Rise of the Machines Allows Pharmacists to Reach for the Sky

My complements to Mr. Manjoo for writing an editorial on the impact of robotics in pharmacy.  The message is clear:  pharmacists could be replaced by robots.  Like many other pharmacy informatics professionals, I share some of the article’s viewpoints on the overall state of our practice.  Automation has a lasting impact on repetitive, assembly-driven tasks in many industries around the world.  Add to this a retail pharmacy practice being molded into an insurance driven, turnaround-time model of product delivery and it is not difficult  to conclude the slow demise pharmacy practice. 

As a second generation pharmacist, I have seen the industry transform over the past few decades.  As an active member of the Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology, I am also aware of how automation has changed our profession.    It is sad but expected to see the public’s view of our profession.  They are bound by their observations and interactions with the pharmacist in a retail setting.  Many of us know the boundaries of our practice stretch far beyond the walls of the typical drug store, and our future is with patients. 

We need to look no further than the ASHP Best Practice Awards to see the amazing differences pharmacists are making every day in healthcare.  Automation and technology simply enablers:  tools to help perform distributive, product-driven tasks so we can focus on the drug therapy management.  It is my firm belief that retail pharmacy as we know it will be phased out over the next century.  Laws can only save jobs for so long, and a new model of technician run  automation coupled with pharmacist monitored drug delivery is on the horizon.  However, this is an opportunity for pharmacists to take on a new role in healthcare and provide more direct, patient-centered care in the ambulatory setting.  I am confident we will continue to advance our profession and help patients manage the complexities of medication therapy.