Can Telepharmacy Solve Staffing Shortages? A Realistic Perspective By Kim Volman

Staffing shortages have become one of the most persistent challenges in modern pharmacy practice. Across community, specialty, and institutional settings, leaders are facing increasing workload demands alongside a limited supply of pharmacists and technicians. Burnout, turnover, and evolving patient expectations have only intensified the pressure. In this environment, telepharmacy is often presented as a promising solution. But the real question is not whether telepharmacy can help; it’s how much it can realistically solve.

From an operational perspective, telepharmacy offers meaningful advantages, but it is not a universal fix. Understanding its strengths and limitations is essential for organizations considering it as part of their workforce strategy.

Understanding the Root Causes of Staffing Shortages

Before evaluating telepharmacy, it’s important to recognize that staffing shortages are rarely caused by a single factor. They typically result from a combination of workforce supply constraints, increasing prescription volume, administrative burden, reimbursement pressures, and workplace stress. Technology alone cannot eliminate these structural issues, but it can change how work is distributed.

Telepharmacy’s greatest potential lies in redistributing expertise more efficiently rather than replacing the need for staff altogether.

How Telepharmacy Can Expand Workforce Capacity

One of the most immediate benefits of telepharmacy is its ability to extend pharmacist coverage across multiple locations. Remote verification, clinical consultations, and patient counseling allow organizations to use pharmacist time more efficiently without requiring physical presence at every site.

This model can be particularly valuable in rural or underserved areas where recruiting full-time pharmacists is difficult. By centralizing certain functions, pharmacies can maintain services that might otherwise be reduced or unavailable.

Telepharmacy also introduces scheduling flexibility. Remote work opportunities may attract pharmacists who prefer non-traditional hours, reduced commuting, or part-time roles. Expanding the pool of potential workers can ease staffing pressure in certain situations.

Improving Efficiency, Not Just Coverage

Telepharmacy is often discussed in terms of coverage gaps, but its impact on efficiency may be equally important. When implemented well, remote workflows can reduce interruptions, streamline verification processes, and allow pharmacists to focus more on clinical responsibilities rather than operational bottlenecks.

Centralized support models can also help standardize practices across multiple locations. Consistency reduces errors, improves training efficiency, and allows teams to function more predictably even when staffing fluctuates.

However, efficiency gains depend heavily on workflow design. Technology alone does not create improvement; processes must be intentionally structured around it.

The Limits of Telepharmacy as a Staffing Solution

Despite its benefits, telepharmacy has clear limitations. Certain responsibilities still require on-site personnel, including medication preparation, inventory management, controlled substance handling, and many patient interactions. Physical workflows cannot be fully virtualized.

There are also regulatory considerations. State regulations, licensing requirements, and supervision rules vary widely and can limit how telepharmacy models are implemented. Organizations must navigate these frameworks carefully to remain compliant.

Another limitation involves team dynamics. Remote support can improve coverage, but it may also create communication challenges if roles and expectations are not clearly defined. Staff on-site must feel supported rather than monitored, and remote pharmacists need visibility into local workflows to be effective.

Telepharmacy can reduce workload pressure, but it does not eliminate the need for strong leadership, staffing planning, and workplace culture improvements.

The Human Factor Still Matters Most

Staffing shortages are not purely logistical problems; they are human ones. Burnout, job satisfaction, career growth, and workplace environment play major roles in retention. Telepharmacy can improve flexibility and reduce certain stressors, but it cannot replace supportive leadership, realistic workloads, and professional respect.

Organizations that rely solely on technology without addressing culture often see limited results. Sustainable staffing solutions require both operational innovation and attention to workforce well-being.

A Strategic Tool, Not a Complete Solution

Telepharmacy should be viewed as one component of a broader staffing strategy. When combined with thoughtful workflow design, strong documentation, clear communication, and supportive leadership, it can significantly improve workforce utilization.

It can expand access to care, increase efficiency, and create new opportunities for pharmacists to practice at the top of their license. But it works best when implemented intentionally, with realistic expectations.

The future of pharmacy staffing will likely include a hybrid model that blends in-person care with remote support. Organizations that adapt early and thoughtfully will be better positioned to manage workforce challenges while maintaining quality and safety.

Telepharmacy may not completely solve staffing shortages, but it can absolutely be part of the solution when used strategically.