The pharmacy profession’s scope of practice and provider status are the two most significant changes in the evolving landscape of health care, which is mirrored in the health-system pharmacy. This generates new opportunities and roles, many of which are regarded as nontraditional in current practice. This article examines a few new positions for pharmacy executives that offer various career paths and options. Expanded consulting roles in pricing analytics and drug pricing programs (contracting, 340B programs), pharmacogenomics patient consult services and clinics, specialty drug pharmacies, and compounding pharmacy services are just a few of the non-traditional career opportunities discussed. Pharmacy directors should be aware of these roles and make sure they are clearly defined and managed if they want to continue creating high-performing pharmacy departments. Now that these unconventional opportunities are available, pharmacy departments can improve their capacity to offer cutting-edge patient-centered pharmacy services.
Since the 1970s, significant progress has been made in transforming the public’s perception of pharmacists from “pill counter” or “basement dweller” to “trusted patient advocate and member of the healthcare team.” In addition to rounding with medical teams, leading medication adherence initiatives, and pursuing federal legislation for various payment models, pharmacists now regularly contribute to patient care. Along with the need for patients to use medications responsibly, the healthcare industry’s push to consolidate, cut costs, and maintain quality gives pharmacists more opportunities to transition their practice from order fulfillment to leaders in drug therapy management. 1 By going “above and beyond the traditional boundaries” and looking for unconventional opportunities that advance patient care, pharmacists can make a significant impact as frontline health care leaders. These new positions deal with issues like rising drug costs, biosimilar drugs, the opiate crisis, supply chain security, and modifications to state pharmacy laws.
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) conducted a study that found the majority of recent pharmacy school graduates start their careers in traditional positions. Following graduation, community pharmacies continue to be the most common practice locations for new graduates, followed by health-system pharmacies and pharmacy residency programs. 2,3 When the 2016 responses are compared to the 2009 responses, it is discovered that more recent graduates are gradually beginning to discover career opportunities that may have been uncommon or nonexistent for more recent graduates. For instance, the 2016 survey offered response choices like clinic-based pharmacy, consultant, academia, and home care that weren’t available on the 2009 survey. 2,3.
It’s important to take into account this trend of various career opportunities in light of the most recent 10-year job outlook update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). From 2012 to 2022, the BLS predicted that employment of pharmacists would increase by 14%, or about twice as many jobs as the overall 7% average. 4 The BLS, however, recently revised its projections, predicting a much slower 3% growth from 2014 to 2024 and a slight decline in the employment of pharmacists in conventional retail settings. 4 Many pharmacists and students looking for jobs in this field may choose nontraditional opportunities now that staffing shortages in community pharmacy positions are no longer a concern. Additionally, the burden of student loans will increase the pressure on community pharmacy professionals to find employment. 3.
Through its Practice Advancement Initiative (PAI), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has recognized the need to help pharmacists explore their career options. The PAI offers future practice model suggestions as an alternative for many recent graduates and those looking to change careers. It was accepted as a fundamental point of consensus for PAI when reviewing new pharmacy practice models that significant changes in the use of pharmacy resources, including employees, are required to improve patient health. 6.
Pharmacy leaders should look into opportunities for cutting-edge pharmacy roles that can be filled by pharmacists with special qualifications as the growth of pharmacy in traditional settings slows. This article’s objective is to present pharmacy directors with a range of nontraditional job options and explain how they affect patient care services. The non-traditional employment options covered in this article include expanded consulting positions in pricing analytics and drug pricing programs (contracting, 340B programs), pharmacogenomics patient consult services and clinics, specialty drug pharmacies, and compounding pharmacy services. Now that these unconventional opportunities are available, pharmacy departments can increase their capacity to offer cutting-edge patient-centered pharmacy services.
The nontraditional roles covered in this section are a reaction to how the fields of pharmacy and health care are evolving. These positions are regarded as direct patient care services, which means that they have a direct impact on patients’ drug therapy by helping with various aspects of care like drug selection, adherence, and side effect management. Although this activity (for example, a prescription) might not involve a drug product, these roles contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care. Direct patient care and clinical effectiveness are both essential components of these nontraditional roles.
