Pharmacist Job Market Redux

Following up on my previous post about a tightening pharmacist job market, I think it's important to understand that while employment opportunities are currently available in the profession, there's still a risk that some of us superheroes may face the prospect of unemployment because we don't yet have Federal provider-status recognition protecting us when cost-containment issues involved with the ACA come into effect next year.

But, if we stick together, perhaps we can prevent those potential job losses.

For example, if you find yourself in a difficult position like Master of Degrees, who recently graduated, is at the mercy of repaying a six-figure student loan debt, and whose loan interest rate just doubled, then it may be time to call in Captain Generica for a some backup.

If that Plan A doesn't work, then consider enlisting the services of Plan B, an older and experienced pharmacist who'll show you how to kick 'em where it hurts. The more we help each other, the better.

So remember, while it's important to keep up a good attitude and incorporate a keen sense of humor about becoming unemployed, don't forget that there will be other superhero pharmacists willing to join the fight against being under the thumb of the Just Us League.

Teamwork is the key to victory. If they view pharmacists as a unified formidable force, they'll be less likely to battle against us. All we have to do is to be able to see the big picture, put aside our petty differences, join forces, and consolidate our powers together as one.


The Adventures of Unemployed Man from Unemployed Man on Vimeo.

Escape Fire: The Fight To Rescue American Healthcare

Escape Fire is a film that tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: what can be done to save our broken medical system?

The film examines the powerful forces trying to maintain the status quo in a medical industry designed for quick fixes rather than prevention, for profit-driven care rather than patient-driven care. After decades of resistance, a movement to bring innovative high-touch, low-cost methods of prevention and healing into our high-tech, costly system is finally gaining ground.

Award-winning filmmakers Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke follow dramatic human stories as well as leaders fighting to transform healthcare at the highest levels of government, medicine, industry, and even the US military. The film is about a way out. It's about saving the health of a nation.

Watch Escape Fire on Sunday, March 10th at 8PM & 11PM ET on CNN. Here's the trailer -


ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare (Trailer) from Our Time Projects on Vimeo.

A Crisis in Primary Health Care

Where can we find an ally in Congress to help pharmacists become providers? Right here.


Source: Senator Bernie Sanders

The Affordable Care Act Decision

It has always been my opinion that a single-payer, nationalized health program is best for our nation as a whole. But unfortunately, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act corporate compromise was the end result. Personally, because the insurance companies are still left in charge, I don't see our healthcare system changing for the better. It will likely remain business as usual.

According to the Physicians for a National Health Program -

Regardless of whether the Supreme Court upholds or overturns the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in whole or in part, the unfortunate reality is that federal health law of 2010 will not work: (1) it will not achieve universal coverage, as it leaves at least 26 million uninsured, (2) it will not make health care affordable to Americans with insurance, because gaps in their policies will leave them vulnerable to bankruptcy in the event of major illness, and (3) it will not control costs.

Why? Because the ACA perpetuates a dominant role for the private insurance industry. That industry siphons off hundreds of billions of health care dollars annually for overhead, profit and the paperwork it demands from doctors and hospitals; it denies care in order to increase insurers’ bottom line; and it obstructs any serious effort to control costs.

In contrast, a single-payer, improved-Medicare-for-all system would achieve all three goals – truly universal, comprehensive coverage; health security for our patients and their families; and cost control. It would do so by replacing private insurers with a single, nonprofit agency like Medicare that pays all medical bills, streamlines administration, and reins in costs for medications and other supplies through its bargaining clout.


Bill Moyers: Dr. Margaret Flowers on Single-Payer Health Care February 5, 2010.