Concierge Pharmacy: A Potential Arena for Senior Care Pharmacists

Abstract

Concierge pharmacy is an emerging area of practice that appears to be well suited for pharmacists who prefer flexibility in geriatric practice, a system in which patients pay a fee for personalized care and access to their pharmacists. Older adults are a natural population for concierge pharmacists because of their individual increasing medical needs. At this time, concierge pharmacists tend to provide care to individuals who can afford to pay out-of-pocket or who are auxiliary personnel in medical offices, which provides payment. Other reimbursement models exist, and each concierge pharmacist's practice will be unique. The largest barrier to unfettered pharmacy practice is the inability to practice autonomously. Pharmacists can look to nurse practitioners' moderately successful march toward nationwide independent practice as a model for their own bid to practice independently.