American Pharmacists Month: How Technology Breeds Sustainable Pharmacy Practice

For community pharmacies eyeing the growing market for health technology, the hardest question often isn’t whether to get involved but where to begin. According to Lara Zakaria, PharmD, MS, CNS, FMCP, owner, pharmacist, and clinical nutritionist consulting with the Foodie Farmacist, the answer is simpler than it seems: Any pharmacy already selling over-the-counter (OTC) products is ready to retail health tech today.

As American Pharmacists Month puts a spotlight on the profession’s expanding role in patient care, Zakaria argues that community pharmacies are well-positioned to become a one-stop shop not only for medications but for the tools that help patients get the most out of them.

Zakaria identifies continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as the lowest hanging fruit for pharmacies entering health technology because many locations already stock or dispense them. From there, introducing advanced body composition scales allows pharmacists to evaluate visceral fat and muscle density rather than relying solely on body weight.¹

This capability is particularly valuable for patients on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss therapy who need to monitor muscle preservation.

READ MORE: Pharmacists Step Up on Test-To-Treat This American Pharmacist Month

Pharmacies can offer on-site scans accompanied by consultations, charging $20 to $50 per analysis to generate an immediate fee-for-service revenue stream. Adding wearable recovery trackers further transforms the pharmacy into a holistic wellness destination.¹

Capturing the Economic Potential of OTC Medical Devices

Retailing health technology aligns with a massive global market expansion. Wearable health technology currently represents a $90 billion dollar industry projected to reach $250 billion by 2033. Concurrently, regulatory transitions allow devices like CGM to shift from prescription status to OTC availability. The OTC medical device sector accounted for nearly $2 billion in recent market valuations.^1,2

Removing prescription requirements enables direct-to-patient access off the shelf. However, removing the clinician from the initial purchasing process shifts responsibility onto manufacturers and retailers to ensure intuitive labeling and patient usability.²

This regulatory evolution highlights the crucial guidance community pharmacists provide. Research indicates that 58% of Americans are likely to seek nonemergency care at local pharmacies, while 90% of patients express strong trust in pharmacy-led support for connected health technology.^1,3

Because many consumers struggle to translate raw biometric feedback into lifestyle changes, pharmacists can interpret continuous physiological data to foster long-term behavior modification.¹

Bridging Digital Literacy and Enhancing Clinical Outcomes

As digital health tools expand, health care faces shifting patterns of patient trust. Studies reveal that 64% of patients would trust an artificial intelligence (AI) diagnosis over a human physician due to immediate availability. Despite digital tools offering convenience, they, however, cannot replace clinical context.³

Pharmacists bridge digital health literacy gaps across patient demographics, advising when biometric data requires clinical intervention. In diabetes management, CGM and smart insulin pen systems, such as InPen or GoCap, enhance dosing accuracy and treatment adherence.^3,4

Integrating remote patient monitoring into practice establishes sustainable clinical revenue streams as well.¹

Studies on pharmacist intentions indicate that over 80% intend to use digital technology in daily practice. High self-efficacy and positive attitudes regarding drug safety strongly predict technology adoption. Serving as a bridge between technology and medication, pharmacists prevent errors and optimize rational drug use.⁵

Empowering Practitioners Through Digital Health Education

Sustaining this model requires equipping pharmacists with dedicated digital health training.^4,5

Academic programs now teach student pharmacists to counsel on CGMs and digital therapeutics. Certificate programs and collaborative practice agreements further prepare pharmacists for expanding point-of-care services.^3,4

Overcoming operational barriers ensures that community pharmacies remain vital health care hubs.¹

“Patients may find it empowering to take charge of their own health, but equally important is recognizing the limitations of a screen,” concluded a recent article published in Pharmacy Times.³ “Pharmacists must guide patients to understand when to leverage technology and when to seek the expertise of a real-life practitioner. Ultimately, the future of health care depends on this balance.”

READ MORE: American Pharmacists Month Resource Center

REFERENCES

1. Nowosielski B, Zakaria L. Wearable tech as a revenue, clinical service opportunity for pharmacists | NCPA 2026. Drug Topics. October 14, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/wearable-tech-as-a-revenue-clinical-service-opportunity-for-pharmacists-ncpa-2026

2. Nichols E. Over the counter (OTC) vs. prescription (RX) medical devices, pt. 1. Greenlight Guru. October 13, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.greenlight.guru/blog/over-the-counter-otc-vs.-prescription-rx-medical-devices-pt.-1

3. Schad TR. The growing role of digital health and pharmacist guidance. Pharmacy Times. August 20, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-growing-role-of-digital-health-and-pharmacist-guidance

4. Sartain M. The importance of digital health. American Pharmacists Association. June 2, 2023. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Transitions/the-importance-of-digital-health

5. Tecen-Yucel K, Ozdemir-Ayduran N, Kara E, et al. Intentions of hospital pharmacists to use digital technology in their daily practice: a cross-sectional survey using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Int J Clin Pharm. 2025;47(4):1024-1033. doi:10.1007/s11096-025-01868-5