3/20/2020
What does it mean to be a COMMUNITY pharmacist during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis? I currently work in an independent pharmacy and aim to be a community pharmacist upon graduation from pharmacy school in a couple years. As you likely already know, the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping across the world bringing with it true health concerns and panic from many. Schools, restaurants, and many retailers have closed, most states have declared a state of emergency, and some areas have even issued a 24 hour lockdown. We have watched over the last few weeks as the virus has ravaged countries across the world and left many patients hospitalized and even dying. Italy, for example, has issued a complete lockdown on its citizens, only allowing grocery stores and pharmacies to remain open. This proves to me that our profession is indispensable and that pharmacists will not step away in the face of crisis, despite the risk to themselves. This goes for all health professionals, I salute all of you who have continued reporting to work amidst this scary time, often without the basic protections that are typically afforded to us.
Back in January, I completed my first rotation at Poole’s Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in Marietta. Their team has always gone above and beyond for the patients they serve and the community that they are in, but have recently raised the bar even higher during this public health emergency. During this time of uncertainty for many small businesses, it is important to all support each other and using the limited time and resources we have to lift up our healthcare workers. Yesterday, Poole’s ordered pizza for lunch from Mellow Mushroom for the Kennestone ER department. They have also identified neighborhoods where their patients live to deliver discounted food on a certain nights. The owner and pharmacist, a Mercer alumni, Dr. Thomas Sherrer, delivers food and medications directly to their houses, helping limit exposure for patients who are high risk or are unable to leave their homes. They currently have three different neighborhoods lined up for this weekend alone. When I asked why he chooses to go the extra mile after hours, Dr. Sherrer explained, “The word community doesn’t just refer to your pharmacy location but more importantly it’s who we focus our care on. Providing a “slice” of normalcy during the chaos and making sure our community is cared for is part of being a pharmacist for us at Poole’s.”
I am also an employee at Innovation Compounding Pharmacy, where owner and pharmacist Shawn Hodges also currently serves as the President of the Alliance of Pharmacy Compounding. The entire organization has been working diligently with legislators and the FDA in order to prepare for drug shortages that will inevitably come from this health crisis. If you have visited a store anytime recently, you likely noticed that there are empty shelves where the hand sanitizer and alcohol used to be. These items are in high demand as people try to reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others. Luckily, after the hard work from the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding and many other pharmacy organizations, the FDA has issued guidance documents allowing community pharmacists to compound hand sanitizer. Innovation Compounding Pharmacy is now selling hand sanitizer to customers who will be unable to get it anywhere else! This is just another example of community pharmacists going above and beyond to meet the needs of their patients no matter what they may be.
As I have been out of school this week and working behind the pharmacy counter filling an unprecedented volume of prescriptions, I have seen the panic from patients concerned about the barrage of information about the coronavirus coming at them from all sides. Being able to answer questions and ease patients’ worries about their medical needs is even more essential than normal right now. My pharmacy manager has worked three 12 hour days in a row as her fellow staff pharmacist can’t find childcare for her two young kids home from school for the foreseeable future. Pharmacists have always been one of the most accessible health professionals, always available for whatever their patients need, and this pandemic will not change that.
Being a community pharmacist means being on the front lines for any needs that may arise for our patients. I feel so blessed to have such amazing role models working as community pharmacists in Atlanta and across the country. I hope to one day contribute to uplifting my patients in every aspect the way all pharmacists are doing today during the coronavirus pandemic.
