Pharmacy orgs unveil strategies to bolster pharmacy workforce
The American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy shared a new report including actions to implement solutions to improve pharmacy workplace conditions.
Workplace problems are leading to high stress levels and occupational burnout across various pharmacy practice settings. APhA, ASHP and NABP undertook a collaborative effort to address these challenges head-on during a recent invitation-only event, and identified transformative and actionable changes for the pharmacy and related communities.
[Read more: Pharmacy orgs hold summit on workplace conditions, set course to implement solutions]
The report, "Implementing Solutions Summit: Building a Sustainable, Healthy, Pharmacy Workforce and Workplace,” lays out implementation of solutions that seek to improve workplace conditions by addressing day-to-day challenges, removing obstacles to well-being and advancing practice models for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
"We cannot delay in enacting these solutions,” said Michae Hogue, 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 towards upward mobility so they can be able to continue to deliver outstanding patient care."
[Read more: Threats and opportunities facing retail pharmacy]
“Occupational burnout is a threat to patient safety and the pharmacy profession,” said Paul Abramowitz, CEO 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.”
“Pharmacists and technicians are an essential part of the healthcare workforce in this country,” said Lemrey “Al” Carter, NABP executive director/secretary. “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.”
The summit called on participants to establish actions to implement solutions by individuals, employers, and pharmacy associations in the near, medium, and long term. APhA, ASHP and NABP’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of the pharmacy workforce is centered around five themes in the report. To learn more and read the full report in detail, click here.