Report of the ASHP Task Force on Pharmacy’s Changing Demographics

Extract

In September 2005, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) President Jill Martin commissioned the ASHP Task Force on Pharmacy’s Changing Demographics, a diverse group comprising pharmacy administrators, academics, clinical practitioners and educators, and members of other relevant disciplines, including a human resources manager, futurist, and sociologist (Appendix A). The charge to the Task Force, approved by the ASHP Board of Directors in September 2005, was to

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The Task Force met in person at ASHP headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, on January 30 and 31 and April 17, 2006.

Reasons for examining demographic changes

The demand for pharmacy and other health care services in the United States will increase in the coming decades because of the aging of the population. The number of Americans over the age of 65 years was approximately 40 million in 2000, but it is expected to exceed 70 million by 2030.¹ Eighty-five percent of Americans 65 years of age or older have at least one chronic disease (e.g., heart disease, cancer, stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, Alzheimer’s disease), many of which are managed using prescription drug therapy.