Variability in training, practice, and prioritization of services among emergency medicine pharmacists

Participation in emergency preparedness and response: a national survey of pharmacists and pharmacist extenders

“… 7 Therefore, they play a critical role in emergency preparedness and response, especially during natural disasters or pandemics, which becomes critical in rural areas where access to resources is limited. 8 …”

“…Despite pharmacists’ potential contributions to emergency response and preparedness, existing research indicates that pharmacists are not well prepared to become active participants when responding to emergencies because of limited training in this area. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 Their lack of awareness regarding their roles in emergency preparedness and response could be because they did not have formal education nor on-the-job training concerning emergency preparedness. 3 , 4 Furthermore, pharmacists’ limited experience in emergency response and preparedness training may lead to a lack of understanding of their role in emergency preparedness and response 4 , 9 and lead them to feel overwhelming to take part in emergency response and preparedness projects.…”

“… 3 , 4 Furthermore, pharmacists’ limited experience in emergency response and preparedness training may lead to a lack of understanding of their role in emergency preparedness and response 4 , 9 and lead them to feel overwhelming to take part in emergency response and preparedness projects. 8 , 9 In addition to pharmacists, pharmacist extenders, defined as pharmacy students or certified pharmacy technicians, 10 could contribute to reduce pharmacists’ workload without threatening service accuracy and fidelity. 11 , 12 When looking at student pharmacists’ perceptions of their role in emergency preparedness, research reported that they displayed some degree of willingness to be trained 4 , 13 ; however, they are not sufficiently committed to the idea and do not widely participate or seek training opportunities.…”