Paxlovid Prescribing Requires Pharmacy Workload Assessments

Abstract

The federal government has authorized pharmacists to prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, or Paxlovid, for the treatment of COVID-19—but there are pros and cons for health systems to weigh before establishing pharmacists as prescribers. Trisha Jordan, chief pharmacy officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said that on the pro side, anything that expands her team’s scope of practice is proof of concept of the profession’s ability to take on advanced tasks that improve patient care. “The con the pharmacists are worried about—and to some level the physician leadership—is that they know we can’t take this all on,” Jordan said. “We don’t have the staff to evaluate all patients seeking care.” Jordan said her health system has reallocated pharmacists throughout the pandemic to position them where they’re most needed. Most staff members are back to their usual prepandemic duties, but some pharmacists have been assigned to perform Paxlovid consultations for ambulatory care practices.