Lexington, Kentucky (WKYT) – Pharmacy chains are adjusting hours nationwide due to staffing shortages.
CVS Pharmacy has announced that thousands of stores will be reducing hours due to staffing shortages. Last month, Walgreens and Rite Aid have already reduced hours for the same reason.
According to US News and World Report in 2020, the University of Kentucky has the world’s largest pharmacy teaching and research building, and its pharmacy school ranks sixth in the nation.
“In the last 20 years, we have opened more pharmacy schools than ever before in the United States, and we are probably producing a very large number of graduates in the United States. is very diverse,” says Frank Romanelli, professor and associate dean at the British College of Pharmacy.
Romanelli says the pandemic has taken a toll on pharmacists, but it has also highlighted the important work they do.
“Thankfully, pharmacists are trained to deliver immunizations because, looking back now, how we could have managed the primary series and all the boosters had pharmacists and pharmacies not been involved? Because I’m wondering,” said Romanelli. .
Romanelli says many students have moved on to other paths after graduation. Few people stay in traditional retail medicine.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pharmacists is increasing as they expand their role beyond filling prescriptions.
“I think the short-sighted, single-place community pharmacy that everyone was going to is no longer true today as it was 20 years ago,” said Romanelli. “Pharmacists are moving into all kinds of occupations.”
Pharmacist employment growth is projected to grow at only 2%, much slower than other occupations.
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