As drug prices soar and access to essential medications becomes increasingly difficult, it's crucial for retail pharmacies to strive for higher standards of care.
Too often, pharmacies operate as mere transactional entities, overlooking their vital role in patient care. We must shift from just filling prescriptions to actively engaging with our patients, ensuring they have access to the medications they need and fully understand their health needs.
Pharmacies, while not responsible for drug shortages, can support patients by prioritizing the distribution of these critical drugs to those in need. This requires moving away from a purely transactional approach to one that emphasizes patient care and community health.
Pharmacists should be proactive in discussing health screenings, preventative care, and even offering diet and exercise advice and telehealth services. By participating in patient health management and providing guidance on medication use, we can significantly improve health outcomes.
Patients and prescribers expect pharmacists to prepare prescriptions and educate patients, but barriers like drug availability, reimbursement issues, and prior authorizations often create gaps in care. It's our responsibility to support patients through these hurdles, ensuring they receive the medications they need promptly.
Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals, standing right in the communities we serve. This gives us a unique opportunity and responsibility to promote health equity. Collaborating with prescribers, supporting prior authorizations, and utilizing co-pay assistance programs can help us deliver better patient-centered care.
To truly drive better outcomes, retail pharmacists should aim to gain provider status, allowing them to work directly with healthcare providers and bill for additional services. This not only benefits the patient but also enhances the role of the pharmacist in the healthcare system.
We’re also excited to introduce RxConnexion’s new telemedicine program, XPedicareRx-24, which provides Chronic Care Management (CCM) right at the pharmacy. This program helps improve healthcare access and promotes health equity by allowing patients to manage their chronic conditions effectively and conveniently.
To learn more about CCM schedule a call.
Let’s commit to elevating our level of care and making a positive impact on our patients' health. Together, we can transform our pharmacies into integral parts of the healthcare solution.
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