Pharmacies can provide cheap and effective medical care for minor ailments, a new study says Washington state pharmacies treated minor health issues for an average $278 less than a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic did Nearly all patients got well without seeing a doctor WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Allowing pharmacists to treat minor illnesses could potentially expand health care access to more people and save millions of dollars, a new study suggests. Care for a range of minor health issues -- , shingles, animal bites and headaches -- would cost an average of about $278 less when treated in pharmacies rather than in a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic, researchers estimated. And just about everyone treated by a pharmacist had their medical problem resolved, results showed.
“Pharmacists, especially in the outpatient community setting, are a viable solution to part of our patient access to care problem in our state and country,” said lead study author , an associate professor of pharmacotherapy at Washington State University. “Pharmacists are trained and qualified to do this work, and unfortunately in many settings, highly underutilized,” Akers added in a university news release. “And they could have a huge impact on how fast patients access care, which can minimize the complexity and the progression of their condition.
” The study focused on the state of Washington, where since 1979 pharmacists have had the legal right to treat patients .
