Newest Wave of COVID-19 Strains Hospitals, Creates Shortages

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Michael Ganio, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FASHP, Senior Director of Pharmacy Practice and Quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, discussed the recent strains for hospitals due to the newest wave of COVID-19.

Ganio said states with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates are being particularly hard-hit by the Delta variant. In those areas, he said hospital pharmacies are often performing non-traditional pharmacy roles such as observing patients or administering drugs, which would normally be done by nurses. This increased strain is exacerbating burnout among these pharmacists, Ganio said, as well as the overall strain on the health care system.