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The BHPr (formerly Bureau of Health Professions) Supply Model for pharmacists is presented and analyzed. Recommendations are made for improvement of the supply model. Included are considerations of additional variables and improvement of tables of separation rates to more accurately reflect working patterns of male and female pharmacists. The supply model shares many features of supply models for other health professions such as nursing and medicine. The variables suggested for improvement of supply determinations parallel supply measures of other health professions also. The adoption of suggestions for improvement of the pharmacy supply model to other health professions' supply models is suggested.

There are many indications that there is currently a shortfall in the supply of pharmacists. Pharmacy manpower studies available today did not predict this event and fail to adequately describe the pharmacy workforce. This paper examines the major, recent pharmacy manpower studies comparing their scope, methods and results to each other and to selected manpower studies of other health professions. The paper attempts to point out areas where pharmacy manpower date are lacking, outdated or inappropriate.

Beagle serum proteins were separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and identified by histochemical and autoradiographic techniques. Haptoglobin, hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and lipoprotein and glycoprotein fractions were identified. Use of a continuous gradient polyacrylamide gel revealed serum protein fractions not previously described.

A model of the pharmacy work force in which pharmacists are differentiated and quantified on the basis of their professional education is described, and the model is used to analyze work force data for 1978 and 1987. The educational differentiation of the pharmacy work force was represented by a three-tiered pyramid in which the base, second, and third levels comprised pharmacists with a B.S. degree, a Pharm.D. degree, and residency or fellowship training, respectively. The number of pharmacists at each level was tabulated for 1978 and 1987 by using data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, ASHP, and other sources. In 1987, as in 1978, more than 90% of pharmacists had no formal training beyond the B.S. degree. However, the proportion of pharmacists with Pharm.D. degrees did increase from 1 in 30 to 1 in 16, and proportionately more pharmacists were receiving post-Pharm.D. training. Large state and regional differences were seen in the number and educational level of pharmacists. Differentiation in the physician and nursing work forces was examined; the physician work force was highly specialized, but nurses showed a more balanced differentiation. An increase in the demand for postgraduate training of pharmacists was projected. The educational differentiation model shows that the pharmacy work force is highly undifferentiated and that education at the Pharm.D. level should be emphasized. Such emphasis will increase the demand for residency and fellowship programs and improve the image of pharmacy as a profession.