What You Should Know:
– A recent survey by Outcomes Operating, Inc., a leader in pharmacy workflow solutions, paints a clear picture: consumers are ready for pharmacies to play a bigger role in their healthcare. The overwhelming majority (86%) are open to receiving new clinical services at pharmacies, indicating a significant shift towards a more comprehensive approach to healthcare delivery.
– The survey highlights a clear opportunity for pharmacies to expand their role in healthcare delivery. Consumers are receptive, indicating a growing demand for convenient, accessible, and trusted healthcare services.
Trust and Loyalty Drive Preference for Pharmacies
The survey highlights a strong sense of trust in pharmacists. 83% of respondents placed a high degree of trust in pharmacists’ decision-making and recommendations. This trust, coupled with a loyalty to local pharmacies (average use of 6.5 years versus 5.8 years for primary care physicians), positions pharmacists as valuable partners in managing healthcare needs. Furthermore, consumers overwhelmingly prioritize brick-and-mortar pharmacies (80%) over mail-order options, indicating a preference for in-person interaction.
Existing Services and Openness to Expansion
The survey also reveals existing familiarity with some clinical pharmacy services. Nearly 70% of respondents have received vaccinations at pharmacies, followed by COVID-19 testing (44%), blood pressure measurement (28%), and medication reviews (27%). These findings demonstrate a growing acceptance of pharmacies as a source of essential clinical services.
Looking Forward: Expanding Pharmacy Services
Consumers are not only comfortable receiving communications about prescriptions from pharmacists (over 95%), but also receptive to additional services. High interest exists for blood pressure monitoring, telehealth consultations, and access to smoking cessation aids. Interestingly, suggestions for future services included at-home medication delivery, diabetes management support, mental health evaluations, and even vision testing.
“Pharmacies are the cornerstone of a healthcare system that delivers accessible, quality and affordable care. This survey underscores the pivotal relationship between patients and their local pharmacies and why evidence increasingly points to the need for pharmacists to work at the top of their license to align with the goals of value-based care,” says Jude Dieterman, Chief Executive Officer of Outcomes. “Outcomes has been dedicated to the success of community pharmacies for nearly half a century, and we will continue to provide the innovative technology and resources needed to advance the role of pharmacists across our vast network that touches 70 million lives each year.”
