|
|
Pharmacist Shortage Impacts
Rural Kentucky In Kentucky, it is estimated as many as 400 pharmacy positions are unfilled. Although cities such as Louisville and Lexington have many vacancies, rural areas often experience more difficulty recruiting new pharmacists and have been hit hardest by the pharmacist shortage.
At the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in Lexington, the only pharmacy school in Kentucky and the no. 3 ranked pharmacy school in the nation, a proposal to offset the shortage by increasing enrollment and expanding facilities, was announced last year, said Dean Kenneth B. Roberts.
However, state funding shortfalls may dim the prospect of receiving appropriations from the Kentucky Legislature to help pay for expansion. In the meantime, Roberts tries to remain optimistic as he and College supporters keep a visible presence at the state’s capital emphasizing their message of educational opportunities and the state’s need for more pharmacists. Until April 15, when the General Assembly concludes its session, hope remains that the College will be able to succeed in its plans, said Roberts.
The College already increased enrollment from 88 to 100 students beginning with the Class of 2005, but space constraints will make continuing to add students difficult, Roberts said. However, for students enrolled in the program, no shortage of job prospects exists. New pharmacy graduates who traditionally have found careers in hospitals, retail chains or independent pharmacies, now are being sought for positions at pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, and insurance companies.
The downside of so many opportunities is the difficulty those traditional workplaces now find in ensuring appropriate staffing. Pharmacist Donnie Starnes, owner of two independent pharmacies in the Appalachian town of Pikeville, Ky., has seen a significant impact due to the shortage.
“The hospital, the chain drugstores and department stores are always looking for new people,” said Starnes, a native of nearby Elkhorn City. Along with the difficulty of recruiting recent graduates to the area, Starnes said pharmacists are faced with increased paperwork and reduced time for patient counseling. “At times it is very frustrating to be a pharmacist,” Starnes said.
But frustration has been turned into dollar signs for pharmacists willing to work in rural areas. Starting salaries in small towns such as Pikeville have leaped from around $65,000 to $90,000-plus in the past two years, even though the average median household income remains under $30,000. As a result, students currently attending pharmacy school find offers abound.
During a recent career day event held in Lexington, UK College of Pharmacy fourth-year students were invited to meet with more than 40 retail pharmacy representatives from all areas of the state. Roberts says after surveying the store representatives he was surprised to learn some of them were there to recruit up to 20 graduates to fill vacant positions.
“We are committed to trying to relieve the shortage, but no easy solutions exist,” Roberts said. “It is our goal to continue to provide the high-quality pharmacy education and we must do our best to expand those opportunities and find a way to train more pharmacists and serve the needs of the people of Kentucky.” |
|
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Comments to
Kristi W. Lopez, Last Modified: March 14, 2002
|