American Pharmacists Month: Technology Transforms Pharmacy Practice, Demands New Skills

David Nau, BSPH, PhD, professor of social and administrative pharmacy at Ohio Northern University, dicsusses the challenges and opportunities facing pharmacists in today's complex health care environment. The traditional role of pharmacists is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by financial pressures, technological innovations, and broader societal shifts. Community pharmacies are battling unprecedented financial challenges, with payment systems that seemingly prioritize bureaucracy over patient care.

Pharmacists are now becoming strategic entrepreneurs, seeking innovative revenue streams and operational efficiencies to remain viable. Althought artificial intelligence promises to streamline administrative tasks and reduce mundane workloads, it simultaneously raises existential questions about the future of pharmacy professionals. Vaccine hesitancy and scientific skepticism present significant communication challenges, requiring pharmacists to be not just medication experts, but trusted communicators and educators.

Despite these challenges, Nau remains optimistic. He emphasizes that the core of pharmacy will always be human: the ability to communicate with empathy, solve complex problems, and provide personalized patient care. Technology may automate processes, but it cannot replace the nuanced interpersonal skills that define exceptional health care professionals. Pharmacists must embrace technological tools, develop sophisticated communication skills, and position themselves as problem-solvers in an increasingly complex health care ecosystem. The future of pharmacy is not about survival but about reimagining professional purpose in a rapidly changing world.

"We're going to need pharmacists who can still communicate well with patients and with other clinicians," Nau said. "In terms of skills and opportunities, if you can communicate clearly and with empathy, you're going to continue to have a role. It may look a little different than the roles today."

READ MORE: American Pharmacists Month Resource Center

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