I agree with both of the posts above. Technicians are the future of the profession and there needs to be a change in the education and wage for the profession. All of this is due to expansion of automation, technology, and AI, as well as the shift from fee for service to value based care. All of these new models they are coming out with can be done by other health care workers. They are also working on AI to verify orders to "free up the pharmacist". Most orders will not need review by a pharmacist. The board certifications are the same for the Clinical Nurse Specialist and the Clinical Pharmacist Specialist. My managers are always asking me if I want to work as a nurse since I am licensed as a nurse and a pharmacist and they know it is the same job in the PCMH and ACOs. I may leave healthcare all together under value based care if no outcome= no income. There is not a way for pharmacist to bill for services except for maybe some state Medicaid plans with individual states or "incidence to billing". Clinical Nurse Specialist independent practice and prescribing is expanding rapidly under value based care but I am not seeing this with pharmacy. They are promoting for pharmacist to get paid for patient counseling but patient counseling can be automated too. See dietitian story:
Orangeburg, S.C.-based Regional Medical Center has instituted a robot dietitian that roams the hospital to provide nutrition counseling to patients, The Times and Democrat reported Jan. 2.
www.beckershospitalreview.com
South Carolina hospital adds robot dietitian
Giles Bruce - Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023
Orangeburg, S.C.-based Regional Medical Center has instituted a
robot dietitian that roams the hospital to provide nutrition
counseling to patients,
The Times and Democrat reported Jan. 2.
"Norma" the robot is operated by an off-site employee of food service company Morrison Healthcare, according to the story. "It is demonstrating that we are definitely moving into the high-tech area," hospital CEO David Southerland told the news outlet.
Hospital officials told the
Times and Democrat the robot will
save money by cutting back on the need for a salaried employee.
The robot is being used by about 10 other hospitals across the country, the newspaper reported.
APhA, ASHP, and NABP Unveil Strategies to Bolster Pharmacy Workforce
Published: September 27, 2023
he American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) are pleased to share a new report including actions to implement solutions to improve pharmacy workplace conditions.
news.ashp.org
Some of the things mention in this document:
Several participants again supported creating a professional level between PharmD and pharmacy technician (e.g., a
mid-level pharmacist associate or advanced technician role).
Show evidence of pharmacist
value on total cost of care to justify payment. The niche is comprehensive medication management—show
value,
cost savings, and improved
outcomes
Promote and advocate for
team-based care.
Allow tech check tech without cutting pharmacy hours—
prohibit cuts to labor when there are expanded roles and efficiencies.
Decrease the culture of fear from pharmacists that they will lose their job (not have a role) if a technician has an advanced role
Develop a shared resource center of evidence/studies justifying the
value of pharmacist services to assist with advocacy efforts at state/federal levels.
Expand payment models by working with payers directly (
provider status has been priority, but there are other ways that we can expand practice).
Advocate for reimbursement of pharmacy services, leveraging
outcomes-based research/model legislation/case studies/implementation science around best pharmacy practices.