Pharmacists as managers: What is being looked for by the sector in New Zealand community pharmacy? Article Swipe
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· 2015
· Open Access
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· OA: W2339713922
Aim: To identify employers' requirements when recruiting a pharmacy manager and evaluate the critical skills, knowledge and abilities sought. Methods: Thirty to sixty minute, semi-structured interviews were carried out with employers of pharmacy managers (n=12) within the pharmacy sector in urban and semi-rural Auckland. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings: The key domains that employers look for in pharmacy managers include humanistic characteristics of professionalism, empathy, trust and integrity. Important technical aspects such as clinical expertise, business acumen as well as leadership skills were sought. Conclusion: Human (eg, communication skills to manage and motivate) and technical skills (eg, knowledge of pharmaceuticals) seem to be well recognised and articulated with conceptual skills (eg, executive and strategic skills) less so. The use of external consultants to manage pharmacies was dominant. The tension between being a healthcare provider and a retail business was manifest, which has implications for policy and future management practice. Further research in the area of leadership orientation within different models of pharmacy service delivery will be of benefit.