Precision medicine is being investigated in a variety of disease states, from transplant to cancer. In some cases, it is possible to achieve optimal clinical outcomes without using the “one size fits all” approach to medicine, lowering treatment costs, and improving patient safety. In January 2015, President Obama announced the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI), a program to enable “healthcare providers to tailor treatment and prevention strategies to individuals’ unique characteristics,” recognizing the potential of precision medicine. “7 In 2015, the ASHP issued a statement on the role of the pharmacist in clinical pharmacogenomics. According to ASHP, pharmacists have a duty to play a significant part in the clinical application of pharmacogenomics. To promote safe, effective, and affordable medication practices, pharmacists should lead this emerging science in many institutions. ”8.
Approximately 7% of drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have a genetic variation that could influence prescribing guidelines. This accounts for 18% of all outpatient medications in the United States, providing a significant opportunity to enhance the effectiveness and safety of patient care. Pharmacists could lead the development of informatics platforms that efficiently identify candidates for genetic testing, design drug therapy regimens based on testing results, and communicate recommendations to the patient care team to establish pharmacogenomics clinics. In the Center for Personalized Medicine at Northshore University Health System in Evanston, Illinois, patients can consult with medical geneticists, genetic counselors, and pharmacists with pharmacogenomics training. They were recently awarded $2. As part of a $55 million package of awards under PMI, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide $3 million. To help the PMI reach its goal of 1 million participants and advance the ability to prevent and treat disease based on a person’s lifestyle, environment, and genetics, 19 Northshore will enrol 9,000 patients. 10.
Walgreens Charged for Understaffing? 23 Job alternatives for Pharmacists?
Alternative jobs for pharmacists
Numerous positions in pharmacology offer a wide range of responsibilities and a high salary. Knowing what these jobs entail on a daily basis can help you decide if you want to pursue them. Here are 12 jobs where pharmacists can apply their skills:
Primary responsibilities include assisting medical professionals, veterinary professionals, and scientists with the study and development of new or existing medications. They frequently oversee experiments, record laboratory findings, keep records, and conduct tests for various compounds. Pharmaceutical research technicians also ensure a clean lab environment.
A laboratory technician’s primary responsibilities include carrying out various procedures in a laboratory setting. They look after the machinery, keep the area tidy, and assist the scientists as they conduct various experiments. Additionally, laboratory technicians perform tests in accordance with established protocols and analyze samples.
Primary responsibilities: Medical science liaisons represent the medical community as peers in the sciences. They guarantee that a product is used appropriately and offer their coworkers scientific knowledge. Medical science liaisons also keep in touch with academic researchers, attend conferences, and have discussions about disease and drug treatments.
Under the direction of a clinical research manager, clinical research coordinators’ main responsibilities are to oversee clinical trials. They oversee and manage clinical trials, collect data, inform participants of a study’s purpose, and deliver questionnaires.
A medical writer’s primary responsibilities include producing scientific papers, literature, or content for websites devoted to medicine or healthcare, as well as documents related to research or drugs. They collaborate with scientists or doctors as they write and edit their medical writing products.
Primary duties: Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell their companys pharmaceutical products. They instruct medical professionals about these goods and how these medications, equipment, and therapies can meet the needs of their patients. Medical professionals are also assisted by pharmaceutical sales representatives in understanding how their products differ from those of their rivals.
Primary responsibilities: Medical representatives promote and sell the goods of their company, such as its pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. They make contact with potential clients at healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes by traveling to various locations. In order to share their products with hospital medical teams, medical representatives frequently schedule appointments with them.
A clinical research associate’s main responsibilities include managing clinical trials and studies involving pharmaceutical and biotechnological goods, services, and procedures. To ensure the safety of these products on the market, they conduct research.
Primary responsibilities: Research scientists plan and analyze data from laboratory trials, experiments, and investigations. They collaborate with other team members and support personnel as they design and carry out experiments, write grant proposals, and complete funding applications.
Regulatory affairs managers’ main responsibilities are to make sure businesses follow all applicable laws and regulations. They supervise the regulatory process, design checkpoints to ensure compliance, and plan company inspections.
Clinical research scientists conduct medical research in a laboratory setting as one of their main responsibilities. To determine health conditions, they devote the majority of their time to studying and investigating various diseases. They make use of their findings to assist doctors in accurately diagnosing patients. Additionally, clinical research scientists develop trial materials and guarantee the security and efficacy of drugs, treatments, procedures, and equipment.
