ASHP has maintained a longstanding commitment to well-being and resilience. We first addressed this as an important practice issue in an AJHP article from 1982 on preventing hospital pharmacist burnout. In 2017, ASHP became the pharmacy sponsor of the NAM Action Collaborative. Our commitment to this effort on behalf of patients, public health, our members, and the pharmacy profession has never been stronger.

The launch of the National Plan builds upon the collective work of ASHP and the Action Collaborative for the past six years and provides leaders in healthcare and public health, government, payers, health IT, education, professional societies, and other health workers with recommendations to cultivate a better health system that supports care providers and patient care. The National Plan also highlights the ASHP Certified Center of Excellence in Medication-Use Safety and Pharmacy Practice as a recognition program with standards that advance organizational commitments to workforce well-being.

In addition to supporting the development of the National Plan, ASHP has worked to advance several initiatives supported by the Action Collaborative. Our commitment is steadfast to ensuring the pharmacy workforce is represented and considered in these critical decisions. For example, ASHP ensured that the pharmacy profession was represented in the NAM consensus study, Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being. ASHP has also contributed to the development of a resource compendium for healthcare worker well-being and several publications on improving clinician well-being and reducing clinician burnout.

In parallel to our work with the NAM, ASHP has been addressing workforce well-being within our organization – our commitment is embedded within ASHP’s strategic plan, policy positions, and all that we do. Solutions to address and mitigate occupational burnout are complex and require a wide array of interventions. We have developed resources, educational tools, podcasts, and updated residency standards. The development of each is informed by members and on behalf of our members. We also have educational programming as part of our meetings, including a comprehensive suite of well-being and resilience programming planned during this year’s Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition.  

I would also like to highlight our work to develop a national network of Well-Being Ambassadors to address occupational burnout in local organizations and communities. We are recruiting for the second cohort of Well-Being Ambassadors now, which will start on Nov. 1, with additional cohorts starting every four months thereafter. The program, supported through a grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, is open to pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy residents, regardless of membership status, and we are offering the program at no charge. Sign up today to join the nearly 1,000 Well-Being Ambassadors that have already committed to support resilience for themselves and others and transform their organizations into cultures of well-being. As an ambassador, you’ll have access to a community of support from across the nation as you lead change within your institution.  

In closing, ASHP recognizes that while significant work has been done to raise awareness of occupational burnout in the pharmacy workforce and to advance solutions to address it, we have more work to do. ASHP continues to be deeply concerned for the well-being of the pharmacy workforce and the consequences of it, including but not limited to threats to patient safety, the mental health of the care team, professional attrition, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and recruitment into the profession. We are committed to listening to you and your needs while leveraging national recommendations such as the National Plan as we chart our course for the days and years ahead. 

Thank you for all you do on behalf of your patients and our profession.

Sincerely,

Paul

Posted on October 3, 2022