Pharmacist-Led Point-of-Care Testing Fills Rural Health Care Gaps

With significant patient acceptance and satisfaction, pharmacist-led point-of-care testing (POCT) services have the ability to fill notable health care gaps in rural locales, according to a study in JAPhA Practice Innovations.¹

“Pharmacists are consistently expanding their patient care roles and responsibilities beyond dispensing in response to health care access and public health needs,” wrote the authors of the study. “Over the past decades, pharmacists have incorporated services such as immunizations and medication therapy management.”

In the quiet corridors of rural West Tennessee, a recent study at an independent pharmacy is redefining how underserved residents access acute care. Researchers evaluating pharmacist-led POCT services for influenza, COVID-19, and streptococcal pharyngitis found that an overwhelming 97% of participants rated their experience highly, with nearly all equating the professionalism of their pharmacist to that of a traditional physician's visit.¹

This success in a health care desert highlights a shifting paradigm, where the neighborhood pharmacist serves as a vital frontline clinician, offering a clinical workflow that mirrors urgent care clinics by collecting vitals and providing structured consultations.

READ MORE: Pharmacies Bridge the Diagnostic Dead Zone Through Health Monitoring, Diagnostic Testing

Increased Opportunities for Pharmacies in POCT

The rising importance of POCT is driven by recent technological advances, such as the consolidation of electronics and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), which allow for more targeted and personalized treatment, according to Roche Diagnostics.²

For rural pharmacists, these tools are no longer just optional add-ons but essential components of a patient-centric approach that improves access for underserved populations.^1,2

Despite the clear clinical benefits, pharmacists often face a leaky regulatory bucket where they may have the authority to administer a test but lack the explicit permission to interpret or act on the results through prescribing. This uncertainty often stems from pharmacy being one of the most heavily regulated professions, leading some to suggest a transition toward a standard-of-care regulatory model that allows for more flexible practice innovation, as stated in Innovations in Pharmacy.³

Public perception is also shifting in favor of these services, as longitudinal data from 2020 to 2022 shows that community members are becoming increasingly comfortable with the ease of use and convenience of POCT.⁴ However, significant hurdles remain regarding affordability and reliability.

Approximately 74.8% of surveyed patients expressed concern that insurance might not cover the costs of these tests. This fear is particularly acute among those of lower socioeconomic status who rely on rural independent pharmacies.

Although a 2017 provider-status law in Tennessee established reimbursement pathways, many third-party payers still fail to cover the full cost of supplies and staff time, necessitating hybrid cash-based models to ensure sustainability.¹

For pharmacists looking to implement these services, the path begins with a robust business plan and a CLIA certificate of waiver, which registers the practice to perform simple, low-risk laboratory tests. The NCPA indicates that successful implementation requires dedicated space for patient privacy, comprehensive staff training on bloodborne pathogens, and rigorous quality control logs to maintain accuracy.⁵

Furthermore, a true test-and-treat pathway often relies on collaborative practice agreements (CPAs), which delegate prescriptive authority to the pharmacist or state-specific laws that grant independent authority for certain therapeutic categories.^1,3

Pharmacy’s Ultimate Goal to Bridge Health Care Gaps

The goal is to transform the pharmacy from a simple dispensing location into a revolutionary health care hub that handles everything from patient intake to automated reporting to state health authorities. By utilizing advanced technology like online scheduling and secure text results, pharmacies can provide a nearly seamless workflow that reduces infectious disease spread while maximizing efficiency, according to NCPA.⁵

As pharmacists continue to bridge the gap in rural health care access, their ability to provide rapid diagnosis and immediate treatment will be a cornerstone of proactive care.^1,2 Comprehensive integration of these services not only enhances patient satisfaction but also reinforces the pharmacist’s role as an accessible, frontline provider capable of making a profound impact on population health.¹

“This study demonstrates high patient acceptance and satisfaction with pharmacist-led POCT in a rural pharmacy setting,” concluded the authors of the current study. “Further support through policy development, training, and reimbursement optimization is essential to integrate and expand these services sustainably.”

READ MORE: NCPA Advocates for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Overhaul Due to Pharmacy Cash Flow

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REFERENCES

1. Wagner B, Kirby J. Implementing and evaluating point-of-care testing services in a rural independent community pharmacy. JAPhA Pract Innov. February 13, 2026:100103. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japhpi.2026.100103

2. Faster results, better care: the rising importance of point of care testing. Roche Diagnostics. January 6, 2025. Accessed March 13, 2026. https://diagnostics.roche.com/global/en/lab-leaders/article/importance-point-of-care-testing.html

3. Adams AJ, Klepser DG, Klepser ME, et al. Pharmacy-based point-of-care testing: how a “standard of care” approach can facilitate sustainability. Innov Pharm. 2021 Sep 22;12(4):10.24926/iip.v12i4.4290. doi:10.24926/iip.v12i4.4290.

4. Howard-Wilson S, Wang Z, Orwig T, et al. Point-of-care testing preferences 2020-2022: trends over the years. Cardiovasc Digit Health J. 2024 Mar 18;5(3):149-155. doi:10.1016/j.cvdhj.2024.03.002.

5. Houston S, Paganelli R, Day K, et al. A guide to implementing point-of-care testing services in community pharmacy. NCPA. Accessed March 13, 2026. https://ncpa.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/poct-implementation-guide.pdf