The nonpharmacist business manager: Key qualifications and skills for success

Abstract

A survey conducted a few years ago found that it typically took employers 3–12 months to fill health-system pharmacy management positions.1 A lack of leadership skills, pharmacy management experience, and interest all were cited as factors contributing to the challenges many health-system pharmacies face in recruiting pharmacists to fill these key positions. Furthermore, the survey respondents noted, suboptimal salaries, increasing pressure for cost containment, and regulatory and compliance issues create a complex work environment for individuals in pharmacy management. Given those realities, at least one pharmacy management consultant has recommended that pharmacies consider hiring qualified nonpharmacists with an interest in health care to serve as business managers, even for senior-level positions (manager or assistant director) within the pharmacy department hierarchy.2 We know of a number of non-pharmacists who currently hold business manager-level positions at small and large academic institutions. Within the organizational structure of the pharmacy department, the nonpharmacist business manager usually has a “direct-report” relationship with a higher-level pharmacist manager such as an assistant director or director of pharmacy.