President’s Page

Encourage ment , Enlig hten ment , Exceptionalis m . . . Connie Connolly, RPh, BCACP | IPA President

These are a few of the words I had been ruminating on as I considered my guideword for my last editorial in the IPA Journal. The events of the last four weeks have impacted all of us, and the landscape is changing daily. If you have been following along, my themes have been styled to follow the word CARE. I started with Care in my inaugural address, followed by Advocacy, Respect and now for the E

Exposure This was not exactly the topic I was looking to use in my editorial, but I don’t think any of us were exactly prepared for the direction our lives have been turned in this last month.

Today, I listened to the first webinar presented by IPA over the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a lot of great questions but not a lot of concrete answers at this point. By the time this is published, I am sure the picture will look much different. Here are a few thoughts on how I think this pandemic will help the profession of pharmacy:

EXPOSURE to what it is that we do EXPOSURE to what it is we can do if legal and system limits are removed EXPOSURE to the lengths we will go to keep our patients healthy EXPOSURE to the extensive networking we have in place to get each other through this

Pharmacy is already being highlighted in both the hospital and community as a resource during this pandemic. We are working the front lines and advocating for better resources and supply chain fixes so that we can get crucial medications and care to our patients. People are seeing us in our traditional roles, but they are also being exposed to pharmacists making therapeutic substitutions and therapy suggestions because of the shortages. I am confident that people will see even more of our expertise in action as we begin to administer COVID-19 tests and vaccines once they are available.

If Congress and others can come to a compromise on legislation and rules, I am hopeful that we will finally be able to claim our provider status. It is in just a situation as we are finding ourselves in now for which this makes the most sense. We have always known we are the most accessible healthcare providers and now it is obvious to everyone else. If given the proper scope, I am confident that we can also be the most efficient at providing medication services. We have spent many years trying to enlighten our lawmakers about our expertise; I am seeing that this healthcare crisis can educate further as to the correct path to follow.

I have never been prouder to say I am a pharmacist than I am right now. I am in awe of the extra effort, hours, risk taking and compassion that all of you are exemplifying in this time of need. Our patients are relying on us more than ever, and you are stepping up to the plate. You have earned my highest esteem.

I am amazed at the networking that is happening. I am also heartened by the support that has poured out from all areas of pharmacy to help us all through the biggest stressor we have ever seen. Even though we are working at a high level, people are taking time to share stories, resources and are just willing to be a listening ear for those who need it. I know that I am personally taking advantage of the various meditation apps that have been made available free of charge to help cope with the added mental

and physical load. Please find what makes you feel calm, and use those practices to take care of yourself as we are being called on increasingly to help others. We are so blessed that Cheryl Clarke and our IPA staff were so forward-thinking in putting together the resources in the last 18 months to help us get through this by protecting our well-being. These can be accessed on our IPA webpage, www.iarx.org/burnout. Together, we can be shining examples of what healthcare should be.

I am confident that pharmacy will emerge as an even more trusted profession, and I am optimistic that this crisis will shine a light on the great contribution pharmacy is well prepared to add to the practice of healthcare. Thank you for allowing me to be in this seat to watch your finest moments of enlightenment, encouragement and exceptionalism be exposed. ■

EXPOSURE

• to what it is that we do • to what it is we can do if legal and system limits are removed • to the lengths we will go to keep our patients healthy • to the extensive networking we have in place to get each other through this