About Wolters Kluwer
October 20, 2023
The evolving role of pharmacists: Bridging
the gap in healthcare access and patient
care
National Pharmacy Week highlights the role pharmacists play in
patient care as healthcare consumers increasingly count on them
for wellness information, drug consultation, and non-emergency
services.
The annual National Pharmacy Week recognizes the increasingly important role of pharmacy staff
in supporting patient care as well as their growing role across the healthcare continuum.
Pharmacists are vital to ensuring healthcare consumers receive safe, quality treatment and
education about their care journeys. This week offers an opportunity to recognize and affirm the
contributions these care team members make to maintaining patients’ safety and improving their
experiences.
Five ways to amplify the role of your pharmacists
The pharmacist’s role is no longer simply dispensing prescription medications - many health
consumers depend on their local pharmacist to answer health-related questions and to discuss
non-emergency issues. In fact, pharmacists are among the most trusted members of the
healthcare team and have a tremendous opportunity to highlight all they do to support patients,
members, and customers in today’s healthcare ecosystem.
As their roles continue to shift, what can healthcare leaders do to harness their knowledge and
partner together for better patient care? National Pharmacy Week offers an opportunity to look at
five ways to amplify the impacts of pharmacists today.
1. Provide medication therapy management services to patients
Approximately 1.3 million people visit the emergency room yearly because of an adverse drug
event. Most of these occur in patients taking numerous prescription and over-the-counter
medications. Medication therapy management (MTM) programs reduce the number of adverse
events, improving patient outcomes and saving lives.
Pharmacists are the primary MTM providers. Patients participating in these programs receive in-
depth consultations from a trained pharmacist. An MTM pharmacist carries the burden of ensuring
the drugs patients take are appropriate for their health conditions, aren’t leading to dangerous
side effects, and don’t interact negatively with other medications. Additionally, these professionals
assess consumer medication adherence and educate them about the drugs they take.
The responsibility is significant, but pharmacists are well-suited to the role. A recent Wolters
Kluwer’s Pharmacy Next survey revealed that:
79% think their pharmacist is a trustworthy source of care.
56% of Gen Z and 54% of Millennials have entrusted their care to a pharmacist over the
previous year, versus 40% of Gen X and 35% of Baby Boomers.
62% trust their pharmacists to provide adult vaccinations, such as flu shots.
With consumer trust in pharmacists high, increasing shortages of nurses and doctors, and the rise
of complex treatment approaches, pharmacists are increasingly filling gaps in care for the benefit
of patients.
2. Collaborate with other healthcare providers
Pharmacists can work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to drive better patient
outcomes. Effective communication is key to this collaboration - pharmacists can share important
patient information such as medication history, drug allergies, and drug interactions. They can also
recommend medication changes or adjustments based on the patient's condition.
In working with other healthcare providers, sharing information across care teams, and referencing
the same clinical content, pharmacists can increase trust with patients and help them receive the
best possible care. Pharmacists can also educate and counsel patients on medication use and
adherence, which can further improve patient outcomes and experiences.
3. Implement medication adherence strategies
Medication adherence can impact treatment outcomes and healthcare costs more than the
prescribed treatment. Non-adherence can lead to a lower quality of life, worsening health
conditions, and death. However, adherence is an ongoing concern, with rates of non-adherence to
long-term medication treatments estimated at around 50%.
Once again, pharmacists are stepping up, identifying adherence barriers, and implementing
strategies to assist patients in following prescribed treatments and refilling medications on time.
Some of the most effective measures include:
Consultations to discuss the importance of adherence
Interviews to identify barriers
Longer prescription periods
Automated reminders
Automatic refills
Recommendations for pill boxes and other packaging designed to improve adherence
4. Utilize technology to improve patient care
Pharmacies that implement support systems and provide additional training and resources ensure
a smoother transition to a broader healthcare services system.
Utilizing the right technology can improve patient care. Resources for pharmacists such as
relevant, consumer-centric educational materials and drug information resources promote
efficiency and trust, leading to higher positive experience rates among patients and consumers.
5. Stay updated on the latest clinical guidelines and best
practices in pharmacy practice
From 2010 through 2019, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration approved an average of 38 new
prescription drugs yearly, a 60% increase from the previous decade. Pharmacists’ critical role in
ensuring patient medication safety places a high degree of responsibility on clinicians and their
staff to remain informed about the latest clinical guidelines.
Furthermore, the rapidly evolving healthcare and drug landscape requires the ability to adapt to
changes in best practices for pharmacies. Staying updated with the latest evidence-based clinical
information is yet another way pharmacists are rising to the occasion to fill care gaps and support
patients.
Healthcare access equality demands a multi-faceted, integrated approach to care, and
pharmacists play a critical role. National Pharmacy Week provides an opportunity for members of
the healthcare industry to highlight the role of the pharmacist and their impacts on patient and
consumer experiences.
Learn how our UpToDate® Lexidrug™ referential drug solution can provide your pharmacy teams
with the latest clinical information to make the best patient decisions possible.
Learn More About UpToDate Lexidrug
EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS
IMPACT ON SOCIETY POPULATION HEALTH RESEARCH INSIGHTS PATIENT ENGAGEMENT
PATIENT EXPERIENCE PATIENT OUTCOMES
SOLUTIONS
UpToDate Lexidrug
Evidence-based drug reference solution used in the workflow
and on-the-go
Learn More
Clinicians choose UpToDate® Lexidrug™ for evidence-based drug information to support
smart, safe medication decisions. Studies show that Lexidrug is the preferred drug
reference solution for care teams.
Contact Us
Subscribe
RELATED INSIGHTS
Four ways retail pharmacies are evolving for a safer, digital future
Differentiating with content: How tech companies can deliver value for healthcare
leaders
What’s on the healthcare horizon: Focusing AI to benefit care teams, harnessing
data, consumer-centric care
Related Insights
ARTICLE CASE STUDY
HEALTH November 20, 2024 HEALTH November 15, 2024
For payers, the future requires Why broad reach works in
building a sustainable data targeted physician campaigns
alignment strategy
Discover how expanding your
Data alignment between payer benefit targeting parameters across trusted
teams remains a challenge. Leaders content networks can transform your
need to build sustainable strategies marketing ROI. Download our case
to best understand improvements for study today.
efficiencies and member experiences.
Learn More Learn More
ARTICLE ARTICLE
HEALTH November 13, 2024 HEALTH November 12, 2024
Four ways retail pharmacies Differentiating with content:
are evolving for a safer, digital How tech companies can
future deliver value for healthcare
leaders
The retail pharmacy industry is
rapidly changing and those who For digital technology companies,
embrace digital tools for improved understanding the different priorities
engagement and medication of providers and payers is key to
adherence can have a competitive providing unique, valuable digital
advantage. health solutions.
Learn More Learn More
About Wolters Kluwer Solutions Directory
Strategy Health
Organization Tax & Accounting
Management ESG
News & Press Releases Finance
Events Compliance
Legal
Expert Insights
Careers
Investors
Sitemap
Site Owner
Follow Wolters Kluwer
When you have to be right
Terms of Use Privacy & Cookies Your California Privacy Choices
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer N.V. and/or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
