No refills? U.S., Utah face pharmacist shortage

In addition, the number of in-practice pharmacists willing to provide oversight for pharmacists-in-training is shrinking. Every pharmacy student must get more than 300 hours of practical experience through a preceptorship with a pharmacist who has a preceptor's license. But fewer practicing pharmacists, struggling with all of the other pressures of their profession, will take on that job. To meet needs for the class of 2006, the UMEC report predicts, the college will be scrabbling to find qualified overseers to provide 83 more clerkship months.

The move toward specialization takes some pharmacists out of the retail sector, Jorgenson said. Today's pharmacy graduates are finding places on hospital-based patient-care teams, limiting their practices to such specialties as diabetes, burn treatment, genetic therapies, transplant care and others. Some devote their time to research, as advisers to insurance companies or as representatives for pharmaceutical companies.

And profit margins are being squeezed drastically by shrinking reimbursements from Medicaid and private insurance, which makes the profession less attractive to some.

The logical solution to the shortage is to expand the pharmacy school, Jorgenson says. But the current pharmacy building at the U. is almost 40 years old. There is no room to expand and it is not feasible to remodel. UMEC has noted the need, however, and is expected to develop an "action plan" for consideration by the State Board of Regents by July 2005.

Meanwhile, Ammon and many of his colleagues in storefronts large and small continue to work long hours and spend their days off behind the counter, waiting for help to arrive.

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