NABP Executive Director Encourages Self-Care, Proper Work-Life Balance Among Burnt-Out Pharmacy Workforce

Al Carter, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), discussed the strategies individual pharmacists can take to improve mental well-being in themselves and their staff in an interview with Pharmacy Times®. Building off of the recommendations and guidance offered by the "Implementing Solutions" report released by NABP, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Carter explains how pharmacists can reach out to their state boards of pharmacy for assistance while ensuring they are implementing a healthy work-life balance.

Pharmacy Times: What specific contributions or insights did NABP provide to the creation of the “Implementing Solutions” report?

Carter: There's a lot of things that NABP did. We've done a lot of education to our members, which are the state boards of pharmacy and regulators. We held a task force looking at pharmacy technician scope of practice. What does that look like moving forward, and how do we have some portability of pharmacy technician license registration? We held a webinar on “TechCheckTech,” or technician product verification, depending on how it's termed. We had another task force that that looked at how we incorporate industry standards for pharmacy technician and scope of practice. Because every state has their own responsibilities and regulations as it pertains to how you regulate the practice of pharmacy technicians and what they can do. So, we had a task force was really focused on, how we can be elevating the responsibilities and the capabilities of pharmacy technicians. Our past president, my current chairperson, her presidential initiatives were really focused on mental health. We held a task force on that presidential initiative of mental well-being, how do we reduce the stress and make sure that pharmacists have a strong mental health. We are currently in a process of putting together a forum that's looking at what these groups in each state can do together so that we have a collective focus on getting these pharmacists the help that they need, while also removing a stigma to allow them to practice where that they don't feel that what they have is a disease, to be honest with you. If you're looking at some of the challenges with mental health and addiction, this is a disease that many in America deal with. So how do we get them the appropriate help and care that they need?

We also looked at ways that we can partner with other organizations as I'm trying to think of a name. Different foundations that are focused on mental health, and different pharmacy associations that are focused on mental health as well. We had a task force that put together a website with resources on mental health. We looked at ways that we can change our model act, and what we could do to our model act, to remove outdated unnecessary provisions, identify unnecessary regulatory burdens and workplace requirements that take away from activities that could improve that type of safety for the patient and the care that the patient receives. We continue to work on many things; we just had, going back to mental health, we just started the Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and campaign with helping the state boards of pharmacy remove stigmatizing questions as it pertains to impairment and mental health, and change them in a way where a person doesn't feel that they are unfit to practice just because they're dealing with a disease, and that we make sure they find that the help that they need. And then looking at, as I mentioned, minimizing standards for pharmacy technicians across the board, creating different awareness for other programs, and what states have done that's worked well as far as addressing workplace conditions and addressing workforce requirements. This is going to be something that's going to continue. It's not something where we've done all these items and that has fixed everything; there's still a lot to do in this area, and there's still a lot that that we, collectively and collaboratively with the other pharmacy associations, are working on to fix.

Pharmacy Times: In particular, how can boards of pharmacy play a role in easing occupational burnout?

Carter: The number one thing there is to listen. Pharmacists need to know that they can go to a board of pharmacy, to the board staff, they can talk to inspectors, and just talk about what is going on in their environment and what are some recommendations on how to change that. I think boards of pharmacy also can continue to look at regulations that may be dated and may need to be updated or changed that can remove some of these burdens from practice that are currently practicing and looking at it from what other states have done that have worked out well and have been very successful. I think the other thing that boards can do is just continue to talk about or continue to offer assistance when it comes to mental health and other struggles, and make sure they know that there's resources and tools there to help them and to help everyone that needs help in regard to that. As we look at what states are doing, communication is going to be key, and communication with the state boards of pharmacy, but then also talking to the different associations, whether it's a APhA or a ASHP to see what they're doing with their members, and to share different success stories of what's occurring in so many states. Many of these states are doing great things. They're changing rules and regulations to be very proactive for technology to be to embrace the change and embrace it in a way that is going to help with burnout, that's going to help move pharmacy forward. And the challenge with all of this, is that it's moving forward so fast, and so part of is trying to keep up, and then part of it's trying to advance as well. I think the states are trying to do the best that they can with the resources that they have to be able to do that as well, and you're going to see more of that in the future.

Pharmacy Times: Are there specific steps individual pharmacists can take to ensure their well-being and improve working conditions?

Carter: At the end of the day, the pharmacist is in charge. Whatever pharmacy that they're in, they're in charge, and so the main responsibility is to make sure that patients receive quality care and care that's safe. If I'm practicing in a pharmacy, I know what's going to work well for me, and the other pharmacist that comes in is going to know what worked well for them. And that may not be the same. But looking at that and thinking about that and making sure that you do what you're supposed to within the regulatory landscape that you are within in your respective state, but you're in charge. You're the leader, and everyone is looking to you to help them and to do that. At the end of day, you must make sure you take care of yourself. You make sure you take care of your staff and that they're doing the same, because there must be a balance. And I know it's not always going to be like that. I can be one of the main ones to preach about having a balance, and not necessarily always having a balance, and yet we understand that. It's just making sure that they take time to take care of themselves and take care of their staff, but also knowing that they're the leaders, and if there's something that would put patients at risk, then they need to make sure that they address that, whether it's with the boards, with their with their manager or with their boss, or with the staff, to be able to operate the pharmacy in an efficient manner, but also to make sure that it's safe for the patients.

Pharmacy Times: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Carter: The one thing I would add is just to say thank you to all our pharmacists that are there on the frontline, on the bench, that are serving these patients daily. I attend a lot of meetings a year and meet with a lot of individuals in different organizations, not only pharmacy, but in medicine, nursing, and what have you. And the one thing that I hear from all of them is that pharmacists are key to being able to provide quality health care. Many of these physicians and many nurses and many of these organizations wouldn't be able to do what they do without their pharmacist. So, know that, and respect that, but also just continue to do the great things that our pharmacists are doing, day in and day out. We know that that job is hard and that everyone is doing it in their own different way. But also make sure you have a balance, and balance that personal life and that personal space along with that workspace. I think if we can continue to do that, we're going to continue to make strides to make this better and better and better. We know it's not going to be an easy road, and it hasn't been. We're going to continue to go down that road, and we're not going to give up on showcasing how great pharmacists and pharmacy is.