The trend: Over three-quarters of US hospitals now task pharmacists with patient care responsibilities, according to a recently published survey from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Pharmacists are becoming more clinically involved across various health system facilities and departments.

• Many pharmacists provide direct care to inpatients in high-intensity units such as critical care (68.5%), oncology (56.9%), and cardiology (48.5%).
• Nearly half of pharmacists are involved in emergency department care. That’s up from only about 1 in 10 in 2011, per ASHP tracking.
• Over 7 in 10 hospitals with outpatient clinics assign pharmacists to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. This includes monitoring labs, modifying medications, and authorizing refills.

What’s driving the trend: Pharmacists were tapped to administer tests and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their roles have expanded as physician shortages increased, but they aren’t a direct replacement for doctors and aren’t trained to diagnose patients.

The takeaway: Retail pharmacies should take note of how hospitals are entrusting pharmacists to be a part of high-stakes clinical care.

Struggling drugstores continue to see lower front-of-store sales, with some pivoting to health-focused store formats. This strategy will require fewer in-store employees overall, but more pharmacists to conduct wellness screenings and other medical tests, while answering customers’ questions on OTC and prescription medications.

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