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Schommer JC, Lee S, Gaither CA, Alvarez NA, Shaughnessy AM. Improving the Experience of Providing Care in Community-Based Pharmacies. PHARMACY 2022; 10:pharmacy10040067. [PMID: 35893705 PMCID: PMC9326513 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy10040067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study applied a human factors and ergonomics approach to describe community-based pharmacy personnel perspectives regarding how work environment characteristics affect the ability to perform the duties necessary for optimal patient care and how contributors to stress affect the ability to ensure patient safety. Data were obtained from the 2021 APhA/NASPA National State-Based Pharmacy Workplace Survey, launched in the United States in April 2021. Promotion of the online survey to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians was accomplished through social media, email, and online periodicals. Responses continued to be received through the end of 2021. A data file containing 6973 responses was downloaded on 7 January 2022 for analysis. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied for developing operational definitions and coding guidelines for content analysis of the data. The patterns of responses for the dependent variables were compared among community-based practice setting types (chain, supermarket/mass merchandiser, and independent) and work positions (manager, staff pharmacist, technician/clerk, and owner). Chi-square analysis was used for determining statistically significant differences. The findings showed that personnel working in community-based pharmacies reported undesirable work environments and work stress that affected their ability to perform assigned duties for optimal patient care and ensure patient safety. Four work system elements were identified that were both facilitators and barriers to the ability to perform duties and ensure patient safety: (1) people, (2) tasks, (3) technology/tools, and (4) organizational context. Acknowledging local contexts of workplaces, giving adequate control, applying adaptive thinking, enhancing connectivity, building on existing mechanisms, and dynamic continuous learning are key elements for applying the HFE (human factors ergonomics) approach to improving the experience of providing care in community-based pharmacies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon C. Schommer
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (S.L.); (C.A.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-612-626-9915
| | - SuHak Lee
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (S.L.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Caroline A. Gaither
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (S.L.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Nancy A. Alvarez
- R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy—Phoenix, University of Arizona, 650 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA;
| | - April M. Shaughnessy
- American Pharmacist Association, 2215 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA;
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Anderson EJ, Dhatt H, Vaffis S, Nelson ML, Warholak T, Campbell PJ, Black H, Kolobova I, Axon DR. Key informant perspectives about telephonic comprehensive medication review services in the United States. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2022; 62:817-825.e1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Schommer J, Doucette W, Witry M, Arya V, Bakken B, Gaither C, Kreling D, Mott D. Pharmacist Segments Identified from 2009, 2014, and 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Surveys: Implications for Pharmacy Organizations and Personnel. PHARMACY 2020; 8:pharmacy8020049. [PMID: 32224863 PMCID: PMC7355503 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy8020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Objective: Findings from the 2009 and 2014 National Pharmacist Workforce Surveys showed that approximately 40% of U.S. pharmacists devoted their time primarily to medication providing, 40% contributed a significant portion of their time to patient care service provision, and the remaining 20% contributed most of their time to other health-system improvement activities. The objective of this study was to characterize the U.S. pharmacist workforce into segments based on the proportion of time they spend in medication providing and patient care services and compare changes in these segments between 2009, 2014, and 2019. Methods: Data from 2009, 2014, and 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Surveys were analyzed. Responses from 1200 pharmacists in 2009, 1382 in 2014, and 4766 in 2019 were used for analysis. Respondents working in the pharmacy or pharmacy-related fields reported both their percent time devoted to medication providing and to patient care services. Medication providing included preparing, distributing, and administering medication products, including associated professional services. Patient care services were professional services designed for assessing and evaluating medication-related needs, monitoring and adjusting patient's treatments, and other services designed for patient care. For each year of data, pharmacist segments were identified using a two-step cluster analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for describing the characteristics of the segments. Results: For each year, five segments of pharmacists were identified. The proportions of pharmacists in each segment for the three surveys (2009, 2014, 2019) were: (1) medication providers (41%, 40%, 34%), (2) medication providers who also provide patient care (25%, 22%, 25%), (3) other activity pharmacists (16%, 18%, 14%), (4) patient care providers who also provide medication (12%, 13%, 15%), and (5) patient care providers (6%, 7%, 12%). In 2019, other activity pharmacists worked over 45 hours per week, on average, with 12 of these hours worked remotely. Patient care providers worked 41 hours per week, on average, with six of these hours worked remotely. Medication providers worked less than 40 hours per week, on average, with just one of these hours worked remotely. Regarding the number of patients with whom a respondent interacted on a typical day, medication providers reported 18 per day, patient care providers reported 11 per day, and other activity pharmacists reported 6 per day. In 2009, 8% of patient care providers worked in a setting that was not licensed as a pharmacy. In 2019, this grew to 17%. Implications/Conclusions: The 2019 findings showed that 34% of U.S. pharmacists devoted their time primarily to medication providing (compared to 40% in 2009 and 2014), 52% contributed a significant portion of their time to patient care service provision (compared to 40% in 2009 and 2014), and the remaining 14% contributed most of their time to other health-system improvement activities. Distinguishing characteristics of the segments suggested that recent growth in the pharmacist workforce has been in the patient care services, with more being provided through remote means in organizations that are not licensed as pharmacies. The findings have implications for pharmacist training, continuing education, labor monitoring, regulations, work systems, and process designs. These changes will create new roles and tasks for pharmacy organizations and personnel that will be needed to support emerging patient care services provided by pharmacists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Schommer
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 612-626-9915; Fax: 612-625-9931
| | - William Doucette
- College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, S518 PHAR, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (W.D.); (M.W.)
| | - Matthew Witry
- College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, S518 PHAR, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (W.D.); (M.W.)
| | - Vibhuti Arya
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, St. Augustine Hall, B48, Queens, NY 11439, USA;
| | - Brianne Bakken
- School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Health Research Center, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Caroline Gaither
- College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - David Kreling
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (D.K.); (D.M.)
| | - David Mott
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (D.K.); (D.M.)
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