Linking pharmacists to the delivery of public health services

Objective

To describe components fundamental to the process of linking pharmacy to the delivery of public health services in a sustainable way.

Summary

Pharmacists deliver public health services with varying frequency. A literature review was conducted to create a set of fundamental links necessary for pharmacists to deliver public health services in a sustainable way. The service needed to be in alignment with public health priorities, be incorporated in the pharmacy curriculum, have postgraduate training opportunities, have a policy or legal platform supporting the service, and have a business model for financial sustainability. Immunization delivery was identified as an exemplary public health service delivered by pharmacists. Additional services evaluated were tobacco cessation counseling, transitions of care, hypertension screening, and substance abuse counseling.

Conclusion

Pharmacists are well positioned to provide public health services. Although pharmacists can offer these services, their delivery is variable because of unclearly defined links in the process necessary for their implementation. This article identifies actionable steps to establish sustainable methods for community pharmacists to deliver public health services.