The Burning Out of Pharmacists
Key Takeaways
- October is designated as American Pharmacists Month to honor pharmacists' contributions to public health.
- Pharmacists experience a high burnout rate, approximately 50%, which can affect patient care quality and lead to moral injuries.
Explore the rising burnout rates among pharmacists and their impact on patient care during American Pharmacists Month.
PSYCHIATRIC VIEWS ON THE DAILY NEWS
As I called in for my own prescription refill recently, I heard a message about October as American Pharmacists Month. That was news to me. Is it to you?
I then looked into it and found that Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter from Georgia, a pharmacist himself, had introduced a resolution to recognize October 2025 as American Pharmacists Month to honor their role in the public’s health.
In a way, I was not surprised because the pharmacists at my Walgreen’s often seemed overwhelmed and understaffed, especially when having to add on vaccinations. The next obvious question is whether they are burning out at a similar epidemic rate to us physicians. And they do seem to be.
Burnout in pharmacists has elicited some study in the United States and other countries.1 The results suggest a burnout rate around 50% generally speaking. There seems to be some similar risks to quality of patient care. Though apparently not investigated yet, we can assume that they are also suffering significant moral injuries.
Since we physicians have many direct and indirect contacts with pharmacists, we can convey our concern, empathy, and compassion. Brief notes or calls of appreciation might go a long way. We in health care are all in this together until the business control lessens.2
Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry and is now in retirement and retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer and speaker, he has done a weekday column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He was chosen to receive the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Social Psychiatry. Previously, he received the Administrative Award in 2016 from the American Psychiatric Association, the one-time designation of being a Hero of Public Psychiatry from the Speaker of the Assembly of the APA in 2002, and the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1991. He presented the third Rabbi Jeffrey B. Stiffman lecture at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis on Sunday, May 19, 2024. He is an advocate and activist for mental health issues related to climate instability, physician burnout, and xenophobia. He is now editing the final book in a 4-volume series on religions and psychiatry for Springer: Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianity, and now The Eastern Religions, and Spirituality. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.
References
1. Dee J, Dhuhaibawi N, Hayden JC.
2. Moffic HS. Challenges & Solutions for Managed Behavioral Healthcare. Jossey-Bass; 1997.
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