There is a growing awareness of the value pharmacies can provide in regards to patient care. In fact, more and more people are turning to their pharmacy to make a positive difference in their healthcare and help them take control of their health – which includes better medication management. According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), pharmacies have become “the face of neighborhood healthcare.” Here are three reasons why:

1. Pharmacists are the most accessible health providers
   Mass merchandisers with pharmacies employ more than 118,000 full-time pharmacists and fill about 72% of prescriptions in the U.S. each year. Coupled with the fact that nearly all Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, the accessibility that pharmacists offer are unparalleled among healthcare providers.
2. Pharmacists are among the most highly trusted professionals
   In the most recent Gallup survey of integrity across professions, pharmacists ranked third in public perception—behind only nurses and military officers. Pharmacists have consistently ranked in the top three for the past eight years.
3. Pharmacists bring extensive education and training to patient health
   To sit for pharmacy Board licensure exams, candidates must now have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which requires a minimum of six years of professional education. According to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), “it is the goal of all pharmacy schools to prepare pharmacists who can assume expanded responsibilities in the care of patients and assure the provision of rational drug therapy.” This reflects an evolutionary change in pharmacy practice to a more patient-centered focus.

Studies have shown that when pharmacists’ medication expertise is utilized, positive results for patients and healthcare costs follow. One program that tested the accuracy of these studies, the Asheville Project, involved a five-year study of diabetes patients and 12 community pharmacies. The findings from the study include a decrease in average direct medical costs of between $1,200 to $1,872 per patient per year, and better health and fewer sick days for employees as indicated by employers.

Take a Proactive Approach to Medication Management
When it comes to medication adherence, pharmacists are vital to this area of healthcare because they are in the front line of dispensing medications and providing face-to-face consultations. Pharmacists have the perfect opportunity to take a more proactive approach to help customers take medications correctly. Here are a few tips for improved medication adherence:

• Gather and provide medication information to help educate patients on their prescription and the importance of adhering to their medications
• Start a dialogue with patients by asking questions and discussing care plans
• Include easy-to-understand literature with the prescription
• Offer an auto-refill plan for patients and send reminders when it’s time to refill prescriptions
• Suggest simple and cost effective medication adherence tools like pill boxes available at major retail stores to help customers correctly take medications as prescribed

As trusted and accessible health professionals, pharmacists play an important role in ensuring the safe and effective use of medications to help people live a healthier life.

-Susan