The Pharmacist Shortage
While the overall supply of pharmacists has increased in the past decade, there
has been an unprecedented demand for pharmacists and for pharmaceutical care services,
which has not been met by the current available supply. The most striking evidence
of a pharmacist shortage, and the extent of the shortage, is demonstrated by the
increased vacancy rates at pharmacies and the difficulties in hiring qualified
pharmacists.
Factors contributing to the shortage:
- Professional Factors
- Recently implement six year, Pharm D degree, required by all new pharmacists
- Changing demographics of the profession
- Decline in the growth rate of graduating pharmacists
- Growth of practice alternatives
- Expansion of pharmacist's activities into direct patient care
- Regulations limiting the use of technicians and technology
- Marketplace Factors:
- Aging U.S. population
- Increase of prescription volume on a per user basis
- Pharmacy expansions (retail chains, mass merchandisers, supermarkets)
- Salary inequities between retail and hospital pharmacy positions
Pharmacists represent the third largest health professional group in the U.S.
with about 196,000 active pharmacists in 2000 (Source HRSA). While that's a large
number, the industry shortage is a long-term problem for which there is no single
solution.
Having a substantial interest in the shortage, Cardinal Health is an active participant
in both industry and government to help work toward a remedy.
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are adverse outcomes that occur as a result
of using a drug in the usually accepted fashion.
How can Cardinal Health help today?
Cardinal Health provides several innovative staffing solutions
to pharmacies nationwide, including temporary pharmacy staffing, temp-to-hire
programs, direct-hire recruiting, interim directors of pharmacy, travel pharmacists
and pharmacy scheduling services. Cardinal Health fills more than 400,000 hours of temporary
staffing each year in retail pharmacy chains, hospitals, mail-order pharmacies,
HMOs, home infusion companies and long-term care facilities throughout the country.
For more information please visit www.cardhealthstaffing.com. |
