Healthy People 2020: assessment of pharmacists' priorities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of pharmacy educators on the priorities and roles of pharmacists in meeting the Healthy People 2020 objectives. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, qualitative online national survey. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review identified documented roles and responsibilities of pharmacists in addressing the 42 topic areas in Healthy People 2020. From this, a 14-item survey was developed to identify priorities of categories to improve the health of the nation and importance of the pharmacist role to achieve the objectives. The survey was sent electronically to the members of the Public Health Special Interest Group of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in May and June 2014. RESULTS: Participants identified the following Healthy People 2020 categories as most important in improving the health of the nation: chronic diseases, health care services, lifestyle, prevention/well-being, and environmental factors. They identified the following Healthy People 2020 categories as possessing the most important roles for pharmacists in working to improve the health of the nation: chronic diseases, health care services, lifestyle, prevention/well-being, and infectious disease. CONCLUSIONS: There exists great congruence between top categories of importance and those that the pharmacist can impact to improve the health of the nation. The results of this study can guide efforts to educate and activate pharmacists as interprofessional team members improving health locally and globally.

Downsizing of health-system pharmacist positions.

The effects of downsizing on institutional pharmacists were studied. A national mail survey was sent to a random sample of 533 members of ASHP in January 1997. The questionnaire was designed to determine (1) the influence of selected factors on the downsizing of pharmacist positions and (2) pharmacists' attitudes about downsizing. A total of 256 usable questionnaires were received, for a net response rate of 48%. Forty-four pharmacists, or 17%, had personally been affected by downsizing. Sixty-one percent of the pharmacists affected by downsizing had had administrative positions. After downsizing, only 32% of the pharmacists had an administrative position. Most of the pharmacists were currently employed. Thirty-five (79%) described their current job responsibilities as substantially changed. Two thirds made the same salaries or higher salaries. Pharmacists who had been downsized rated mergers, the impact of managed care, and the profit motive as the most influential causes of downsizing of pharmacist positions. The three most common negative comments about the impact of downsizing cited reduction in the quality of patient care, increased stress, and lowered morale. Most of the pharmacists believed that communication skills, education, cross-training, and clinical skills are keys to surviving downsizing. Most pharmacists whose positions were downsized said they went on to jobs with similar or higher salaries and substantially different responsibilities.