Key takeaways

Remote work options for pharmacists have expanded, with opportunities in ambulatory care, academia, informatics, and more due to the rise in remote work trends.
Various healthcare companies and systems now offer remote work positions for pharmacists, including roles in medication therapy management (MTM), inpatient clinical services, and pharmacy benefit management (PBM).
To enhance employability in remote pharmacist positions, obtaining certifications, networking, getting licensed in multiple states, and writing exceptional cover letters are recommended strategies.
Despite the physical distance from traditional settings, remote pharmacists can significantly impact patient care and healthcare outcomes while enjoying benefits like improved work-life balance.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has continued to redefine careers and how people think about their jobs. In 2022, over half of workers in the United States who say they can perform their work duties at home are now working from home most or all of the time. Better work-life balance is one of the most appealing aspects of remote work. But what about for people in pharmacy?

Working in a pharmacy has traditionally meant coming into a physical community or hospital pharmacy to dispense medications. However, with the rise in remote work, more healthcare companies are hiring remote pharmacists or pharmacy technicians. And in some cases, companies are allowing current staff to work remotely. As a pharmacist, you may be able to find pharmacy jobs from home in different settings, such as ambulatory care, academia, and informatics.

Continue reading to learn more about work from home pharmacist jobs and the different opportunities out there.

Remote pharmacist job opportunities

Various companies and health systems offer pharmacist work from home jobs. With a bit of research and drive, you can find an abundance of remote pharmacist job opportunities.

Ambulatory care

Pharmacists that work in ambulatory care typically work in outpatient settings, such as medical clinics, hospital outpatient centers, and dialysis centers. However, technology has allowed pharmacists to virtually meet with patients and the healthcare team to manage medication therapies. Ambulatory care pharmacists manage the medications of patients with chronic medical conditions, working closely with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare team members. Examples of companies in this space include RxLive and CarepathRx.

Medication therapy management (MTM)

MTM pharmacists provide various services to patients to optimize medication therapy and promote safe, effective medication use. Fortunately, these services can be provided from anywhere by phone or video software. Remote pharmacists can help monitor and improve medication use in patients through different platforms, such as Tabula Rasa Healthcare and Aspen RxHealth. Pharmacy technicians may also be able to work remotely to support MTM pharmacists, setting up MTM appointments and following up with patients.

Inpatient clinical services

Pharmacists can work remotely for hospitals and health systems. Remote clinical pharmacist duties include verifying physician orders, identifying potential drug interactions, and acting as a drug-information source for healthcare team members. Pharmacists may choose to work remotely for companies that contract clinical services to multiple hospitals, such as Encompass Health, or a specific hospital within a health system, such as Universal Health Services.

RELATED: How to become a hospital pharmacist

Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)

Pharmacists can often help direct the clinical programs of PBM and managed care settings. They can also help with reviewing prior authorizations and managing formularies for health insurance plans. PBM companies include Express Scripts and OptumRx.

Academia

Online learning has reshaped the future of higher education as more schools are utilizing e-learning platforms. Pharmacists usually have some experience mentoring and educating pharmacy students and healthcare team members. Some pharmacy schools, such as the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), may be looking for remote pharmacy professors. In addition, pharmacy technician programs may also need online course instructors.

Industry

Remote pharmacist job opportunities also include careers in the pharmaceutical industry. Industry pharmacists can provide remote support with regulatory consulting, drug development, and medical writing. RSM International may need remote pharmacists to help provide services in the pharmaceutical industry.

How to stand out as a potential remote pharmacist

Finding remote pharmacist jobs is one thing. Getting hired as a remote pharmacist could mean boosting your qualifications first and making sure you stand out as the right candidate. After all, the appealing aspects of remote work could mean more competition for jobs. Luckily, you can pad your chances of getting hired in a number of ways.

Obtain certifications

Depending on what area of pharmacy you want to work in, you can get a pharmacy board certification to improve your skills and qualifications. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) offers certifications in various specialty practice areas, including ambulatory care, pharmacotherapy, and medication therapy management.

Network

Networking with professionals in the pharmacy field can yield huge benefits when it comes to finding the right job for you. Networking can also open other doors and allow you to find remote unicorn jobs that you’d otherwise be unaware of. As with most things, the sooner you start, the better. Ideally, you’d start building relationships with pharmacists throughout pharmacy school and your pharmacy career.

Get licensed in more than one state

Some remote pharmacist jobs may require that you be licensed to practice in more than one state. However, some companies may only require you to get licensed in other states after you’ve been hired. Showing that you have licensure in other states could enhance your qualifications for a particular job. But you should assess the pros and cons of getting licensed in more than one state, as getting licensure does require time and money.

Write an exceptional cover letter

A solid cover letter could mean the difference between a job application that’s generic and one that stands out. Instead of using the same cover letter for all of your job applications, make sure to do some research on the company and create a unique cover letter. Taking the time to tailor your cover letter to the company you’re applying for could help you land an interview.

Finding your ideal remote pharmacist job

Whether you’re a veteran pharmacist looking for a better work-life balance, a student, or a newly graduated pharmacist enticed by the allure of remote work, you should be able to find remote job openings. Based on the growing number of remote work positions over the past few years, there’s no question that some form of remote work will be available for future pharmacy careers. Various pharmacies, hospital systems, and healthcare companies may be looking to fill remote pharmacist positions, including those with clinical or industry roles.

Despite working from home, you can still make a huge impact on patient healthcare as a pharmacist. While it can be stressful and draining to find the job position that fits you best, there are many opportunities out there with a bit of preparation and determination.