Pharmacologists’ main responsibilities are to research and test novel drugs and chemicals to create drug therapies and avoid dangerous drug interactions. They manage the laboratory and staff, conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret potential side effects of various medications.
What is a pharmacist?
A pharmacist is a member of the medical community who has expertise in the preparation and distribution of prescription drugs. Pharmacists manage a pharmacy staff, consult with patients about their medications, interact with prescribers and insurance companies, and guarantee patient safety. Additionally, they make sure patients are given the proper medication and dosage.
Tips for a career in pharmacology
Make use of the following advice to start a career in pharmacology or advance in it:
Pharmacists with Expertise on Specialty Medications
Specialty pharmacies are becoming more common; at the moment, they account for more than 40% of the pipeline for late-stage pharmaceutical development. Specialty drugs are usually expensive medicines that need to be closely monitored and carefully managed as part of intricate treatment plans for conditions like hepatitis C, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. 12 In 2012, about $87 billion was spent on specialty medicine alone, and by 2020, it’s expected that spending will have increased to $400 billion annually. 12 According to a University Health System Consortium study, specialty prescriptions at academic medical centers generate $200 million in annual revenue. Establishing specialty pharmacies and employing pharmacists for those services not only offers a sizable potential for revenue but also increases patient access to medication and continuity of care, which in turn improves medication adherence and patient safety. 12.
A specialty pharmacy program was created and put into place by University of Utah Health Care (UUHC) in 2014. 12 UUHC saw a 137% increase in specialty pharmacy revenue in the 2015 fiscal year compared to the 2013 fiscal year by establishing a specialty pharmacy program with a centralized prior authorization process for specialty prescriptions, a 24/7 call center, and standardized pharmacy documents in the electronic medical record (EMR). 12 New prescription capture led to a substantial increase in revenue They added about 700 new patients to the specialty pharmacy program in just nine months. 12 The hiring of a full-time pharmacist was necessary due to the specialty drug referrals. 12 pharmacists provided medication education, completed clinical assessments of patients, followed up with them on an as-needed or annual basis, and addressed clinical questions. Increased revenue, system-wide services, and a specialty pharmacy with full accreditation were the results of UUHC’s efforts to launch a specialty pharmacy program. To increase capacity and efficiency, future plans call for building a high-capacity central filling pharmacy. 12.
The Affordable Care Act expanded the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which was established in 1992; this expansion raises concerns about program oversight, participation eligibility, program savings, and compliance. The program also released a Mega Guidance release, which contains updated rules and regulations, and is scheduled for release in November 2016. By proactively addressing actions that can be taken before the release of the Mega Guidance, operationalizing changes after the release of the Mega Guidance, and supervising drug pricing programs, 340B pharmacist positions or the hiring of 340B consultant pharmacists can benefit health systems.
Opportunities for employment in the 340B operations and compliance sector may also cover rulings made pursuant to the Mega Guidance, including the following situations. Discharge prescriptions written during inpatient hospitalizations will not be accepted under the Mega Guidance. A drug “bundled-billed” to Medicaid will not be eligible for 340B pricing, according to additional proposed changes. 13 Particularly, disproportionate share, pediatric, and independent cancer hospitals must take into account any challenges that this modification may bring about for 340B programs and the restrictions imposed by the Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) ban. According to state regulations, Medicaid managed care patients and the 340B medications intended for their use are currently included in 340B, but they may be excluded in the future. 13 Pharmacists can start collaborating with covered entities to create agreements with states and/or managed care plans that have been examined and approved by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These are some instances of the difficulties that 340B program new opportunities present to pharmacists.
A nontraditional role as a drug pricing pharmacist, which focuses on the operations of managing the records and data around drug pricing in a 340B program or other contract programs for drug pricing, is created by assessing and ensuring compliance with 340B. Examples of 340B program requirements include maintaining records that are easily accessible and auditable. Records will need to be audited frequently as there may be a tighter deadline for compliance reporting. Infractions like double discounting or diverting 340B medications to patients who aren’t eligible must be reported to manufacturers within 90 days of becoming aware of them. 13 Covered entities must also fix GPO prohibition errors in a timely manner. 13 As a compliance check, entities should at least quarterly compare their 340B prescribing records to contract pharmacies’ 340B dispensing records. The 340B program’s requirements can result in a number of penalties for violated covered entities. Discounts back to the manufacturer may be forfeited if anti-diversion of duplicate discount provisions are not followed. Entities may also be required to pay interest on the discounts returned to the manufacturer when a diversion violation is knowingly or intentionally committed. Additionally, organizations may be barred from taking part in 340B programs for a while, as determined by the HRSA. Through the management of the data and records surrounding pricing in a 340B program, 16 drug pricing pharmacists play a valuable role in preventing noncompliance.
