient and empowered pharmacy workforce." 

The study highlighted multiple priorities. For example, within practice advancement discussions, most summit participants emphasized a need for uniform education and practice standards for pharmacy technicians so they can alleviate some of the workload on pharmacists.

Recommendations for improving mental health were expansive, with the report emphasizing the need to make changes that provide resources for mental health and encourage pharmacists to report system failures that could result in medication errors.

Additionally, workforce suggestions include ensuring adequate staffing levels. Proposed changes to rules and regulation requirements include eliminating unnecessary administrative tasks and improving accessibility to regulatory documents.

Finally, the report also suggested developing incentives to promote technological innovation to automate or streamline administrative tasks, alleviating some of the workload.

"We cannot delay in enacting these solutions," said Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and CEO of APhA. "It is imperative that we continue to prioritize the well-being of our pharmacy personnel now to usher in positive changes that not only elevate their workplace experiences but also reinvigorates the profession toward upward mobility so they can be able to continue to deliver outstanding patient care."