listen to this articleIn October of this year, just in time for flu season, Walgreens announced plans to close 1,200 stores nationwide. The news comes on the heels of CVS closing 900 stores and Rite Aid closing hundreds of stores.
On Long Island, the company closed more than a dozen Rite Aid stores in Floral Park, Levittown, Bayshore and Huntington Station.
If you think a pharmacy desert can’t happen here, think again.
Pharmacy deserts are defined as areas where access to pharmacies is inconvenient, making it difficult for patients to obtain the medicines and preventive vaccines they need. While this may conjure up images of far-flung, remote communities, pharmacy deserts can emerge in densely populated areas. In fact, a 2022 study by researchers at Yale University and Cornell University found a total of 670 people in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
When your local drugstore closes, patrons lose more than just their medications. They lose important pharmacist expertise. This is especially concerning because pharmacists, who do not require an appointment, are among the most accessible health care professionals in many communities. Some patients with chronic conditions may also stop their medication regimen. For people with high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, this can lead to serious complications and even death.
One population we must consider is older adults, a group that accounts for up to 30% of prescription drugs in the United States. Driving far to pick up a prescription is not an option for many of these people, who also have a high risk of side effects, drug interactions, and medication errors. Additionally, patients with mental health conditions can face challenges. Failure to adhere to treatment plans can lead to suicide, unemployment, and homelessness.
Pharmacy deserts also have economic implications. Nonadherence (when a patient does not follow a prescribed treatment plan) is a major source of waste in the health care system, costing the United States approximately $100 billion annually in avoidable hospitalizations. As national health care costs rise, so do the costs of Medicare and Medicaid, which are funded by taxpayers’ money. And as more patients are unable to continue treatment, additional sick leave and disability are incurred, reducing productivity and profitability for employers.
Finally, as the pandemic has shown, vaccines are essential to maintaining a well-functioning society. However, the need to commute to get vaccinated may cause people to forego recommended vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus. As a result, communicable diseases spread more easily, infecting vulnerable populations, disrupting the workforce, and restricting social gatherings.
Thankfully, Long Islanders have several resources at their disposal. Many insurance plans allow doctors to prescribe a 90-day supply of medications for chronic conditions and have them shipped directly to the patient’s home. Some patients will definitely use online pharmacies. However, those who are less tech-savvy or cannot drive should contact their local pharmacy for delivery and delivery options. Your pharmacy may offer a “refill by phone” option. Additionally, some clinics and medical schools, like the hospital where I teach, may also offer vaccination services.
There are also measures that pharmacies can take. Drug store representatives should lobby New York state officials to pass Assembly Bill A7592, which would allow telepharmacies throughout the state. Telepharmacy, which is already available in 29 other states, provides patients with video call access to a pharmacist or supervised technician to remotely review prescriptions or provide patient counseling. You can. Additionally, pharmacies that manage larger geographic areas and the needs of more diverse populations will need to employ bilingual staff to ensure that all patients have an equal opportunity to fully understand their medications. there is.
Pharmacy deserts are a script for public health disasters. Thankfully, there are now several tools available to help solve this conundrum.
Maria Pino is an associate professor at New York Institute of Technology’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a New York State licensed pharmacist.
