The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin Workforce Summit: A statewide, multidisciplinary approach to create a pharmacy workforce strategic roadmap

Abstract

Purpose: The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) Workforce Summit aimed to develop a comprehensive strategic roadmap and near-term tactics to address current and future needs of the pharmacy workforce in Wisconsin. This initiative sought to incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students, and residents, the Pharmacy Examining Board, schools of pharmacy, employers, and other healthcare professional organizations. Summary: Despite significant work at the national level to address workforce challenges, Wisconsin pharmacy leaders determined current short-term solutions were not likely to achieve a sustainable workforce for the future. To create a more holistic and durable solution, similar to the goals of other successful ASHP events, a summit was conducted. The summit was organized by the PSW Workforce Summit Planning Committee. The summit recruitment process targeted individuals with effective communication skills and relevant pharmacy or workforce expertise. Participants were divided into 9 subgroups, based on their background or areas of expertise, to develop and refine recommendation statements. Key action areas from the summit included marketing pharmacy, workplace excellence and professional well-being, reducing financial barriers to entry in pharmacy, removing regulatory barriers, equitable reimbursement for pharmacy practice, pharmacy technician advancement, robust development pathways, data-driven workforce initiatives, and technology-enabled practice. Conclusion: The summit successfully identified critical areas for improvement and developed 12 recommendation statements within 9 action areas. PSW will continue to play a vital role in implementing these recommendations and collaborating with key stakeholders over the next 5 years to ensure the long-term viability of the pharmacy workforce in Wisconsin.