Additionally, a pharmacist who specializes in drug pricing can self-review the 340B program’s compliance. HRSA began conducting 340B program audits in 2012. Both random and targeted audits of covered entities were conducted (the length of the program, the number of outpatient facilities, the number of contract pharmacies, the complexity of the program, and the volume of purchases are among the factors). 17 Compared to prior years, HRSA has significantly increased its annual auditing since 2012. 18-21 To make sure that policies and procedures are in compliance, covered entities should self-assess and respond to changes in 340B program guidance. Prior to a formal audit, noncompliance issues can be found and fixed to avoid penalties like forfeiting manufacturer discounts.
By sharing their concerns about health-systems and serving as a liaison during official comment periods on proposed 340B rules and regulations, pharmacists who specialize in drug pricing may also act as advocates. They may also cooperate with government affairs, public relations, and risk management staff to ensure that proposed changes do not adversely affect patient care. They may also work with elected officials and other advocacy groups.
Through the regulation of hazardous drug handling from delivery to patient use, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 800> places a high priority on the security of medical personnel and patients. Institutions are considering the logistics of facility renovations as federal enforcement is scheduled to start in July 2018. One of the best case studies demonstrating the potential for making facility changes in accordance with USP 800> recommendations is a program implemented at Froedtert Hospital. Froedtert established a new integrated service center (ISC) that shares space with other hospital departments seeking centralization due to concerns about quality and safety with external compounding environments, exorbitant prices, a desire to reduce waste, and ongoing drug shortages. 22 The new ISC costs $573,000, including equipment, and complies fully with USPs 800 and 797. 22 The ISC has 1. 5 full-time pharmacists are employed for the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours, Monday through Friday. m. to 3:30 p. m. 22 Due to the discovery of 8 products for in-house compounding during the startup phase, Froedtert anticipates saving about half a million dollars. 22.
The advantages of constructing or registering as a 503b facility should also be taken into account when determining the USP 800> renovation requirements. Due to the new FDA draft guidelines, several sizable health systems and integrated delivery networks are thinking about opening 503b compounding facilities. According to these recommendations, health systems and other facilities that produce batch sterile preparations and patient-specific preparations in the same location must register as outsourcing facilities in accordance with CGMP regulations. The opening of Yale-New Haven’s own 503b facility is scheduled for 2018, and this will create opportunities for home infusion. Using a pharmaceutical company to create and run a 503b facility that would serve all the hospitals in the Partners Health Care network, Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH) is another hospital looking to launch one. Despite the potential for difficulty and expense, 503b outsourcing facilities are required to have a licensed pharmacist oversee compounding, who may also assume other duties. As a 503b facility, a health system may be able to compound more anticipatory doses than is required and offer sterile compounded products to smaller hospitals in their network as well as to clinics, emergency rooms, and other facilities. To ensure compliance and prevent potential violations, pharmacists can act as facility supervisors and regulatory experts.
FAQ
What can I do instead of Pharmacy?
- Medical Writer. …
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. …
- Pharmacologist. …
- Toxicologist. …
- Clinical Research Coordinator. …
- Medical Science Liaison. …
- Laboratory Technician. …
- Research Scientist.
What other professions do pharmacists work with?
- Hospital Pharmacy. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacists frequently participate actively in patient care alongside doctors in hospitals.
- Ambulatory Care. …
- Pharmacogenomics. …
- Medication Therapy Management (MTM) …
- Pharmacovigilence.
What are 2 similar occupations to a pharmacist?
The occupations with similar job duties to pharmacists are listed in the table below. The chemical and physical underpinnings of living things and biological processes are studied by biochemists and biophysicists. Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.
What to do if you dont want to be a pharmacist anymore?
- Pharmaceutical research technician. National average salary: $40,248 per year. …
- Laboratory technician. …
- Medical science liaison. …
- Clinical research coordinator. …
- Medical writer. …
- Pharmaceutical sales representative. …
- Medical representative. …
- Clinical research associate.
