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Pharmacies have an Essential Role in Supporting Women’s Health

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Introduction

A report last year by Deloitte found that women are 35% more likely than men to skip or delay medical care, which “potentially leaves their conditions untreated for longer and can compound the costs incurred at the individual, organizational, and societal levels.” When asked why they choose to go without care, the most common responses were cost and accessibility.

Pharmacists are uniquely qualified to help address this situation. With the typical consumer visiting the pharmacy twice as often as their doctor, and with pharmacists regularly cited as “most trusted” professionals, there is a clear pathway for these trusted professionals to play a greater role assisting female patients. The need comes as women’s health is affected in ways that include:

Pregnancy Care.

According to 2024 reporting from the Centers for Disease Control, almost 42% of U.S. pregnancies during 2019 were unintended. Although this number showed a decline from a 2010 rate of 43.3%, it indicates a recurring serious health problem. This is especially true since, according to Drug Topics, “the highest rates of unintended pregnancy are among women with low incomes earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level, women aged 18 to 24 years, cohabitating women, and women of color.”

Planned or unplanned, it’s critical for a pregnant woman to have access to quality care and resources. But too often, this is not the case.

• A 2024 report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found an uptick in the number of women who do not seek prenatal care, indicating a growing number of women unable to access OB/GYN care in their communities.
• Research by the University of Colorado found that 90% of pregnant women do not receive adequate nutrients during pregnancy from food alone and “must look to supplements to fill that deficit.” However, the study found, 99% of “affordable” dietary supplements do not contain the necessary nutrients.
• Walgreens Boot Alliance reports an estimated one million underserved pregnant women in the United States have “limited to no access to prenatal care.”

Gynecological Issues.

Menstrual pain and menopause-related issues are top of mind issues for many women. Research reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found menstrual symptoms including pain, heavy bleeding and mood disorders so severe, that 38% of women reported skipping daily activities. This, the researchers conclude, points to the need “to open the societal dialogue and improve education for both patients and doctors.”

Similarly, menopause is a time of great discomfort and uncertainty for women. The JAMA Health Forum notes that more than 1.3 million U.S. women “transition into menopause” each year, 80% of whom will be affected by associated hormonal changes including hot flashes, sleep disorders, heightened anxiety, and cognitive issues. Symptoms can be severe in about 30% of affected women.

For some, relief is available through hormone therapy treatment, although, as JAMA notes, prescriptions for hormone treatments have declined as research has highlighted potential health risks. This points to a significant need for assistance in helping women understand the changes taking place within their bodies and finding the best treatment plan.

Cancer.

The American Cancer Society notes that women are especially susceptible to types of cancer that include breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and skin.  While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., it is also one of the easiest types to prevent or detect.  Breast cancer affects about 1 in 8 women and is the second leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer).  With all types of cancer, it is essential for women to be aware of risk factors and have access to treatment that can minimize those risks or detect occurrence of a disease at an early stage.  This may include mammograms and other types of screenings as well as lifestyle changes.  In addition, to prevent cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for girls at ages 11-12. 

Contraceptive Care.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 65% of females between the ages of 14 and 49 use contraception.  Most common contraceptive methods include female sterilization (18.1%), oral contraceptive pills (14%), long-acting contraceptives (10.4%), and male condoms (8.4%). 

According to CNN, more than half of all states plus the District of Columbia allow patients to receive prescriptions for contraceptives directly from pharmacists, without having to see a doctor first.  This eliminates what for many women had been an accessibility issue, and a deterrence to obtaining contraception.  Another step forward is the availability of Opill from Perrigo, the first over-the-counter birth control pill available in the United States. 

Regardless of a pharmacist’s ability to prescribe contraception, all pharmacists can serve as an important resource to patients in need of birth control.  According to Drug Topics, common services can include counseling patients about options available to them, providing educational information about certain products, and helping to address affordability issues by identifying coupons and low-cost options. 

Each of the topics listed above falls into the category of issues that used to be referred to as “bikini medicine,” or the belief that women’s health pertained only to the parts of the body covered by a bikini.  That term, of course, is outdated, with today’s healthcare providers much more attuned to overall women’s health, with particular emphasis on conditions that, according to Northwestern Medicine include: 

• Heart disease.  Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women.  Although menopause does not cause heart disease, the analysis notes that risk factors including higher blood pressure, cholesterol, and lower estrogen, become more common after menopause. 

• Stroke.  More women die from stroke than men, with an established link between pregnancy and stroke.  Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure can increase  the risk for stroke, as can neurologic events such as hypercoagulation. 

• Diabetes.  “Although diabetes is certainly not exclusive to women,” the analysis notes, “it does increase the risk for heart disease by four times in women.”  Women are susceptible to diabetes-related complications such as blindness, kidney disease and depression.  Gestational diabetes poses a risk during pregnancy and affects roughly 3 out of every 100 women. 

• Urinary Tract Infections.  Women are prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) because they have a shorter urethra than men.  This means a shorter distance for bacteria to travel once they find a way into the urethra.  Symptoms generally include frequent urination, pain and a burning sensation while urinating.  The condition can usually be treated with antibiotics, but pharmacists can offer guidance for reducing discomfort and with suggestions for a prevention regime. 

• Osteoporosis.  Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men, especially during the post-menopause period.  This is because of the rapid decline in estrogen levels that occurs during menopause.  Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million, or 80%, are women. 

Pharmacists Stepping Up with Women’s Health Services

As this list indicates, there is a clear need for enhanced women’s health services. Many pharmacists have already embraced this need, with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) including “Women’s Health” on its list of “Diversified Revenue Opportunities.”   Pharmacists are reaching out to their female patients with services that include: 

Consultations and counseling.

