Pharmacists’ Role to Expand to Direct Patient Care by 2030

Despite growing provider shortages, pharmacists in the US are well-trusted by patients and projected to play an increasingly crucial role in healthcare management, according to research from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Express Scripts Pharmacy.

The Prescription of Trust report, the largest study of its kind ever conducted, surveyed over 3,000 patients, 1,000 pharmacists, and 500 providers. The study was designed to further understand the expanding role of pharmacists in transforming patient care.

Researchers found that by 2030, most pharmacists will see a transition from transactional care to more direct patient care responsibilities.

At the forefront of this trend are pharmacists in ambulatory clinics, health systems, and home delivery pharmacies. About 80 percent of patients stated that they see pharmacists as an integral part of their healthcare system.

Additionally, providers have a 90 percent trust in pharmacists’ activities, including dispensing medications, communicating with health professionals, counseling patients on their medications, and administering vaccines.

Notably, providers who collaborate with pharmacists have increasing trust in pharmacists providing direct patient care and prescribing medications.

On the other hand, the study found that pharmacists recognize that patients need more consistent clinical counseling and disease education.

About 53.3 percent of pharmacists agreed that their current training and education are sufficient to manage patients. But they did identify opportunities for additional training in chronic disease education, diagnosing, and prescribing.

And as healthcare roles evolve, so does patient engagement.

For example, about half of patients (49.7) would find it “very helpful” to have routine testing and medical visits done from home. While over half of home delivery pharmacists engage more with patients via telepharmacy, 15 percent of retail pharmacists reported the same.

“The results of the report are clear. Most people trust pharmacists to play a greater role in providing their care. As the shortage of doctors and nurses persists, and as complex new therapies and digital health care technology solutions are developed, the role of the pharmacist will continue to evolve,” John McHugh, MBA, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, said in the announcement.

American pharmacists are beginning to expand their roles in the healthcare continuum.

Susan Peppers, RPh, vice president of Express Scripts, emphasized that the report confirms that the model of care the company has in place will support patients into the future of pharmacy.