Why “Ask Your Pharmacist?”
Where would you go if you were feeling sick and needed treatment? Who would you see for a flu shot or a strep test? What about if you need help managing diabetes or other chronic conditions?
When you ask most people these questions, they'll likely have the same answer: their doctor's office. But do they know there's another option?
Pharmacists: The Most Accessible Healthcare Providers
"With more than 90 percent of the population living within 5 miles of a pharmacy, pharmacists are the nation's most accessible healthcare providers," said Jason Ausili, PharmD, MSLS, Head of Pharmacy Transformation for EnlivenHealth.
"A convenient visit to the pharmacy may improve access to desperately needed care while being far quicker and more affordable than going to an urgent care facility or the ER."
Pharmacists can do so much more than simply fill prescriptions. And it's time to spread that message.
Americans Need More Accessible & More Affordable Health Care
A recent study has shown that 38.7 percent of patients utilizing a pharmacy-based test-and-treat program visited the pharmacy outside of normal office hours, and 34.6 percent had no primary care physician.* "In a healthcare system that is bogged down, many people do not have convenient access to needed care — especially in rural areas," said Alison Haas, PharmD, CPESN Luminary and owner of Jackson Pharmacy & Wellness Center in Jackson Center, Ohio. "Community pharmacists are an accessible part of the healthcare team and can help with a variety of services to meet patient needs.”
With urgent care visits costing hundreds of dollars — and ER visits costing thousands — patients could save substantially on out-of-pocket costs by seeing a pharmacist for healthcare services.
What Services Can Pharmacists Provide?
In addition to dispensing medication, pharmacists can provide a host of services for their patients. These services vary from state to state, but some of the most common ones are:
Immunizations
Point-of-care testing & treatment
Tobacco cessation
Hormonal contraception
Medicare plan comparison
Medication therapy management
Treatment of minor ailments
Medical nutrition therapy
Diabetes self-management education & training
Diabetes prevention
The healthcare system is overloaded and overwhelmed. Pharmacists can ease that burden and provide an accessible healthcare alternative for their communities. Plus, less crowded doctor's offices and emergency rooms are a win for everyone.
Our nation's prescription for more healthcare options is long overdue. Let's allow America's pharmacists to fill it.
* Klepser ME, Klepser DG, Dering-Anderson AM, Morse JA, Smith JK, Klepser SA. Effectiveness of a pharmacist-physician collaborative program to manage influenza-like illness. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2016 Jan;56(1):14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2015.11.008. PMID: 26802915.