Pharmacists serve as accessible resources for their patients, sharing knowledge and insight across a wide range of issues. This can include discussion about risk factors and symptoms for certain health conditions. Working together, a pharmacist and patient can develop a plan for making lifestyle changes to minimize risk, and for setting goals toward healthier behavior.

Screenings.

Pharmacists increasingly offer in-store screenings as a way to provide convenient access to these important services. According to Pharmacy Times, pharmacist-offered services may include screenings for blood glucose and pressure readings, cholesterol levels, opioid use disorder, and mental health. Pharmacists also serve as a valuable resource in steering patients to local health facilities for screenings that are not offered in the pharmacy.

Educational materials.

Pharmacists can supply patients with informational materials to help explain specific medical conditions and suggest local support groups or other community resources.

Medical referrals.

Pharmacists are often well-acquainted with medical providers who serve their areas, and can direct patients to the appropriate specialist for required treatment.

Immunizations.

Pharmacists can ensure female patients are on schedule for their annual influenza immunizations along with all other required immunizations. In some cases, this may include the HPV vaccination, which is generally administered to girls at ages 11-12.

Medication management.

Research reported in Science Direct found that while older adults are at heightened risk for adverse drug reactions, the risk is greater among women. This is because women account for a larger share of that age group, and also due to changes in how women’s bodies respond to medications. Pharmacists can help women manage their medications through regular review of medication lists, including supplements and OTC medications, along with consultations about each drug’s effectiveness and possible side effects.

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Women’s Health Management with PrimeRx

While  women’s health would be a logical addition to any pharmacy’s clinical service offerings, a pharmacist could be excused for wondering where the extra time will come from.  Pharmacists are already stretched to the limit, with most saying there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete existing workloads, let alone expand service offerings. 

This is where technology can help.  Comprehensive pharmacy management technology solutions, such as PrimeRx, provide high levels of automation and management, which in turn allow pharmacies to expand the scope and breadth of services offered to patients.  

Specific to women’s health, a few PrimeRx capabilities include: 

• Patient Records Management.  PrimeRx allows pharmacists to create and maintain comprehensive patient health records and generate detailed pharmacy reports.  The system maintains a history of each patient’s prescription medications, along with information about any supplements or OTC medications the patient may take.  In addition, pharmacists can capture information about a patient’s medical history including diagnosed conditions, lifestyle behaviors, family situation, living situation, and any other information that would add to an understanding of a patient’s profile. 

Additional records-related features include: 

• Planning and goals:  PrimeRx allows pharmacists to create wellness plans that include mutually agreed upon goals.  For example, a patient with asthma, who lives with a smoker, might set as a goal persuading their companion to agree to refrain from smoking indoors.  Pharmacists can create a plan within PrimeRx, share the plan with patients, and update the patient’s progress as warranted. 

• Notes and observations: Pharmacists can update a patient’s record following a consultation, with notes about changes to a medical condition, or any other relevant information. 

• Records Maintenance.  The system prioritizes recordkeeping and compliance.  All documentation, including prescriptions, insurance information, payment records, and signatures, is stored within each patient’s record.  Pharmacists can quickly access all rec

• eCare Plans.  eCare Plans have become increasingly popular tools in helping pharmacists document services provided to patients.  And for certain plans, eCare plans are now mandatory.   

But what exactly is an eCare plan?  Here’s a quick overview: 

• Working through the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Networks (CPESN) community pharmacies are joining with other health care providers and payers to form clinically integrated networks.  

• CPESN networks provide a standardized format for healthcare providers – including pharmacists – to collaborate and engage patient information.  Integral to each network, is the creation of patient eCare plans.  Through eCare plans, caregivers have a standardized format to use in documenting services provided to each patient.  In addition, the plans allow pharmacists to document the wide scope of services they provide, and the favorable impact these services have on patient outcomes.   

• Documenting these services facilitates the process – and the likelihood that a pharmacist will be reimbursed for the services they provide.  Whereas a payer may have had no qualms about denying a reimbursement request from a single pharmacy, the sheer volume and scope of documented claims submitted by networks of pharmacies are much more difficult to ignore. 

• Technology is at the core of the eCare plan initiative.  A critical factor in building the framework, in fact, was to ensure simplicity, so that the concept would appeal to as many pharmacies as possible.  As such, several leading pharmacy management solutions, including PrimeRx, feature eCare plan functionality. 

• Communication. A pharmacy can automatically generate outbound text messages, emails and phone calls, to remind patients about renewals and pickups. These simple messages can have a tremendous impact in reminding patients that a prescription is about to run out, thereby helping to avoid a missed dosage, or even worse, a patient simply deciding to forego renewing a prescription. In addition, PrimeRx allows pharmacies to send targeted messages to certain groups.  This could include a notification to women about the need to schedule a mammogram, or about the importance of a bone density screening. 

• Medication Synchronization.  Patient records can be quickly adjusted so that all refills are set for the same day.  Allowing patients to obtain all medications during a single trip to the pharmacy – making the process as easy as possible -- has proven to be an effective tool in improving medication adherence. 

• Immunization Reporting.  PrimeRx facilitates automated immunization reporting, whereby patient immunization records are seamlessly transmitted to state/local immunization information systems (IIS).  In addition, the system identifies immunization opportunities among pharmacy patients.  The solution allows pharmacies to help build their immunization programs and stay compliant with mandatory reporting requirements.   

These capabilities are in addition to core PrimeRx functionality that automates critical pharmacy workflows including dispensing, refills, prescription intake, inventory management, and claims processing.  Automating these workflows allows pharmacy staff to recapture valuable time – time that can be better spent on women’s health and other clinical services. 

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