ACCP Member Reflects on COVID-19 Involvement

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ACCP member Shannon Finks, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in Memphis, Tennessee, contributes the following observations on how COVID-19 has impacted her:

After twenty years practicing in inpatient medicine and clinical pharmacy respectively, my husband and I made a drastic and bold career move by opening a concierge medicine practice in March 2020. While I had envisioned integrating CMM and pharmacogenomic services into our clinic, the immediate needs of our patients dictated otherwise. Of course, the timing of our transition corresponded with the near-total shutdown of the country due to COVID-19. The word “pandemic” was not anticipated by our business plan. What seemed to be the worst possible time to open a new practice soon proved to offer the most unique and fulfilling opportunities of our careers.

While many primary care offices did not immediately offer testing for SARS-COV-2, we collaborated with a local laboratory and quickly grew to become not only a site for testing, but also a resource for questions and treatment. In May 2020, a survey of practicing pharmacists revealed that less than 10% of pharmacists across the country were involved in COVID testing. Since that time, pharmacists have been recognized as key providers offering COVID-19 testing and vaccination. As a clinical pharmacist and co-owner of a new practice, I have served our patients by performing nasopharyngeal swabs, engaging in telemedicine consults, and providing treatment recommendations for patients seeking care. I’ve also had the opportunity to teach students to do the same. I’ve found that pharmacists are well-positioned to offer testing, share test results, and recommend evidence-based treatment options.

Since opening our doors 9 months ago, the clinic’s staff has grown to include a physician, clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioner, nurse, x-ray technologist, medical assistant, and other office staff. Our team is committed to serving patients and resolving misconceptions about SARS-CoV-2. To date, our new practice has served more than 6,000 patients, including longitudinal follow-up of those who tested positive for COVID-19. We’ve registered as a vaccination center and are gearing up for the next phase of the pandemic.

While my original vision of incorporating CMM and pharmacogenomic services remains unchanged, my husband and I agree that we are currently meeting the most urgent needs of our community. We know there will be time to expand our services once the pandemic eases. Although many believe 2020 has been a memorable and yet forgettable year, I will be hard-pressed to disregard the life-long learnings and growth I experienced serving on the front lines of this global pandemic. In particular, I appreciate how this rapidly evolving and uncertain health care environment has provided me with the opportunity to be reminded of the important contributions our profession makes to patient care.