Originally published by our sister publication Specialty Pharmacy Continuum

By Marcus A. Banks

ASHP has joined forces with ShiftRx, an online platform that connects pharmacy managers with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians available to assist with their pharmacy’s full-time or temporary staffing needs. These resources are intended to support practitioners seeking opportunities to work in new practice settings and/or to supplement their current work schedule.

Kathy Pawlicki, BSPharm, MS, RPh, FASHP, ASHP’s vice president of business development and strategy, noted that the organization offers various resources to support professional development that are used by individual practitioners as well as pharmacy leaders “to advance the practice of pharmacy and assure a knowledgeable and skilled workforce to care for patients.” 

She added: “It was just a natural fit for us with ShiftRx; our missions align in assuring the best care for our patients through a strong pharmacy workforce. The ShiftRx platform complements ASHP’s existing career resources and allows the next-gen staffing tool to be readily available for our members in all care settings.” 

Pharmacy managers can use ShiftRx to identify candidates for their immediate staffing needs, while pharmacists and technicians looking for a new way to balance work and personal life may find this method of staffing valuable, Ms. Pawlicki said. The platform also allows managers to create their own pool of preferred pharmacists and technicians to work open shifts. As of April, ShiftRx is focused on boosting staffing at independent and retail pharmacies, but Ms. Pawlicki expects this to expand to all patient care settings-including acute care-by the middle of this year.

To access the service, pharmacists and technicians must sign up as a provider with, and have their qualifications confirmed by, ShiftRx. The platform includes online modules that orient successful applicants to the pharmacy’s software, policies and procedures before their first workshift.

If they wanted to, an individual could seek shifts in different corners of their region or town every day of the week. Ms. Pawlicki noted that many pharmacists and technicians are looking for professional variety and more autonomy in working hours that are conducive to their personal and professional responsibilities.

“It’s not uncommon in any profession to think, ‘I want to work in a new practice setting,’” she said. For example, a community pharmacist may be considering a career transition to an acute care setting, or an acute care pharmacist may want to supplement their schedule with additional hours in a retail setting.

“We have a different generation of pharmacists and technicians that are trying to navigate their schedules differently,” said Ms. Pawlicki, who was a chief pharmacy officer at a large health system before joining ASHP in 2021. “These professionals are seeking flexibility to schedule their work around their personal responsibilities.” 

ASHP and ShiftRx began working together in February. At that time, the platform was accessible in five states; it is now operational in all 50 states, Ms. Pawlicki said. ShiftRx has also partnered with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Long Term Care at Home Pharmacy Network.

Ms. Pawlicki reported no relevant financial disclosures beyond her stated employment.