Expertise, Protocols Make Pharmacists Essential Prescribers

As the US prepares to lose nearly 40% of its primary care physicians over the next 8 years, the clinical expertise of pharmacists is emerging as a vital, highly qualified safeguard for patient care and medication safety.

On average, pharmacists possess 2 years more post-undergraduate education than physician assistants and nurse practitioners, devoting 4 full years of study to medication therapy. Despite this deep clinical preparation, health care plan sponsors historically have underutilized pharmacists, leaving their immense potential untapped.¹

Today, however, electronic prescribing among pharmacists is rising rapidly as state regulations and technologies evolve. This shift represents a natural progression from distributing medications to actively caring for patients. The skills required to prescribe independently are the same clinical skills pharmacists already use daily when making therapeutic recommendations for physicians and patients alike.^2,3

In part 1 of our interview with Duane Jones, BS Pharm, and Jennifer Griffin, PharmD, from Harps Food Stores, they provide some necessary nuance to the role of pharmacists in prescribing, exploring why they may be better positioned than any other provider throughout health care.

READ MORE: Pharmacists Want Prescribing Authority With Proper Training, Support

Protocol-Driven Care and the Fight Against Resistance

A major clinical differentiator for pharmacists is their strict adherence to evidence-based, protocol-driven care. In a typical primary care setting, patients are frequently treated empirically; 52% of patients who received antivirals last year were never actually tested, contributing to the rise of resistant microbial strains.

Pharmacists, conversely, follow rigorous clinical protocols, ensuring a patient meets a specific score threshold before administering a test and only prescribing an antiviral or antibiotic if the test is positive. This methodical approach significantly advances antibiotic stewardship and improves outcomes while avoiding unnecessary billing.

Furthermore, patients visiting their pharmacist do not express frustration when they test negative and leave without a prescription because pharmacists take the time to offer over-the-counter recommendations and thoroughly educate patients about their symptoms. Expanding these pharmacist-prescribed services also lowers health care costs for patients and plan sponsors by avoiding costly physician office visits.¹

Preventing Adverse Events on the Frontlines

The unique clinical insight of pharmacists is especially apparent in their ability to detect and prevent inappropriate prescribing. Medications like steroid dose packs and antibiotics are not benign, as Griffin tells Drug Topics®, and pharmacists frequently catch and intervene in situations where the risks of these drugs outweigh the benefits.

For instance, a pharmacist’s intervention can prevent a diabetic patient from taking an unnecessary dose pack that would dangerously disrupt their blood sugar levels. This clinical oversight acts as a safeguard against dangerous drug interactions and incorrect dosing schedules.⁴

Although some organizations caution that routine prescribing without physician consultation could complicate care for patients with multiple comorbidities, evidence demonstrates that pharmacist prescribing significantly improves clinical markers like blood pressure, lipid levels, and A_1c.^3,4

Whether operating under collaborative practice agreements or managing therapies independently, pharmacists use regularly scheduled touchpoints to help patients understand and maintain control of their chronic conditions.^1-3

Overcoming the Access Crisis with Independent Authority

As the physician shortage worsens, the traditional clinic model struggles to meet patient demand, leaving some to wait an average of 26 days for an appointment. This lack of access drives up systemic health care costs by forcing patients to seek care in expensive emergency rooms and elsewhere. In contrast, pharmacies are highly accessible, remaining open during evenings and weekends in both rural and urban areas.¹

To truly serve vulnerable and physician-less populations, experts argue that pharmacists must have independent prescribing authority rather than relying on dependent, physician-referral models. Dependent models can leave up to a third of patients without care if they lack a primary care physician to refer them. Independent prescribing ensures that information flows collaboratively in both directions, placing patients first and enabling pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their clinical education.^1,3

READ MORE: Pharmacists Can Shift to Provider Status With Medical Billing

REFERENCES

1. The importance of expanding the pharmacist’s role in health care. Evernorth Health Services. July 24, 2023. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://www.evernorth.com/articles/enhance-health-outcomes-pharmacy-care

2. Reidt S. Proof in the pudding: More pharmacists are prescribing. Surescripts. May 29, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://surescripts.com/insights/more-pharmacists-are-prescribing

3. Tsuyuki RT, Watson KE. Why pharmacist prescribing needs to be independent. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2020 Feb 13;153(2):67-69. doi: 10.1177/1715163520904366

4. Should pharmacists have the authority to prescribe prescription medications? MediServ Pharmacy. November 6, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://mediservpharmacy.com/should-pharmacists-have-the-authority-to-prescribe-prescription-medications/