Vulnerability Index Approach to Identify Pharmacy Deserts and Keystone Pharmacies

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Discusses the importance of improving pharmacy access in rural and low-income areas. Utilizes data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) dataQ to examine travel time to nearest pharmacy according to urbancity. Defines a pharmacy vulnerability index according to this measure and reports on residents in the the contiguous U.S. living in or at risk of living in a pharmacy desert, with comparisons for small rural, large rural, suburban, and urban.

Walter S. Mathis, Lucas A. Berenbrok, Peter A. Kahn, et al.

Jama Network Open, 8(3)

03/2025

Access · Needs assessment methods and resources · Pharmacy and prescription drugs · Rural-urban differences · Statistics and data