MOVING FORWARD IN 2023

of all that adversity, the profession (all of you) rose to the challenge. You kept moving forward. You adapted. You innovated and improvised. You made the profession better. And I believe that you have positioned the profession on the cusp of historic changes that will forever improve the profession of pharmacy.

New beginnings – moving forward.

IPA President

Cheri Schmit, RPh Senior Manager, Product & Solutions Marketing, Cardinal Health

While I am not sure when you will be reading this article, I am writing it in January 2023. During December, I find my thoughts to be sentimental and reflective. But in January, I always look forward to the start of a new year and all the promise it holds. I am not really one to make resolutions, mostly because I know I will quickly break them, but I do love the hope and promise that a new year holds: the chance for a fresh start, the hope for a better year and the excitement of upcoming events and activities.

As I was pondering what to write, I happened to read the journal posting that Ashley Temple posted on Tom’s Caring Bridge site, and the theme was “new beginnings – moving forward.” This post reminded me that a “new beginning” or a new year is not always what we planned, and we need to be flexible and willing to adapt our plans. As I read the article, I was once again struck by the fact that no matter what situation Tom Temple is in or has faced, and no matter how difficult or frustrating, he has always faced each challenge with a positive and grateful attitude. He hasn’t dwelled on the past or the negative—he’s just kept moving forward with hope and positivity.

Tom’s resilience, hope and positivity has been mirrored in the pharmacy profession. The last few years have certainly been difficult, frustrating, and full of adversity. I don’t think any of us planned or hoped for the challenges that faced our practice settings. All of us have dealt with mental health challenges and extreme stress in one way or another. Reimbursement, staffing and supply chain issues have touched all of us and challenged us in ways we never imaged. And yet, in the face

At the IPA Annual Meeting in Cedar Rapids this past September, the House of Delegates passed policy 22-U2: Standard of Care Model for Pharmacist Practice. This policy separates the pharmacist, and the care and services provided by the pharmacist, from the drug distribution process and the physical location where the pharmacist practices. This policy aligns with the regulation of other healthcare professionals, holding them to a standard of practice. It also allows for the scope of practice, or the services and care provided by the pharmacist, to be more flexible versus regulated by legislative code. And importantly, patient safety is still the number one priority.

One might also argue that this policy improves public health by expanding access to care. Over 90% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. In rural and underserved areas in the state of Iowa, the pharmacist may be the only healthcare professional conveniently accessible to the patient. The United States is projected to face unprecedented physician shortages in the coming decade, and this will undoubtedly be magnified in rural and underserved areas. Pharmacists in all practice settings will be impacted and may be part of the public health answer to this physician shortage.

During the pandemic, pharmacists in all practice settings in the state of Iowa stepped into new roles, provided new services, and collaborated with providers, health systems, hospitals, care facilities, public health, community groups and more to fill gaps and save lives. Pharmacists are nimble, and this policy allows the profession to be nimble and adapt to the needs of communities and patients within the boundaries of their education and training. This policy is a step forward to a new beginning for the profession, allowing pharmacists to practice at the level of their education and training.

I hope you were able to join us for Pharmacist Day on the Hill at the State Capitol in January. This legislative session is also a new beginning. In November, many first-time legislators were elected, and districts were redrawn. Chances are you have at least one new legislator in your district. It is important for all legislators, especially the new ones, to hear from you and your patients. They need to hear your stories and understand the value you bring to your community—the community they were elected to serve. They need to understand why pharmacists should be allowed to practice to their level of education and training, in addition to the urgent need to appropriately pay them for the product, care, and services provided.

I urge you to join grassroots advocacy efforts to contact your legislators when IPA requests it and to consider hosting legislators at your practice setting. If you are unsure about how to get involved, join one of the upcoming “Ask IPA Anything” webinars or contact Seth or Brett on IPA staff.

I have no doubt this year will not go exactly as we hoped or planned. There will be challenges, disappointments, and adversity. But I have full confidence that Iowa pharmacists will continue to adapt, innovate, and rise to the challenge. Maybe, just maybe, this is the year Iowa pharmacists take one step closer to provider status. Regardless of what this year has in store for our profession, I am excited about the possibilities and the hope of a better tomorrow for Iowa pharmacists.

New beginnings – moving forward. ■