Empowering Communities: The Vital Role of Pharmacists in Community Engagement

May 7, 2025

Pharmacists have long been the unsung heroes of health care, serving as accessible and knowledgeable resources within our communities. Their role has evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from traditional dispensers of medication to integral members of the patient care team. Today, pharmacists are not only responsible for ensuring the safe and effective use of medications but also for providing a range of services that contribute to improved health outcomes.

Pharmacy is no longer a profession confined to counting pills behind a counter. With the rising complexity of treatment regimens, polypharmacy among aging populations, and an ever-increasing need for personalized care, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to step into more prominent health care roles. But this evolution is not without its friction. While expectations have grown, so too have the stressors, leaving many pharmacists caught between their passion for helping others and the limitations of an overburdened health care system.

The Evolving Role of Pharmacists

In recent decades, the scope of pharmacy practice has expanded to include services such as immunizations, medication therapy management (MTM), chronic disease monitoring, and point-of-care testing.¹ Pharmacists are now actively involved in patient counseling, helping individuals understand their treatment plans and managing their health conditions effectively. This shift toward a more patient-centered model has been facilitated by changes in pharmacy education, which now emphasize clinical skills, interprofessional collaboration, and a deeper understanding of social determinants of health.^2,4

These changes have been accelerated by public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the importance of having accessible health care professionals embedded within communities. Pharmacists stepped up as trusted providers, offering COVID-19 testing, administering vaccines, and providing accurate information to counter rampant misinformation. Their accessibility, often without the need for an appointment, and ability to build strong patient relationships positioned them as frontline defenders of public health during one of the most challenging periods in modern medical history.

It’s not just about convenience. Data shows that pharmacist-led interventions improve medication adherence and health outcomes, especially among patients managing chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. In rural or underserved communities where physicians may be few and far between, pharmacists often serve as the most readily available, and sometimes, the only health care resource.³ Their impact goes far beyond the pharmacy counter.

Burnout and Workforce Pressures

Despite their increasing importance, pharmacists face mounting challenges that threaten to undermine the sustainability of the profession. Primary among these is burnout.

A 2023 study published by the National Institutes of Health found that more than 60% of pharmacists reported feeling burned out during the pandemic. Factors contributing to this crisis include high prescription volumes, administrative burdens, long hours, and a lack of adequate support staff.⁵ The emotional toll of being on the frontlines, particularly during public health emergencies, has left many pharmacists feeling overextended and underappreciated.

Retail pharmacists have been vocal about working conditions. Many report being asked to manage unrealistic workloads with little to no backup. Filling hundreds of prescriptions a day while simultaneously administering vaccines, managing inventory, resolving insurance issues, and counseling patients isn’t just difficult, it’s often unsustainable. These stressors don’t just affect the pharmacist’s well-being, they compromise patient safety and diminish the quality of care.

Chain pharmacies, focused on cost-efficiency and speed, sometimes exacerbate the issue by setting performance metrics that prioritize quantity over quality. Pharmacists may feel pressure to meet these metrics even when doing so conflicts with their professional judgment or ability to provide thorough, compassionate care.

A Worrying Trend: Declining Enrollment

Adding to the profession’s challenges is a significant decline in interest from prospective students. According to data from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), applications to pharmacy schools dropped from over 106,000 in 2011 to about 40,000 by 2021, a more than 60% decline.⁶

Why the sharp drop in enrollment? For starters, prospective students are increasingly aware of the stressors and lack of upward mobility reported by working pharmacists. Add to that the high cost of pharmacy school, and it’s easy to see why many young people are rethinking their career path. There’s also a growing perception that pharmacists are undervalued, especially compared to other health care providers with similar educational requirements.

If this trend continues, it could have long-term repercussions on the availability of pharmacists, especially in underserved and rural areas. Communities that rely heavily on pharmacist-provided care could see significant gaps in services, leading to worse health outcomes and increased strain on an already overtaxed healthcare system.

Legislative Support: A Path Forward

The good news is that there’s growing recognition of pharmacists' critical role in improving community health, and legislation is starting to catch up.

