What Does a Pharmacist Do?
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing, and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a diverse science that links health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural sciences.
It is a profession which requires specialized training, including a university degree or equivalent, and a licensing exam. The education curriculum of pharmacy programs typically includes pharmacology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics. Students also learn about merchandising, management, computer techniques, and pharmacy law.
In addition to dispensing medications, pharmacists provide other services such as advising patients on drug regimens, side effects, and interactions. They also conduct patient assessments, monitor therapeutic outcomes, and provide expert opinion to healthcare professionals.
Pharmacists are increasingly expected to play a more active role in the prevention and management of disease. This includes helping patients manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as assisting patients with healthy lifestyles. For example, pharmacists are often trained to give smoking cessation advice. They can also help patients manage their medication by monitoring their effectiveness and adjusting doses as needed.
There are an increasing number of medicines available on the market and many of them interact with each other. As a result, it is important for pharmacists to have a comprehensive knowledge of all current therapies and treatments. They must be able to advise other healthcare professionals and patients on the best course of action to take in light of this information.
As the population ages, it is likely that there will be an increase in the need for long-term care and geriatric pharmacy services. This will require pharmacists to have a good understanding of the age-related changes in the body and how these may affect the way that medicines are used. It will also be necessary for them to have a good understanding of the financial implications of the increased need for medicines and how to help patients explore ways of minimizing these costs.
Many pharmacies have extended opening hours, including evenings and weekends. This enables them to offer a better service to customers, especially those who are unable to visit during normal working hours. In addition, most pharmacies will accept unwanted or out-of-date medicines for safe disposal. This prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals or being misused.
There is also a growing demand for pharmacies to be able to supply the lifesaving antidote for overdoses. This requires them to be able to identify those at risk of overdose and to facilitate access to the emergency opioid reversal medicine Narcan(r) (naloxone). In addition, they will need to have knowledge of substance abuse and addiction treatment services. This is a complex and challenging area which is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years.
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing, and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a diverse science that links health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural sciences. It is a profession which requires specialized training, including a university degree or equivalent, and a licensing exam. The education curriculum of pharmacy programs typically includes pharmacology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics. Students also learn about merchandising, management, computer techniques, and pharmacy law. In addition to dispensing medications, pharmacists provide other services such as advising patients on drug regimens, side effects, and interactions. They also conduct patient assessments, monitor therapeutic outcomes, and provide expert opinion to healthcare professionals. Pharmacists are increasingly expected to play a more active role in the prevention and management of disease. This includes helping patients manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as assisting patients with healthy lifestyles. For example, pharmacists are often trained to give smoking cessation advice. They can also help patients manage their medication by monitoring their effectiveness and adjusting doses as needed. There are an increasing number of medicines available on the market and many of them interact with each other. As a result, it is important for pharmacists to have a comprehensive knowledge of all current therapies and treatments. They must be able to advise other healthcare professionals and patients on the best course of action to take in light of this information. As the population ages, it is likely that there will be an increase in the need for long-term care and geriatric pharmacy services. This will require pharmacists to have a good understanding of the age-related changes in the body and how these may affect the way that medicines are used. It will also be necessary for them to have a good understanding of the financial implications of the increased need for medicines and how to help patients explore ways of minimizing these costs. Many pharmacies have extended opening hours, including evenings and weekends. This enables them to offer a better service to customers, especially those who are unable to visit during normal working hours. In addition, most pharmacies will accept unwanted or out-of-date medicines for safe disposal. This prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals or being misused. There is also a growing demand for pharmacies to be able to supply the lifesaving antidote for overdoses. This requires them to be able to identify those at risk of overdose and to facilitate access to the emergency opioid reversal medicine Narcan(r) (naloxone). In addition, they will need to have knowledge of substance abuse and addiction treatment services. This is a complex and challenging area which is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years.