Don’t miss out the Bus!
As pharmacists we always wonder, what next? Pharmacists, especially working in Retail often come to a point that career growth looks very distant. Big box retail chains do not offer too many opportunities for our career growth. The amount of work and the pressure experienced on a daily basis often leads to burnout situations. The eagerness to grow but no career ladder and stagnancy can frustrate anyone! The physical tiredness combined with mental fatigue can also be daunting and restricting us from thinking positive or thinking growth. It’s hard to think about further education or Certifications after being subjected to such a high-pressure environment and knowing that chances of growth are very remote.
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacist-burnout-and-stress
The current economy of Retail pharmacies dominated by PBMs does not help at all. Most of the medications are dispensed with a loss! Reimbursement rates are all time low! Big box chain pharmacies are cutting down on their opening hours, closing not-so-profitable pharmacies and eliminating the overlaps between shifts. All of these further aggravate our plight!
So, what do we do! Should we continue to wait for that one opportunity in Retail in which you will have 50 competitors like you, just to get rejected? Or think outside the box and sneak your way into smarter opportunities. I think the way forward is looking into quality! Going forward, companies and health systems are looking into patient care. Have you not noticed the astronomical growth of Specialty pharmacies into health systems! Why have health systems begun to start their own Outpatient Specialty pharmacies? Anyone? Yes of course, the 340B!
Here is a little about 340B: https://news.ashp.org/News/ashp-news/2022/06/22/hospitals-rely-on-340b-for-patient-care
340B enabled the hospitals and health systems to not only help the indigent but also helped create numerous careers for Outpatient pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Now, with the one-pharmacy motion going on by the manufacturers’ demands, health system Specialty pharmacies with boom more than ever. This is the decade for Retail pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to move on and seek these lucrative opportunities. Don’t miss out the bus!
Next arena is Ambulatory pharmacy! What is it! Ambulatory pharmacies allow pharmacists to be clinicians and make direct decisions about patient’s treatments. Through Collaborative Practice Agreements, pharmacists can not only suggest but can also alter a patient’s treatment based on the terms of the CPA agreement. Isn’t this amazing? Even doctors have shown enormous amount of faith in pharmacists for our expertise and knowledge about medications, indications, billing, prior authorizations, formulary awareness and adherence management. Doctors have begun to partner happily and willingly with pharmacists so they can focus more on diagnosis and other clinical aspects. And, we can take over the medication and treatment aspects. As ambulatory pharmacists, they can not only prescribe but can also order labs, monitor treatment progress and make necessary changes- all of these in accordance with the CPA.
Retail pharmacists, how does it sound! After all, we went to pharmacy schools to become clinicians right, not robots! But are we ready to take up these opportunities? Are we familiar with Oncology treatments? Do we know the loading doses of biologics for Crohn’s disease or Plaque Psoriasis? Do we know the assessment tools to monitor the progress of patients’ treatments? Do we have the expertise in resolving prior authorizations for approving biologics or targeted Specialty medications? Do you have a staff that can support you with all of these?
So, let’s take a resolution now to upskill ourselves. ProspeRx offers two advanced courses:
- Specialty and patient care in Retail pharmacy- for both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- CTSRx- Comprehensive course in Specialty pharmacy for pharmacy technicians
Unless we take our first step, we are never going to be eligible for these high quality and better paying opportunities in Specialty and Ambulatory fields. Click here and check out the details of the courses. Sign up today and get ready for your next career move! Do not miss this Bus!
