Challenges in Community Pharmacy During COVID-19: The Perfect Storm for Personnel Burnout

The new, unique challenges directly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are exacerbating an already stressful work environment in community pharmacy. Initially, with the country on lock-down, prescription volume increased overnight as patients went into panic mode. With social distancing, use of pharmacy drive-through lanes expanded dramatically. Pharmacies were later recognized as an ideal access point to provide COVID-19 testing along with COVID-19 vaccination services. These challenges and increased responsibilities in community pharmacy have created ideal conditions to leave burned-out pharmacy personnel in the aftermath. Pharmacy professional organizations have responded with resources to address and prevent burnout.