Staffing Shortages

A severe shortage of pharmacy technicians

A majority of pharmacy administrators reported technician turnover rates of 21% to 30% as well as losing 41% or more of their technician workforce. Pharmacy techs are opting for higher paying positions at retail pharmacies or insurance companies instead of hospitals.

An imbalance of ingoing and outgoing workforce Fewer students are enrolling in pharmacy schools and colleges. Over the past 10 years there has been a 60% decline in pharmacy school applications. Meanwhile, there’s been a surge in retirement for workers who initially delayed retirement due to the pandemic.

Changing attitudes about work Prospective employees are looking for flexible scheduling as well as remote or work-from-home options like telehealth and virtual consultations.

Emerging trends for the role of pharmacists During COVID-19, pharmacists took on a more visible role as essential frontline healthcare providers, providing vaccines and medication counseling. This will likely continue to expand in the future with pharmacists taking on a greater role in patient care.

Partnering with health-system HR professionals on recruiting strategies and developing pharmacy specific training platforms and options for new skills and competencies will help hospital pharmacies stay competitive.

See these articles from The Today Show and Forbes to learn more about pharmacy staff shortages.

Source: https://www.completerx.com/blog/current-issues-facing-hospital-pharmacies/