American Pharmacists Month: Why It Matters More Than Ever

For American Pharmacists Month, Cheri Schmit, BSPharm, senior manager of new program and solution development at Cardinal Health, said pharmacists deserve more credit for what they do in their communities every day.

"I really think that they are unsung heroes behind the scenes, such an integral part of their communities," Schmit said. She pointed to pharmacists' reputation as "the front door to health care because of how trusted, convenient, and accessible they are."

Schmit is a pharmacist herself, and she said the month reminds her why she chose the field.

"While I may no longer be behind the counter supporting patients every day, I really enjoy the role I get to play supporting pharmacy teams so they can stay focused on patient care," she said.

More Than Medication Experts

Schmit said the public and other health care providers often don't understand how much training pharmacists have. "I know it's easy to associate pharmacists with medications, and rightfully so. They are the medication experts, but they are so much more," she said.

Today, pharmacists manage and teach patients about chronic diseases, give vaccines, and offer test and treat services for flu, strep, urinary tract infections, and HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis. Many also prescribe hormonal contraception and smoking cessation treatments. Some run wellness programs focused on maternal health, diabetes prevention, and women's health.

Schmit said much of this change has happened in just the last 5 years. She recalled learning in pharmacy school that health care is "a three-legged stool with the patient, the physician or the provider, and the pharmacist.” Care teams are now starting to rely on that third leg, she said.

New graduates also have more career paths to choose from. Schmit credited the growth in residencies and fellowships, which have opened up specialized areas such as nuclear medicine and data and analytics.

"All this progress really hasn't happened by accident," Schmit said. She credited pharmacy schools, pharmacists, and state and national associations for pushing to make sure "pharmacists have a voice." She also pointed to Cardinal Health's One Voice Initiative, which helps state pharmacy associations advocate for the profession.

A Future Built on Prevention and Technology

Looking ahead, Schmit expects pharmacists to work even more closely with other health care providers. She said they will help patients "manage their health, navigate complex therapies, and really get the care that they need."

She sees a strong push toward prevention. "People want to live healthier, longer, with more quality years," she said. "They're really looking for that access to wellness and prevention, preventing disease versus just treating it." Pharmacists, she added, "really are uniquely positioned for that role."

Cardinal Health already supports pharmacies with patient care and behind-the-scenes work such as marketing, inventory management, operations, and billing. Schmit said the company is now looking at how technology, data, and artificial intelligence can free up more of pharmacists' time.

"How can we put all those things together to innovate creative solutions to help our pharmacists spend even more time with their patients and take things off their plate?" she said.

"Pharmacists and pharmacy teams really are the cornerstone of their communities," she said. "They don't often get celebrated."