One of the most significant legislative efforts underway is the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (H.R. 1770 / S. 2477). This bipartisan bill would ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to pharmacist services related to COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other routine vaccinations and testing. Just as important, the bill would provide reimbursement for these services, making it financially viable for pharmacists to continue offering them at scale.⁷

If passed, this legislation would help solidify pharmacists as recognized health care providers within Medicare, giving them the ability to bill for clinical services under Part B. This seemingly small shift could have a massive impact, encouraging more pharmacies, especially independent and rural ones, to invest in expanded patient care services.

Organizations like the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) have rallied behind this bill, viewing it as a necessary step toward recognizing and compensating the true value pharmacists bring to the health care system. It's more than just policy, it's validation.

Creating a More Sustainable Future

While legislative changes are essential, they won’t solve everything. A more sustainable future for pharmacy requires a comprehensive reimagining of the profession, from how pharmacists are trained to how their success is measured.

For one, pharmacy education must continue evolving. In addition to core sciences and clinical competencies, curricula should include more training in communication, leadership, and digital health. Future pharmacists should be equipped not just to dispense medications but to lead care teams, advocate for patients, and navigate rapidly changing health care technology.

On the job, employers must reassess how they define and reward performance. Metrics that reduce pharmacy practice to how many scripts were filled per hour or how quickly vaccines were administered ignore the holistic value of pharmacists as educators, advisors, and caregivers. Shifting toward outcome-based evaluations and providing support for mental health and well-being are crucial steps.

Finally, public awareness must improve. Too many people still view pharmacists as pill counters rather than health care providers. Educational campaigns and community outreach can help shift this perception, encouraging patients to fully utilize pharmacists' expertise, and inspiring the next generation to consider pharmacy as a meaningful, impactful career.

Why Pharmacists Matter More Than Ever

In a world where health care is often expensive, inaccessible, or impersonal, pharmacists offer something rare: accessible, trusted, and highly qualified care within reach of almost every American. They are translators of complex medication regimens, safety nets for vulnerable populations, and allies in managing chronic illness. When pharmacists are empowered, patients win.

But if we fail to act, if we continue to underfund, overwork, and undervalue this profession, we risk losing a critical link in our health care chain. Burnout will continue to drive experienced pharmacists out. Fewer students will step up to replace them, and communities will suffer the consequences.

The path forward is clear. Support legislative efforts that recognize pharmacists as providers. Create working environments that enable them to thrive. Educate the public about their full capabilities. And, perhaps most importantly, listen to the stories pharmacists are telling about what they need in order to keep doing this vital work. Because when pharmacists are supported, they don’t just dispense medications, they dispense care, trust, and hope.

Take Action

Support the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act by contacting your legislators today. You can find your representatives and their contact information at house.gov/representatives and senate.gov/senators. Let them know why pharmacist services matter.

If you'd like to learn how PerformRx is advocating for the recognition and reimbursement of pharmacist-provided services, reach out to us at info@performrx.com. The time to invest in pharmacists and the communities they serve is now

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References:

Strand, M.A., Bratberg, J., Eukel, H., Hardy M, Williams C. (2020, September 3). Community Pharmacists’ Contributions to Disease Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0317.htm
Urick, B.Y., Meggs, E.V. (2019, September 7). Towards a Greater Professional Understanding: Evolution of Pharmacy Practice and Education, 1920-2020. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 10, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6789879/
Ponushis, A., Gandhi, N. (n.d.) The Future of Community Pharmacy: Direct Patient Care. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Retrieved March 10, 2024, from https://www.aacp.org/article/future-community-pharmacy-direct-patient-care
Ferruggia, K. (2023, July 5). Community Pharmacists Can Better Understand, Implement Social Determinants of Health. Pharmacy Times. Retrieved March 10, 2024, from https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/community-pharmacists-can-better-understand-implement-social-determinants-of-health
Frandino, C., Carvajal, S., Sura, S., Rovers, J., & Doucette, W. R. (2023). Unveiling burnout perspectives among pharmacy leaders. Innovations in Pharmacy, 14(2), Article 25, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11607704/
Antrim, A. (2023, April 5). Despite Rapid Growth of Institutions, Pharmacy School Applications Decline. Pharmacy Times. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/despite-rapid-growth-of-institutions-pharmacy-school-applications-decline
Brannon, I. (2023, December 4). A Practical Approach To Save Community Pharmacies. Forbes. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ikebrannon/2023/12/04/a-practical-approach-to-save-community-pharmacies/?sh=63cf75262d78

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