The Role of a Pharmacist in Healthcare
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications. It is a multidisciplinary field that links health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and natural sciences. Pharmacy is the third largest profession in the world and plays a key role in the delivery of healthcare. It is a highly respected and rewarding career.
Pharmacists are regulated professionals who help patients understand their medical conditions and the treatment they are receiving. They are also involved in educating medical staff and promoting medication adherence. A pharmacist can answer questions about your medicines and advise you on general health issues, such as how to quit smoking or how to improve your diet.
A pharmacist can tell you what a particular medicine is for, how to take it and whether there are any side effects. They can also make sure your new medications will not interact with any other medicines you are taking. They can also provide you with vaccinations such as the flu vaccine and give advice on leading a healthy lifestyle.
Some pharmacies specialise in certain types of drugs, for example antibiotics or painkillers. Other pharmacies provide services to patients with specific conditions, for example those with heart disease or diabetes. Some pharmacies specialise in compounding, which involves preparing drugs for people who can’t take the drug in its standard form such as those with a swallowing problem. The pharmacist may make a liquid preparation or put the drug into another form such as a medicated lollipop.
In hospitals, a pharmacy is a vital part of the healthcare team and plays an important role in patient safety. It ensures that medications are stored, dispensed and supplied to the right patient in the correct dosage and at the right time. It also helps to monitor and improve patient outcomes such as the rate of adverse events and length of stay in hospital.
Pharmacy has a long history with some of the oldest pharmacies in Europe still in operation today. For instance, the Santa Maria Novella pharmacy in Florence, Italy was built in 1221 and is the oldest in continuous operation in Europe. There is also a pharmacy in the town of Trier, Germany that has been open since 1241.
Hospital staff have reported that a virtual pharmacist can reduce their workload by performing medication reviews and providing a patient friendly medication list before discharge. However, the ad hoc nature of the service can create challenges with scheduling and ensuring that local staff are available to facilitate consultations. This has been mitigated by a number of strategies including leveraging administrative staff, prioritising urgent referrals and setting clear escalation pathways. Despite these challenges, staff viewed the virtual pharmacist as an additional team member and valued the double checking, reminders and back up provided. Staff also identified efficiencies in prescribing practices and patient safety improvements. They particularly valued the ability to quickly escalate issues and act upon recommendations. Moreover, they felt the telehealth consultations improved their understanding of patient medications.
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications. It is a multidisciplinary field that links health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and natural sciences. Pharmacy is the third largest profession in the world and plays a key role in the delivery of healthcare. It is a highly respected and rewarding career. Pharmacists are regulated professionals who help patients understand their medical conditions and the treatment they are receiving. They are also involved in educating medical staff and promoting medication adherence. A pharmacist can answer questions about your medicines and advise you on general health issues, such as how to quit smoking or how to improve your diet. A pharmacist can tell you what a particular medicine is for, how to take it and whether there are any side effects. They can also make sure your new medications will not interact with any other medicines you are taking. They can also provide you with vaccinations such as the flu vaccine and give advice on leading a healthy lifestyle. Some pharmacies specialise in certain types of drugs, for example antibiotics or painkillers. Other pharmacies provide services to patients with specific conditions, for example those with heart disease or diabetes. Some pharmacies specialise in compounding, which involves preparing drugs for people who can’t take the drug in its standard form such as those with a swallowing problem. The pharmacist may make a liquid preparation or put the drug into another form such as a medicated lollipop. In hospitals, a pharmacy is a vital part of the healthcare team and plays an important role in patient safety. It ensures that medications are stored, dispensed and supplied to the right patient in the correct dosage and at the right time. It also helps to monitor and improve patient outcomes such as the rate of adverse events and length of stay in hospital. Pharmacy has a long history with some of the oldest pharmacies in Europe still in operation today. For instance, the Santa Maria Novella pharmacy in Florence, Italy was built in 1221 and is the oldest in continuous operation in Europe. There is also a pharmacy in the town of Trier, Germany that has been open since 1241. Hospital staff have reported that a virtual pharmacist can reduce their workload by performing medication reviews and providing a patient friendly medication list before discharge. However, the ad hoc nature of the service can create challenges with scheduling and ensuring that local staff are available to facilitate consultations. This has been mitigated by a number of strategies including leveraging administrative staff, prioritising urgent referrals and setting clear escalation pathways. Despite these challenges, staff viewed the virtual pharmacist as an additional team member and valued the double checking, reminders and back up provided. Staff also identified efficiencies in prescribing practices and patient safety improvements. They particularly valued the ability to quickly escalate issues and act upon recommendations. Moreover, they felt the telehealth consultations improved their understanding of patient medications.