Adapt to a “New Normal” During Uncertain Times

Just a few months ago, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit the United States and rapidly changed lives. As reopening efforts and recovery plans start to take hold, it should be recognized that community pharmacies are ideally positioned to support this national effort.

As social distancing remains encouraged, pharmacies have stepped up to adapt their services in many ways. This includes ensuring that the strain of the global pandemic does not interfere with the care of patients with chronic and complex conditions. Our cover story dives into the important role of the pharmacist in helping patients with HIV manage their disease states, especially during a time when in-person counseling is not always plausible and telemedicine takes center stage.

States are slowly easing barriers to pharmacist-provided COVID- 19 testing. In this issue, you’ll find an update on the current state of coronavirus testing in the pharmacy, including the maze of federal, state, and supply chain practicalities. As Christopher Daly, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, said, “Pharmacy is going to be a big part of the testing capabilities, especially when the second wave hits. But you can’t just start testing tomorrow.”

In our May issue, we provided an update on the vaccine de- velopment pipeline. In this issue, Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, advises how pharmacists can combat the antivaccination movement and promote other recommended vaccines by using logic and data to reassure patients. These tips will also surely help pharmacists when an impending COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in the future.

Additionally, in our technology section, we discuss how pharmacies can protect themselves from cyberattacks and avoid HIPAA violations. Investing in the right tools and training for your business’ technology systems is crucial to preventing a potential data breach.

Education remains key, whether you’re staying up-to-date on the latest products or brushing up on counseling points for your patients. Get educated on diabetes devices and learn more about OTC considerations for patients with autoimmune diseases.

As always, Drug Topics® remains committed to providing phar- macists with the most up-to-date industry information. Continue to follow us on drugtopics.com and stay tuned for a new, updated look coming soon.