Washington Post Examines Nationwide Pharmacist Shortage

The Washington Post on June 21 reports on the nationwide pharmacist shortage, which worsens as "baby boomers take more medications and retail chains open more drugstores." The shortage has led to "poorer customer service and an increased risk of errors by overworked pharmacists," according to some experts. The most recent figures show that there were 6,500 openings for pharmacists at the 20,500 chain drugstores nationwide, the Post reports. David Knapp, dean of the University of Maryland pharmacy school, called the shortage a "ticking time bomb," adding that often "stressed out" pharmacy staff members often "gra[b] the wrong bottle off the shelf." Knapp said, "With the elderly population increasing ... the extent of those problems is going to increase as well." A survey conducted last year by Drug Topics and Hospital Pharmacist Report found that 90% of pharmacists surveyed were aware of a "medication error" in their own pharmacies in the previous 12 months. The most common error was dispensing the wrong dose or wrong drug. Most pharmacists said the errors were caused by "work overload" and "inadequate staffing" (Brubaker, Washington Post, 6/21).