Challenges in Pharmacist Staffing and Overburdening Complicate the Upcoming Busy Season for Drugstores

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As we approach the season of heightened activity for pharmacies, a continued patience may be required when interacting with pharmacy staff.

Persistent shortages in both medications and staffing are complicating matters for drugstores as they enter their peak business period, where demands for common cold and flu medications surge. This year adds another layer of complexity with the introduction of a new vaccine and the inception of insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Some pharmacies have attempted to mitigate these challenges by increasing staff during high-traffic hours. However, experts argue that this solution remains insufficient, particularly for large pharmacy chains, which are still grappling with understaffed counters.

Chris Adkins, a former pharmacist at a major drugstore chain, described the stress of the job as a significant factor in his departure. Adkins was not only responsible for dispensing and verifying prescriptions but also for tasks like answering phones and inventory management.

“Although I am committed to hard work and extended hours, I felt I was not sufficiently meeting my professional responsibilities,” he commented.

Over recent years, drugstores have faced difficulties in filling vacant positions for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, despite offering enhanced salaries and signing bonuses as incentives.

Richard Dang, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Southern California and former president of the California Pharmacists Association, noted that large chains often operate with a single pharmacist per shift. This lean staffing model exacerbates recruitment challenges.

“Many professionals in the pharmacy sector are reluctant to work in an environment where they feel unsupported,” Dang remarked.

Customers have also expressed concerns. John Staed, a resident of Pelham, Alabama, recounted an incident from approximately ten years ago when he was given the wrong medication at a CVS pharmacy. He fears the probability of errors may increase with the added stress on pharmacists.

CVS responded by stating that the company is committed to resolving the issues highlighted by its staff, although they did not specify the number of new hires made.

Rosalind Brewer, the former CEO of Walgreens, reported that although the company hired more than 1,000 pharmacists in the second quarter, they still face a shortage of applicants. Walgreens is working on alleviating some workload by establishing processing centers nationwide.

Staffing issues are not unique to the pharmaceutical sector, as evidenced by recent strikes at Kaiser Permanente. However, pharmacies confront additional obstacles during the fall. Federal approval of a new vaccine for RSV in individuals aged 60 and above, along with ongoing drug shortages, adds to the pressures on pharmacy staff.

Jonathan Marquess, who operates multiple independent pharmacies in Georgia and sits on the board of the National Community Pharmacists Association, mentioned that training all employees to answer basic questions about vaccines has proven invaluable.

According to pharmacists, there are ways the public can assist in facilitating smoother operations. Jonathan Marquess advises bringing all insurance cards to vaccine appointments, especially since COVID-19 shots are newly covered by insurance. Richard Dang suggests avoiding pharmacies immediately after lunch breaks or just before closing time.

Jen Cocohoba, a pharmacy professor at the University of California, San Francisco, emphasized the importance of planning ahead. Scheduling vaccine appointments and calling for prescription refills days in advance can make a difference.

“The smallest degree of control can be instrumental, given the unpredictability that community pharmacies often face,” Cocohoba stated.

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This report was contributed to by AP Business Writer Josh Funk. Funding for the Health and Science Department of The Big Big News is provided by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP holds sole responsibility for the content.

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