Retail pharmacies are grappling with workforce challenges, including burnout, staff shortages, and evolving consumer needs.
FREMONT, CA: Retail pharmacies are currently facing a critical juncture, grappling with a series of challenges that have pushed them to a tipping point. Over recent years, the pharmacy workforce, including pharmacists, technicians, and staff, has been under immense strain. A confluence of factors, including increased workloads, staff shortages, and evolving consumer needs, has given rise to significant challenges within the industry. Even the largest pharmacy retail chains have been compelled to make strategic adjustments. Some have reduced operating hours in a bid to address employee burnout and improve work-life balance. Others have closed stores, citing changes in population demographics, evolving consumer buying habits, and the anticipated shifts in future healthcare needs. While these measures are aimed at tackling immediate issues, they underscore the pharmacy industry's ongoing struggle to contend with workforce capacity challenges.
In response to the changing landscape, technology has become a vital component of the pharmacy profession. Since the onset of the pandemic, nearly half of pharmacists have reported an uptick in technology utilization. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the pharmacy sector has access to a plethora of digital tools and resources that can instigate transformative changes. From automation to artificial intelligence, analytics, and content management platforms, an array of technological solutions can streamline day-to-day operations, eliminate cumbersome processes, and foster improved working conditions for pharmacists and technicians. Ultimately, this can enhance the ability to attract and retain top talent within the industry.
One of the key challenges in the pharmacy sector is dealing with information scattered across disparate systems that lack integration or connectivity.
