Working in a pharmacy can be challenging, especially in the USA, where short-staffed pharmacies are becoming increasingly common. According to reports, compounded by employee exhaustion and the demand for various services like prescriptions, injections, and consultations, mistakes can happen, potentially leading to severe consequences.
In a 2022 survey conducted by the National Association of Community Pharmacists, 75% of respondents expressed feelings of not having enough time to safely complete clinical tasks and patient care. This frustration has led some pharmacists to leave CVS and Walgreens outlets this fall, as reported by their employees to CNN.
The pressure is often immense, with many pharmacies limiting services to a single pharmacist handling 12-hour shifts. Michael Hogg, the CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, points out that pharmacists feel overwhelmed and fear making a mistake. Shane Jerominski, a pharmacist and labor attorney for Walgreens, whose career spans 10 years at both Walgreens and CVS, agrees with Hogg on the overwhelming pressure that pharmacists face.
One common misunderstanding is that filling prescriptions is the only responsibility a pharmacist has. In reality, the role is far more complex.
Pharmacists review prescriptions from doctors to check for mistakes, match prescription details with patient profiles, evaluate potential drug interactions, submit insurance claims, and provide counseling and advice to patients. When a specific medication isn't covered by insurance, they must reach out to the doctor's office for clarification or alternative options. During a busy day, this involves administering vaccinations, taking customer calls for advice, and addressing questions about over-the-counter medications--providing ample opportunities for errors.
According to National Institutes of Health research, between 7,000 and 9,000 people die annually due to medication errors in the United States. In numerous cases, patients suffer adverse reactions or drug-related complications that often go unreported. Averaging 40 billion US dollars annually to manage these issues, the costs are steep.
Many pharmacists worry about informing patients of potential risks even if there aren't any legal implications. Seeing a patient get injured is a distressing outcome, whether or not repercussions ensue.
Legal implications
The consequences of medication errors can transcend ethical concerns for pharmacists.
Carl Williams, a professor of pharmacy law, ethics, and counseling at St. John Fisher University's Wegmans School of Pharmacy, explains that pharmacists could be held responsible for damages resulting from medication errors. While large pharmacy chains might offer liability insurance and top-tier legal representation, Williams notes that still incurs joint and several liability, meaning individual pharmacists can still bear legal responsibility.
Additionally, when medication errors are reported to regulatory bodies, individual pharmacists are more likely to be penalized compared to large corporations. However, the number of corporations that fail to support their pharmacists remains limited.
CVS and Walgreens spokespersons have voiced their commitment to patient safety. When asked, they emphasized their robust process for dispensing prescriptions, rigorous checks, and swift responses when errors occur.
Both CVS and Walgreens maintain that they prioritize patient safety above all. Amy Thibault, spokesperson for CVS Pharmacy, stated that they nurture a "fair culture" for their employees that encourages them to report errors in a safe environment, fostering improvements in patient care. Walgreens spokesperson Frazier Engeman added, "We defend and compensate our pharmacists in nearly all cases."
As the job of pharmacists becomes increasingly burdensome, tensions rise within the industry. Workers leave, striking occurs, and some even seek union representation to address pertinent issues. Time will tell how this evolves.
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