Nearly nine out of 10 Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy. This widespread pharmacy care access makes pharmacies an ideal setting to fill patient care access gaps, according to a new analysis published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA). [Patient EngagmentHIT]

“Community pharmacies are the front door to the health system,” lead study author Lucas Berenbrok, PharmD, associate professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the Pitt School of Pharmacy, said in a press release. “They’re often where people start their healthcare journey and are a gateway to connection with other healthcare services.”

Pharmacy care has expanded beyond its traditional medication-dispensing role, becoming the epicenter of healthcare, the study researchers stated. Now, community pharmacies provide comprehensive medication management, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, immunizations, contraception, and other essential healthcare services. And, importantly, they are often more accessible than traditional healthcare settings, the data showed.

The study, led by the University of Pittsburgh and University of California San Diego researchers, evaluated driving distances to community pharmacies across the United States.

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