The unfortunate growth of pharmacy deserts is creating new urgency and opportunities for health systems and hospitals to expand pharmacy services — if executives are careful to develop strategies that ensure the initiatives deliver ROI.

The rise of pharmacy deserts happening alongside large national chains including CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens closing numerous locations is driving new urgency for hospital executives to address gaps in community access to pharmacies.

As a career pharmacist and pharmacy executive, I’m keenly aware of the widespread negative impact pharmacy closures are making on our industry. The journal Health Affairs, in fact, published data illustrating that “of the 88,930 retail pharmacies operating during 2010–20, 29.4 percent had closed by 2021.”

How stark is the reality caused by widespread pharmacy closures? Read More >