I've read most of this thread, and it's been pretty informative. When will we stand up to the higher education scam and close >50% of all these crap schools (undergrad and graduate), anyway?
The education bubble in pharmacy is eye-opening. I'd say in 10-15 years things may look as poor as law schools. The massive opening of DO schools and increase of MD school slots has medicine slated to hit a bubble too...Don't even get me started on the HUNDREDS of "doctor of nurse practice" schools which will saddle America with one of two things, or both: underqualified providers with a huge debt load treating patients or underqualified providers with huge debt without jobs that pay anything close to loan payback.
Shortages are not a bad thing, and overshooting by opening up new schools is the bad way to go. These colleges open up these pharm schools..law schools...doctorate of nursing practice school...even medical schools (to date, usually smallish DO schools)...for one reason: to make $$/increase "prestige". They use the "shortage" proclaimed in the media to push their bottom line.
I really like the pharmacist ADI...it's a great way to track the overall work supply. I also am really concerned for you guys when I read about Walgreen's Power...Even if patients suffer, if it will save the chain money and headache, they'll do it, and so will every other chain. Cut out that mid-shift pharmacist, and you guys are in a heap of trouble.
Keep up the good discussion. I think you guys are ahead of other health professions in your concerns and insight to market trends, and should organize things before they REALLY get out of hand...
Coastie, a lurking anesthesiology resident/healthcare trend observer