Pharmacies across Nebraska are more crowded as people experience longer that usual wait times for prescriptions and vaccinations.
The Nebraska Pharmacists Association is asking Nebraskans to have patience during these busy times. “There is an increased demand for the time of pharmacists, interns, and pharmacy technicians as more patients seek COVID-19 and annual influenza vaccines at the same time pharmacies are experiencing staffing shortages,” says CEO Marcia Mueting. “Pharmacy staff, like other front-line health care workers, are experiencing fatigue and heavy workloads.”
The primary concern of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association is that these conditions could lead to errors. The priority of pharmacy staff is the safety of patients and assuring that the right patients receive the right medications.
Mueting says the system of checks and balances to provide prescription accuracy cannot be rushed. “We encourage patients to allow extra time for vaccine appointments and prescription refills through this busy season.”
Mueting says they plan to collect pharmacy workplace safety data to improve working conditions to make certain that Nebraskans continue to receive the highest quality of care. For more information on the Nebraska Pharmacist Association click here