3/15/2006 2:51:00 PM EST
The U.S. pharmacy profession could face a worsening
shortage of pharmacists in the next decade as more men prepare to
retire and more men and women opt for part-time work, according to a
new study released today by the Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. (PMP).
The National Pharmacist Workforce Study finds the potential worsening
shortfall coming at a pivotal time with pharmacists wanting to spend
less time dispensing drugs and more time providing patient-centered
services such as immunizations and counseling seniors on proper
medication usage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. The study
was released today at the American Pharmacists Association's Annual
Meeting & Exposition and will be published in the May/June 2006 issue
of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA).
The number of practicing women pharmacists increased from 31
percent in 1990 to 46 percent in 2004. The study finds a large
percentage of male pharmacists nearing retirement, with more than four
in 10 (41.2 percent) age 55 and over, compared with only about 10
percent of women. Meanwhile, more men and women are working part
time--27 percent of women and 15.5 percent of men in 2004 (compared to
23.4 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively, in 2000).
"The changing face of pharmacy will be increasingly evident in the
next five to 10 years with more women in the workforce, the potential
for more part-time work by pharmacists, and the desire of pharmacists
to spend more time on counseling and other patient services," says
David A. Mott, Ph.D., the study's project director and associate
professor and Hammel/Sanders chair in pharmacy administration at the
University of Wisconsin.
Although the trend of part-time work is increasing for both men
and women pharmacists, the study finds the trend toward more part-time
work is being fueled by women. For women age 31-50, more than 30
percent are working part time.
Pharmacists' roles are very diverse. In 2004 pharmacists spent 49
percent of their day dispensing drugs and 32 percent of their time on
activities such as advising patients on drug therapies, evaluating the
safety of drug therapy, administering vaccines, and counseling
patients on services ranging from self-care to disease management. The
results suggest pharmacists would like to spend only 39 percent of
their day dispensing drugs and increase the time spent providing
services to patients to 48 percent of their day.
"The roles of pharmacists continue to expand to meet the growing
and diverse needs of patients," says Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., PMP
President and Executive Vice President of the American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy. Maine cited the critical role that pharmacists
have played this year in administering the Medicare Prescription Drug
Plan.
Consistent with the growing number of prescriptions dispensed in
community pharmacies, the workload for pharmacists has increased
between 2000 and 2004. Pharmacists report the high workload can
negatively affect their work, including activities such as ability to
take a break (48 percent), opportunity to reduce errors (36 percent),
time spent with patients (35 percent); and ability to solve drug
therapy problems (33 percent).
The most stressful events for pharmacists include inadequate
pharmacy technician staffing levels (38 percent), phone interruptions
(37 percent), and inadequate pharmacists' staffing (34 percent).
"Dealing with difficult patients" and "dealing with difficult
co-workers" are cited by 33 percent of pharmacists.
Despite the high workload, the study finds a high level of job
satisfaction. More than three-quarters (77 percent) of pharmacists in
2004 report a "high level" of job satisfaction compared with 66
percent in 2000.
"This study shows the need for pharmacy schools to produce the
best and brightest to meet these new health care challenges and
provide patients with the highest level of quality care," says Maine.
Results of the National Pharmacist Workforce Study were compiled
by a questionnaire completed by 1,470 practicing pharmacists.
The study was commissioned by the PMP. The PMP is comprised of
Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of
Pharmacy, American College of Apothecaries, American College of
Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, American Society
of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists, Bureau of Health Professions, National Association of
Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association,
National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives, National
Pharmaceutical Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
The Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation
consisting of all major national, pharmaceutical professional and
trade organizations. Its mission is to serve the public and the
profession by developing data regarding the size and demography of the
pharmacy practitioner workforce and conducting and supporting research
in areas related to that workforce.
(End of advance for release 12:01 a.m. PST March 17.)
CONTACT:
Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. (PMP)
Norida Torriente, 703-739-2330, ext. 1015
ntorriente@aacp.org
or
Brian Ruberry, 301-948-1709
br@allhealthpr.com
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment