Future of Pharmacy

Amir Ali, PharmD, BCOP, discusses his experience as an oncology pharmacist in both direct and indirect patient care at the University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A pilot program integrated oncology pharmacists into prior authorization workflows to streamline and expedite medication approvals.

Policymakers and health care providers call for reforms to improve transparency, pricing, and patient access.

Unlike other professionals such as nurses and physicians, pharmacists remain tethered to a fragmented state-by-state licensure model that creates unnecessary barriers to care.

Dogs share a number of cancers with humans, including melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and osteosarcoma.

Notable advancements include machine learning and predictive analytics, among others.

Amazon Pharmacy’s subscription service could cause sale disruptions for traditional retail pharmacies.

The speed and scale of what’s coming with AI can only be imagined now, but without a doubt, our lives will change.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras hold enormous potential, but also present significant challenges to drug developers.

The caps on insulin and yearly out-of-pocket drug costs remain unaffected by this decision.

These drugs are set to revolutionize their respective disease states in 2025.

Rite Aid survey highlights underutilized role of pharmacists in health care, with 62% of respondents viewing their pharmacists as a crucial part of their health and wellness care team.

Jim Dente of Advanced Pharmacy Solutions emphasizes the growing role of automation, artificial intelligence, and patient-centric business models in streamlining operations, improving patient care, and addressing industry challenges such as staff burnout and medication errors.

The pharmaceutical industry is facing a critical talent shortage caused by fewer students entering the field, burnout and a lack of stability. We offer ways to combat the shortage.

The new Medicare cap limits out-of-pocket drug costs to $2000 annually.

The potential treatments include ivermectin, methylene blue, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and low-dose naltrexone.

Pharmacy professionals deserve the right to pursue mental health care without fear of losing their jobs. The Wellbeing First Champion Challenge is helping change this.

Exponential growth in development is unsustainable in biological systems. But what about AI?

According to the report, 75% of survey participants expect pharmacists to oversee these therapies and 58% expect Medicare will require pharmacist involvement.

The progress made in areas like scope expansion and reimbursement is encouraging, suggesting a growing recognition of pharmacists’ value within the health care system.

Although challenges and obstacles persist, artificial intelligence could help rural and smaller pharmacies close gaps in care.

As experts in medication management and health education, pharmacists can work with the administration to promote effective strategies that reduce misinformation and improve public health outcomes.

Pharmacists must make time for self-care and ensure a proper balance of work and life among their staff and themselves, according to National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Executive Director Al Carter.

Examining challenges in pharmacy school is necessary to solve current problems in the workforce.

Key trends shaping the future of health-system pharmacy include advanced medication management to address supply chain challenges, digital transformation to enhance pharmacy operations, and strategies for compliance with evolving regulations, all of which will be central topics at the ASHP Midyear 2024 meeting.

Advocacy ensures that policymakers understand the realities on the ground. If we fail to speak up, decisions about our profession will be made without our input—often by individuals who lack the expertise and perspective we bring to the table.

Al Carter of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy speaks on recent initiatives to address workforce burnout and stress among pharmacists.

Rising health care costs and the complex nature of medication management have prompted PBMs to adopt AI tools to enhance patient outcomes, streamline claims processes, reduce waste, and design smarter, data-driven health plans.

However, pharmacists can help mitigate these effects.