Pharmacy is rooted in entrpreneurship and has demonstrated a long history of innovation. There ae a number of products you consume daily that were created by pharmacists. Large pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy wholesalers can often trace their roots to some innovative, determined, and hard-working pharmacists.
We read and hear much about practice change. By its very nature, practice change suggests it being the product of innovation along with other factors. Change just for the sake of change is not necessarily positive, but the continued evolution from solely dispensing to more patient-centered practice has many benefactors. A student by Doucette et al examined the factors influencing practice change to more patient-centric and progressive styles.1 They examined a number of factors. Adequacy of resources and pharmacy technician staffing were important. The most influential factors predicting successful practice change were two dimensions of the entrepreneurial orientation scale: proactiveness and autonomy. These results suggest that pharmacists who are proactive, in other words, taking account of the environment and being able to foresee health systems and patients’ needs ahead of time, are more effective in promoting practice change. Also important is when pharmacists appreciate working in an autonomous environment and likewise provide the empowerment and support for other pharmacists and staff to work with that same level of autonomy.
It is important to note that the study mentioned above was undertaken in various types of ambulatory environments. One of the myths that surround the concept of entrepreneurism is that people are simply “born this way”. There are certain characteristics that predispose risk-taking and extroversion, but these two traits do not necessarily make for an effective entrepreneur. Moreover, entrepreneurism is something that can indeed be learned.
Additional information about Entrepreneurship and Innovation can be found in Pharmacy Management: Essentials for All Practice Settings, 4e. If you or your institution subscribes to AccessPharmacy, use or create your MyAccess Profile to sign-in to Pharmacy Management: Essentials for All Practice Settings, 4e. If your institution does not provide access, ask your medical librarian about subscribing.
1Doucette WR, Nevins JC, Gaither C, et al. Organizational factors influencing pharmacy practice change. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2012;8:274-284.
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Can you think of pharmacists who have been entrepreneurial? What have they done? Remember, entrepreneurship is MUCH more than just opening a new store.