ADVERTISEMENT
A Tsunami of Challenges Are Ahead: A Call to Pharmacists During COVID-19
As a pharmacist in the community setting, we are used to patients being non-compliant or even not filling medications due to financial strain on families. However, many patients would receive financial support as a part of a variety of government programs to assist them in this problem. However due to the COVID 19 pandemic this reality will be taken to the next level. As of July 25th, the federal government $600/week stimulus provided to families will end. Based upon this lifeline many families will not be able to afford food or housing and will not be able to pay for basic necessities. There is a prediction of a wave of evictions, foreclosures, and other catastrophic life events.
I believe there will be a surge of medical complications for patients not taking their medications. Many patients will simply ration their medications or simply will not be purchasing them due to other life priorities. I would say many pharmacists are seeing this right now and I think it will be getting much worse in the weeks and months to come. We can argue about if a financial stimulus should be approved or debate the dollar value/week of a stimulus but at the end of the day, if we are employed, we are the lucky ones. We are still able to pay our bills and take care of our families.
As pharmacists we can tell our patients to take their medications, however, unless we were ever homeless, unemployed, or emptied our savings to pay for basic necessities, we could never understand what our patients are going through. As a member of our community, I would ask pharmacists to try to do their best to help our patients during this most desperate time. Please consider helping members of your community and ask your corporate leaders to step up and be a positive influence during this time in our history.
Each of us can make a difference. Anything we can do to ease the suffering of our community is our duty not just as a pharmacist but as a human being. Please be that force that implements change and to impact a patient anyway you can to make their day a little brighter. Since we all need brighter at this time. These are desperate times requiring desperate measures. Do what you can to make a difference. We all need each other’s support. Make it a priority in your life since your small act of kindness may change the whole trajectory of someone’s life.
Michael J. Cawley, PharmD, RRT, CPFT, FCCM, has more than 25 years of experience practicing in the areas of medical, surgical, trauma, and burn intensive care as both a critical care clinical pharmacist and registered respiratory therapist.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Population Health Learning Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
