Apocalypse Now?

Abstract

Despite the wishful thinking of those who have long prophesied an imminent surge in demand for clinical pharmacists, the tipping point for healthy supply-demand balance in pharmacy has almost certainly been surpassed. Imprudent overbuilding of pharmacy programs has combined with trends toward increasing automation and consolidation in pharmacy practice to create an existential threat in pharmacy education. Surviving the looming industry shakeout will require schools and colleges of pharmacy to do what our colleagues in practice and the private sector have always done: compete.

Keywords: administration; ambulatory care; clinical pharmacy; community practice; education.