PM 360 Features Patty Trainor’s Article on COVID 19 Transforming Pharmacy
PM 360 – one of the few publications dedicated specifically to covering pharmaceutical marketing recently published Patty Trainor’s Thought Leadership article:
How COVID-19 Has—and Will Continue to—Transform the Pharmacy
Would it surprise you to know that the COVID-19 pandemic turned pharmacy priorities on its head, which could have the potential of morphing pharmacies into full-fledge healthcare centers over the long term? Pharmacy technicians (aka “techs”) and pharmacists alike were affected by COVID-19. Adding responsibilities of testing for COVID-19 and administering the vaccine in mass volumes when it became available, pharmacists and techs had to shuffle workload and priorities in a way that supported this critical role as healthcare providers. Given the convenience of the local pharmacy to most in the U.S., it’s not hard to imagine the pharmacy providing even more important healthcare services to the community.
Transition to a Bigger Role in Clinical Healthcare
Because pharmacies were part of essential services during COVID-19, staying open when many businesses couldn’t, they became a key resource for patients for treatments, prevention, and protection. KS&R surveyed retail pharmacists and technicians in May 2020, and the results showed they were optimistic, receiving accolades from customers who voiced appreciation to pharmacy staff. In fact, many pharmacists appreciated the increased consulting and educational services they were able to provide customers, citing their accessibility as a key reason for this. And since telehealth was still new to most, being able to connect with pharmacy staff when they couldn’t access their physician office was important.
“My role has significantly changed as a pharmacist. The role that I play is much larger. The number of vaccines administered increased, the number of consults for advice increased, etc. The public sees the pharmacist as the frontline healthcare worker and seeks free advice more frequently.” – Retail Pharmacist
