AI
from inventory management to prescription fi lling. Automated systems can predict inventory needs, manage stock levels in real-time, and even automate the ordering process. Additionally, AI-driven tools can expedite prescription verifi cation, reducing the burden on pharmacists and allowing them to allocate more time to direct patient care. However, while these effi ciencies off er signifi cant advantages, they are emerging at a time when community pharmacies are already under economic pressure due to various marketplace forces, including aggressive pharmacy benefi t manager (PBM) contracting practices. T ese pressures have led to reduced reimbursement, lower wages, staff shortages, and challenging working conditions, potentially limiting the ability of pharmacies to fully realize the benefi ts of AI.
Adapting to Shiſt s in Delivery Models As more maintenance medications are
captured by mail order services, community pharmacies will face increased pressure. To adapt, retail pharmacies may opt for smaller store footprints, reducing building costs and ongoing maintenance. T ese smaller stores could prioritize the most profi table products while rethinking how traditional pharmacy services are delivered. T is shiſt may result in a more streamlined but potentially less comprehensive experience for patients.
Expanding the Role of Pharmacists With AI handling routine tasks,
pharmacists could have more time to engage in clinical services, such as conducting health screenings, providing immunizations, and off ering personalized health advice. T is shiſt positions community pharmacists to take on a more prominent role in the healthcare continuum, acting as accessible healthcare providers within the community. However, for this expanded role to be fully realized, there must be an increased focus on allowing pharmacists to practice at the top of their license. T is includes the need for a concerted, coordinated nationwide eff ort to obtain provider status, enabling pharmacists to be compensated for the clinical services they deliver. Without these changes, the role of pharmacists may continue to be undermined by the ongoing erosion of the community pharmacy model, which remains overly reliant on selling consumer goods and obtaining reimbursement primarily
for dispensing medications rather than providing clinical care.
Risks from Advanced AI and Automation T e emergence of increasingly advanced
large language models (LLMs)—such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an AI system capable of understanding and generating human-like text based on vast amounts of data—and humanoid robots presents signifi cant risks to community pharmacy practice. As LLMs evolve and are vetted to ensure they provide consistent, accurate clinical support aligned with pharmacy best practices, they could off er superior patient care at a fraction of the cost of employing pharmacists. Over time, fully developed humanoid robots, equipped with advanced multimodal LLMs to include vision and audio capabilities, could potentially replace pharmacists in the community setting. T ese robots wouldn’t require benefi ts, could work 24/7, and would never make errors due to fatigue from working extended hours. Additionally, pharmacy leadership wouldn’t need to worry about absenteeism or the allocation of vacation time, both of which currently cause gaps in pharmacist coverage and can, at times, even lead to pharmacy closures due to insuffi cient staffi ng. T is shiſt may become a reality unless state boards of pharmacy intervene to ensure pharmacists remain incorporated in the care process.
Impact on Pharmacists’ Roles and Perception As the community pharmacist’s role
becomes increasingly automated or outsourced, the profession may struggle to attract new talent. T is shiſt could lead to a diminishing perception of the community pharmacist’s role in healthcare, reducing the appeal of the profession to future generations. T e erosion of traditional practice, coupled with AI’s potential to take over many clinical and operational tasks, raises critical questions about the future viability and relevance of community pharmacy as it exists today. Addressing these challenges will require proactive eff orts to redefi ne and elevate the community pharmacist’s role in an AI-driven healthcare landscape.
IN Pharmacy
Challenges and Ethical Considerations While AI presents numerous
opportunities, it also introduces challenges that community pharmacies must navigate. T ese include supporting robust data privacy measures, addressing the potential for job displacement among pharmacy staff , and ensuring that AI tools are accurate, reliable, and free from bias. Moreover, the shiſt toward AI and automation could further weaken the traditional community pharmacy model. With more maintenance medications being captured by mail order services and retail pharmacies moving toward smaller store footprints to reduce costs, the community pharmacy’s role could diminish further. T e rise of advanced AI- driven LLMs and humanoid robots capable of providing superior clinical support at a fraction of the cost of human pharmacists poses an existential threat to the profession.
T e Future of Community Pharmacy in an AI-Driven World As community pharmacies adapt to these
AI-driven changes, the focus will be on enhancing the patient experience, improving health outcomes, and maintaining the trust and personal connection that are hallmarks of community pharmacy practice. T at said, the potential for AI to replace many of the traditional roles of pharmacists looms large, and without strategic planning and adaptation, the future of community pharmacy could be dramatically diff erent.
T e Impact of AI on Pharmacy Benefi t Managers and Managed Care Pharmacy T e continued advancement of AI within
healthcare will bring notable changes to PBMs and managed care pharmacy. As advanced LLMs with vision capabilities are integrated, they could automate complex tasks traditionally requiring human oversight. T is is especially true in departments like clinical review, where standardized workfl ows and substantial administrative duties are prevalent. Consequently, the need for a large clinical workforce in these areas may decrease.
Optimizing Drug Utilization and Cost Management AI can revolutionize how PBMs manage
drug utilization by predicting usage patterns, optimizing formulary design, and
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