Innovative Metric Identifies Pharmacy Deserts Using Travel Time to Support Community Health

A groundbreaking study has introduced a new way to map pharmacy deserts across the United States by focusing on travel time, rather than just geographic distance. Pharmacies are vital community health hubs, responsible for over 90% of prescription fills and offering essential services like vaccination and medication management. However, many communities face limited pharmacy access, creating 'pharmacy deserts' that threaten public health.

Similar to food deserts—areas lacking access to healthy, affordable food—pharmacy deserts are regions where insufficient pharmacy presence hampers medication access. The recent research, published in JAMA Network Open, developed a community-driven approach that identifies these deserts based on regional travel times, considering the different mobility expectations of urban versus rural populations.

The researchers compiled comprehensive data on pharmacy locations nationwide and established travel time thresholds tailored to each census tract. They used the minimum travel time needed for 80% of residents to reach a supermarket as a benchmark, since supermarkets are common resources in local areas. If residents cannot reach a pharmacy within that timeframe, the area is classified as a pharmacy desert.

The findings revealed that approximately 17.7% of the U.S. population, or about 57 million people, live in pharmacy deserts. Additionally, 9% of residents rely on a single pharmacy, termed a "keystone pharmacy," which plays a crucial role in their community’s healthcare access. The study highlighted that rural areas are more dependent on keystone pharmacies, often independently owned, which are at greater risk of closure.

Supporting these keystone pharmacies could be an effective strategy to prevent communities from falling into pharmacy desert status. Since opening new pharmacies involves significant costs and logistical challenges, providing financial aid or adjusting reimbursement policies for keystone pharmacies might help ensure their longevity. For example, a pharmacy in Oxnard, California, serves as the sole provider for several neighborhoods, supporting over 34,000 people.

The study emphasizes that crafting context-specific travel measures is essential, especially in areas where food resources are scarce, which can complicate access assessments. The team is actively sharing their data with local organizations to foster targeted support initiatives.

Ultimately, this innovative mapping technique offers a valuable tool for policymakers to identify at-risk communities and develop strategies to strengthen pharmacy access, thereby enhancing public health outcomes.

Source: Medical Xpress