Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent issues, the healthcare industry has faced a severe staffing shortage, especially in pharmacies. These staffing shortages have created longer wait times, reduced operating hours, increased stress for the remaining staff, and affected the quality of care and customer satisfaction. Pharmacies have struggled to meet growing customer demands with fewer pharmacists and technicians available.
Aside from the pandemic, what else is contributing to this pharmacist shortage? Is there really a pharmacist shortage in 2024? How can pharmacists and pharmacy owners address these issues and face the shortage head-on? Join ShiftPosts to learn all about the pharmacy staffing shortages that are causing problems throughout the industry.
Healthcare Staffing Shortages
According to the American Hospital Association, the U.S. will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. The HRSA Health Workforce also estimates a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025 and 63,720 full-time RNs in 2030. These shortages extend to hospitals, pharmacies, and other service providers essential in providing accessible healthcare services to communities.
Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
“(NCPA) reported that 70% of pharmacies are experiencing staffing shortages, and the problem seems to be growing.”
While pharmacies play an essential role in the healthcare system, they are not immune to staffing challenges. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) reported that 70% of pharmacies are experiencing staffing shortages, and the problem seems to be growing. This pharmacist shortage impacts not only pharmacists but also pharmacy technicians, who are crucial for smooth operations.
Among other healthcare roles, pharmacy staffing shortages are particularly severe due to the specialized nature of the work and the added strain from increased demand for pharmacy services.
Reasons for Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
Several critical factors drive the current pharmacist shortage, including declining pharmacy school enrollments, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and financial strains within the healthcare industry. These elements and others create a complex challenge for pharmacies, making it difficult to maintain adequate staff and provide exceptional customer care.
Enrollment in Pharmacy Schools Is Dropping
A significant problem impacting the shortage of pharmacists is a decline in pharmacy school enrollment. School enrollment steadily increased throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, with numbers hitting a high of 106,815 for the fall of 2011. However, by 2015, enrollment had dropped to 76,525. In 2021, pharmacy school enrollment reached an all-time low of 40,552, dropping by more than 60% in less than a decade.
This steady decline has led to fewer pharmacy graduates entering the workforce, further exacerbating the existing pharmacist staffing shortage and creating a cycle that has been challenging to break.
Ongoing Pandemic Effects
The COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting effects on the healthcare industry, including pharmacies. The increased workload from administering vaccines, managing COVID-19 treatments, and handling higher customer volumes has strained the already limited pharmacy staff. Many healthcare workers have also left the workforce due to burnout, illness, or retirement.
Healthcare Industry Decreases
Decreased customer volumes and reduced profitability in the healthcare industry also contribute to staffing shortages. With fewer customers visiting healthcare facilities, pharmacies face financial constraints that make it difficult to offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain staff. The increased labor costs further strain budgets, leading to cuts in staffing levels.
Results of Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
Pharmacist shortages have led to several problems throughout the industry, including issues with customer care, prescriptions, pharmacist burnout, and more. Let’s look at each factor to see how this staffing crisis has impacted it.
Disruptions in Customer Care
Fewer pharmacists and pharmacy workers mean fewer people available to help customers, leading to disruptions in their care. The employees are stretched thin and struggle to meet the needs of multiple customers while maintaining high care standards and medical accuracy.
Shorter Work Hours
With a limited workforce, thanks to the pharmacist shortage, many pharmacies have reduced operating hours. This shift in opening times also impacts customers, many of whom rely on extended pharmacy hours to fill prescriptions after work or other obligations. Shorter hours also lead to fewer opportunities to access essential medications and services.
Longer Wait for Prescriptions to Be Filled
Pharmacy customers are experiencing longer wait times for their prescriptions since fewer workers are available to fill them. Due to the pharmacist and pharmacy tech shortage, pharmacists and pharmacy employees face increased workloads and refill delays that could have severe consequences for their customers who need timely access to medications.
Few Opportunities to Get Vaccines at Pharmacies
Pharmacies have become critical locations for administering vaccines, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, pharmacy staffing shortages mean fewer opportunities for customers to receive their vaccines at convenient locations. This situation can lead to lower vaccination rates and increased vulnerability to preventable diseases.
Less Time for Customer Questions and Monitoring
Pharmacy customers often rely on pharmacists to educate and monitor them while taking certain medications. Unfortunately, pharmacy staffing shortages reduce the time pharmacists can spend with each customer, potentially leading to less thorough consultations and gaps in care. When pharmacy staff are spread thin during their shifts, customers could miss out on important medication information, interactions, and side effects, negatively impacting their health outcomes.
Pharmacist Burnout
The strain of pharmacist shortages leads to significant burnout among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The high demands and stressful work environment take a toll on their mental and physical health. In fact, studies show that 79% of pharmacists have reported experiencing burnout since the pandemic started.
Lower Job Satisfaction
Pharmacists and pharmacy techs report lower job satisfaction due to the increased pressure and stress from staffing shortages. In a 2021 survey, 41% of pharmacy techs reportedly left their jobs due to poor job satisfaction and high stress. The inability to provide a high level of care can be demoralizing and contribute to pharmacy workers being dissatisfied with their careers.
Leaving the Industry
Burnout is leading many pharmacists and techs to exit the industry, further contributing to the pharmacist and pharmacy technician shortage in 2024. Some transition to other healthcare roles with improved working conditions, while others leave healthcare altogether. This departure worsens the staffing shortage and perpetuates a difficult-to-break cycle.
Addressing Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
So, what can pharmacies do to combat these pharmacist and pharmacy tech shortages? You can address several things to support your staff and meet customers’ needs and demands.
Consider Branding and Employer Reputation
Enhance your employer reputation to attract and retain top talent. By creating and maintaining a positive workplace, offering competitive benefits, and supporting your staff through challenges related to the pharmacist shortage, your pharmacy can become more attractive to potential pharmacists.
Few Opportunities to Get Vaccines at Pharmacies
Give your staff clear pathways for career advancement. Opportunities for additional training, certifications, and leadership roles can motivate pharmacy workers to stay and grow within the organization.
Follow Trends for Accurate Staff Forecasting
Staying informed about industry trends and workforce analytics can help you accurately forecast staffing needs. By understanding seasonal demands, local healthcare trends, and customer volume fluctuations, you can better plan your staffing levels to meet demand.
Optimize Your Scheduling Practices
Use technology and software to create flexible schedules to manage staff shortages. By assigning staff based on real-time needs and preferences, you can reduce burnout, increase job satisfaction, and improve efficiency. This addresses staffing challenges and promotes a positive work environment and employee well-being.
Hire Temporary Staff
When you don’t have the employees to adequately staff your pharmacy, hiring temporary workers can provide immediate relief for your pharmacy staffing shortages. Temporary or relief pharmacists, like those from ShiftPosts, can fill gaps during peak times, vacations, or unexpected absences, allowing you to meet your customers’ needs without disruption. ShiftPosts pharmacists can even stay on for longer as needed to support your pharmacy through staffing shortages.
Let ShiftPosts Solve Your Pharmacy Staffing Challenges
When it seems like you can’t overcome pharmacy staffing issues, ShiftPosts is the answer. We offer a comprehensive solution to pharmacy staffing shortages by connecting pharmacies with qualified, vetted relief pharmacists, ensuring you can maintain high standards of customer care during this staffing crisis. By leveraging our extensive network of qualified professionals, you can easily find and hire temporary pharmacists to reduce the strain on your permanent staff and improve overall workflow efficiency.
Join us at ShiftPosts today and take the first steps toward combating the pharmacist shortage and creating a more efficient and resilient pharmacy operation.
