The Role of a Pharmacist
Pharmacy is a unique health profession that blends medicine, science, healthcare, business, technology, and counseling. Traditionally, the pharmacist’s role is concerned with the preparation, dispensing, dosage, and safe use of therapeutic agents. However, a pharmacist can also play a more involved role in the research and development of pharmaceutical drugs, as well as be part of a team that administers vaccines. In addition, the pharmacist is often the primary healthcare professional tasked with optimizing medication therapy to improve patient outcomes.
The pharmacist is often the most knowledgeable healthcare professional tasked with answering drug-related questions from patients and family members. These questions may include how to take medications, what to expect while taking a new medication, and whether the patient can safely consume certain foods or beverages while on a particular medication. Pharmacists can often answer these questions in-person and via phone or email.
In some cases, the pharmacist may need to consult with a physician or nurse practitioner for more complicated questions. For example, if the patient has an allergy to certain medicines, the pharmacist can help to find a similar alternative. In other cases, the pharmacist may need to refer the patient to a specialist, such as an allergist or gynecologist.
As the aging population grows, the demand for pharmacist services will continue to grow. In the US, adults over 65 visit doctors twice as frequently and take three times as many medications as those under age 65. This increases the need for pharmacists to innovate and create additional value-added services, such as medication management.
Pharmacists can also provide valuable information regarding a patient’s medication costs. For example, the pharmacist can provide information about generic and brand name medications and explain how they differ in cost and safety profiles. This can save the patient money and encourage adherence to the treatment plan, which improves the patient’s health outcome.
In addition, pharmacies are increasingly developing and integrating new technologies that can make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and effective. These technologies can increase the accuracy and consistency of drug prescribing, reduce errors in drug administration, and facilitate collaboration among different members of the healthcare team. For example, some pharmacies are using electronic prescription-filling systems that can transmit data to physicians’ offices and allow for real-time monitoring of a patient’s medication status.
In order to be a licensed pharmacist, you must complete a doctoral program in pharmaceutical sciences and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). You may also need to pass a background check, depending on your state’s requirements. Some pharmacists also specialize in specific areas, such as vaccine administration or pharmaceutical sales. Others have administrative roles, such as managing a retail or hospital pharmacy. Still others conduct pharmaceutical research. The career of a pharmacist offers an exciting mix of science, healthcare, and business, with the potential to advance the field of medication therapy in an ever-changing healthcare environment. The combination of these disciplines makes a pharmacist an important and valued member of any healthcare team.
Pharmacy is a unique health profession that blends medicine, science, healthcare, business, technology, and counseling. Traditionally, the pharmacist’s role is concerned with the preparation, dispensing, dosage, and safe use of therapeutic agents. However, a pharmacist can also play a more involved role in the research and development of pharmaceutical drugs, as well as be part of a team that administers vaccines. In addition, the pharmacist is often the primary healthcare professional tasked with optimizing medication therapy to improve patient outcomes. The pharmacist is often the most knowledgeable healthcare professional tasked with answering drug-related questions from patients and family members. These questions may include how to take medications, what to expect while taking a new medication, and whether the patient can safely consume certain foods or beverages while on a particular medication. Pharmacists can often answer these questions in-person and via phone or email. In some cases, the pharmacist may need to consult with a physician or nurse practitioner for more complicated questions. For example, if the patient has an allergy to certain medicines, the pharmacist can help to find a similar alternative. In other cases, the pharmacist may need to refer the patient to a specialist, such as an allergist or gynecologist. As the aging population grows, the demand for pharmacist services will continue to grow. In the US, adults over 65 visit doctors twice as frequently and take three times as many medications as those under age 65. This increases the need for pharmacists to innovate and create additional value-added services, such as medication management. Pharmacists can also provide valuable information regarding a patient’s medication costs. For example, the pharmacist can provide information about generic and brand name medications and explain how they differ in cost and safety profiles. This can save the patient money and encourage adherence to the treatment plan, which improves the patient’s health outcome. In addition, pharmacies are increasingly developing and integrating new technologies that can make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and effective. These technologies can increase the accuracy and consistency of drug prescribing, reduce errors in drug administration, and facilitate collaboration among different members of the healthcare team. For example, some pharmacies are using electronic prescription-filling systems that can transmit data to physicians’ offices and allow for real-time monitoring of a patient’s medication status. In order to be a licensed pharmacist, you must complete a doctoral program in pharmaceutical sciences and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). You may also need to pass a background check, depending on your state’s requirements. Some pharmacists also specialize in specific areas, such as vaccine administration or pharmaceutical sales. Others have administrative roles, such as managing a retail or hospital pharmacy. Still others conduct pharmaceutical research. The career of a pharmacist offers an exciting mix of science, healthcare, and business, with the potential to advance the field of medication therapy in an ever-changing healthcare environment. The combination of these disciplines makes a pharmacist an important and valued member of any healthcare team.