What's the problem? Too many to list. What's the solution? Pharmacists.

Earlier this year the U.S. Surgeon General was quoted as saying, "We have the evidence health leaders and policy makers need to support evidence-based models of cost-effective patient care that utilize the expertise and contribution of our nation's pharmacists as an essential part of the health care team."

The Surgeon General specifically identified three demands within the health care system that pharmacist-delivered patient care can help meet:
  1.  providing care for chronic disease patients;
  2.  increasing access to care, addressing insufficient time for focused medication management;
  3.  and supplementing the primary care provider workforce.

Health reform through pharmacists delivering expanded patient care services?  Absolutely.  Through testing in the federal sector, several practices have been implemented and embraced, including a health care delivery model through physician-pharmacist collaboration.  This model has demonstrated that patient care services delivered by pharmacists can improve patient outcomes, promote patient involvement, increase cost efficiency, and reduce demands affecting the health care system.

Another opportunity for pharmacists: Studies conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges show that America is producing a consistently stagnant number of doctors each year relative to our continually growing population.  Since 1980, the U.S. population has grown by 70 million while the number of M.D. graduates has remained flat at about 16,000 per year.

Experts have warned that there won't be enough doctors to treat the millions of newly insured under health care reform laws.  It is predicted that the U.S. could face a shortage of as many as 150,000 doctors in the next 15 years; 45,000 physicians short by 2020.  This data clearly predicts an even more limited access to health care providers.  What profession will step up and fill this need?

Over the past 10 years, we have seen signs of pharmacy going from a product-focused - or medication-focused - profession into a patient-focused profession.  The medication is no longer our product - the patient and their outcome is.  Every element of pharmacy is broadening.  A few more steps and pharmacists will no longer be, in large part, "dispensers" or "verifiers".  Visualize pharmacists as conduits of health; providers of education; builders of relationships and trust; and the rising professionals who will affect change in the health care industry.

Through EMR and EHR, the technology is in place for collaborative practice agreements where pharmacists can:
  1.  perform patient assessments;
  2.  have prescriptive authority - to initiate, adjust, or discontinue treatment; to manage disease   through medication use; and deliver collaborative drug therapy or medication management;
  3.  order, interpret, and monitor laboratory tests;
  4.  provide care coordination and other health services for wellness and prevention;
  5.  and develop partnerships with patients for ongoing care.

More and more of the pharmacy profession is impacted by external events, but the pharmacist's core continues to remain the same - to treat those who are ill, relieve suffering, and act in the service of our community.  The degree to which we can 'treat' is an exciting evolution that we are lucky enough to be experiencing during our careers.  The progression may be coming in stops and starts, but we are moving forward like never before.