Pharmacists to Administer COVID-19 Tests
By Sarina Sheth
On April 8th, 2020, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health authorized licensed pharmacists to order and administer FDA-approved COVID-19 tests. This new guidance was issued under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act. This is a tremendous step forward that will hopefully diminish the immense impact of the coronavirus in the U.S. Tests for COVID-19 are in high demand as the number of fatalities increases at an astonishing pace. Yet there are only a limited number of testing sites in the U.S. Pharmacists getting directly involved in this way will enable far more citizens to be tested for the virus. This will allow the government to more accurately determine the number of people testing positive and it will ensure that such people are quarantined immediately to prevent the spread of the disease.
Accessibility of Pharmacies and Pharmacists
Authorizing pharmacists to administer tests will allow the government to address infections in communities as opposed to only people that come to hospitals. During this difficult time, hospitals have been overwhelmed with incoming cases, which has severely restricted their resources and capacity to care for patients with other critical medical needs. Pharmacies provide an alternative to hospitals in terms of testing, as they are a vital resource that provides medicines, vaccines, therapeutics, and crucial health services to the public in a community-based setting. There are approximately 175,000 pharmacists and 67,000 pharmacies dispersed throughout the U.S., far more than there are hospitals and hospital workers.
Furthermore, more than 90% of U.S. citizens live within 5 miles of a pharmacy. The incredible accessibility of pharmacies makes it far easier for people to conveniently find pharmacists for COVID-19 tests and evaluations. Pharmacists will become the first point of contact for people desiring a test. According to Alex Azar, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Giving pharmacists the authorization to order and administer COVID-19 tests to their patients means easier access to testing for Americans who need it. Pharmacists play a vital role in delivering convenient access to important public health services and information.” The government hopes that this action will expand testing capabilities throughout the country.
What do pharmacists bring to the table?
Pharmacists are often referred to as the most overtrained yet underutilized health care professionals in America. Pharmacists receive extensive training and work alongside physicians and nurses. Many have gone through rigorous residencies and fellowships as part of their training. Pharmacists have extensive experience in the management of diseases through treatments. However, the government does not consider pharmacists to be formal healthcare providers, though they are viewed as healthcare professionals. This is the reason for the delay in involving pharmacists in the COVID-19 fight. Yet pharmacists are an invaluable resource in terms of their ability to mitigate medical conditions. According to Steven W. Chen, the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Southern California, “In a number of programs across the country, pharmacists have shown that they can dramatically improve control of medical conditions, avoid the need for hospital admissions and reduce health-care costs.” In a study conducted by the University of Southern California, a patient whose diabetes medications were regulated by a pharmacist was three times more likely to reach their target blood sugar. Furthermore, pharmacies can be very flexible in testing for the coronavirus. For instance, many offer drive-up testing in which people can be tested without leaving their cars. Others are willing to conduct home visits for certain individuals who are under self-quarantine and are especially susceptible to the virus while in public. Therefore, pharmacists are an indispensable asset for administering COVID-19 tests.
How are pharmacists being trained to deal with the pandemic?
Pharmacists already have much experience with treating influenza and acute streptococcal pharyngitis. However, the government is going to great lengths to ensure that pharmacists are well-equipped to handle this situation. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is in the process of setting up a training program for pharmacists who will administer tests. This program will specifically teach pharmacists how to properly and safely collect a nasopharyngeal swab, a clinical test that is being used for the coronavirus to gather nasal discharge from the back of the nose and throat. A free new series, named 15 on COVID-19 Education Series, is available online to all pharmacists. It includes 15–20 minute episodes that feature different aspects of the coronavirus and how it impacts people’s bodies. Pharmacists can then use this information to educate their patients. Lastly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided a list of guidelines to keep all pharmacists safe and healthy.
This effort to engage the skills of pharmacists around the country by enabling them to order and administer tests should prove an effective and more scalable option in abating the deadly coronavirus. COVID-19 has proved to be troublesome for millions worldwide. It has taken so many people who did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to their family members and loved ones. It has been taxing for people emotionally because of the isolation that has ensued. Businesses have been forced to close down and it has had a severe strain on the stock market and the nation’s economy. If all goes well, with the help of pharmaceutical workers the nation can gradually begin to recover from this distressing time.
References
“American Pharmacists Association Launches COVID-19 Training Series, Resources.” Edited by Aislinn Antrim, Pharmacy Times, 7 Apr. 2020, www.pharmacytimes.com/news/american-pharmacists-association-launches-covid-19-training-series-resources.
“APhA Developing Training Program for Pharmacists at COVID-19 Testing Sites.” Edited by Jill Murphy, Pharmacy Times, 9 Apr. 2020, www.pharmacytimes.com/news/apha-developing-training-program-for-pharmacists-at-covid-19-testing-sites.
Steven W. Chen, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. “US Pharmacists Can Now Test for Coronavirus. They Could Do More If The Government Allowed It.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 13 Apr. 2020, www.yahoo.com/news/us-pharmacists-now-test-coronavirus-121603055.html.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS Statements on Authorizing Licensed Pharmacists to Order and Administer COVID-19 Tests.” HHS.gov, US Department of Health and Human Services, 8 Apr. 2020, www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/04/08/hhs-statements-on-authorizing-licensed-pharmacists-to-order-and-administer-covid-19-tests.html.
