What Your Pharmacist Can Do for YOU…
…What YOU Can Do for Your Pharmacist
October is American Pharmacists and Talk About Your Medicines Month. Pharmacists are one of your best healthcare resources.
What Does It Take to Become a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists in the United States need a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited institution. They are required to take courses in chemistry, biology and physics before applying to pharmacy school. The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required by some U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy to help identify qualified applicants.
Additionally, pharmacy programs require at least 2 years of undergraduate study, with most requiring a bachelor’s degree.
PharmD programs take about 4 years to finish. Additional coursework for a degree in this field includes courses in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, therapeutics (how to treat diseases), pharmacy law and medical ethics, just to name a few. Students also complete internships and receive clinical training by going on rounds with other members of the healthcare team in the hospital. Some pharmacy graduates continue their training by doing residency programs in hospitals, clinics, or retail pharmacies to gain real-life experience. Many pharmacists specialize in a particular clinical area such as poison prevention, pediatrics, cancer treatment or psychiatry.
Pharmacists must be licensed by their state Board of Pharmacy to practice. They must take continuing education courses to keep up with the latest advances in pharmacological science and to maintain their license.
Pharmacists work in a variety of practice settings including pharmaceutical research, retail pharmacies, medical clinics, hospitals, universities, and government institutions.
What Can Pharmacists Do for Me?
The most obvious service that comes to mind is…
• Fill prescriptions
Most people think that is all pharmacists do. But filling prescriptions is only the beginning of the many valuable services that a pharmacist can provide. Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals that can help to insure you are getting the right medicine, for the right reason, in the right way.
Here are a few other services your pharmacist can provide:
• Medication counseling.
Pharmacists can make sure you are using the medicine correctly. They can help if you are having problems by helping you identify and minimize potential side effects. They can offer pharmacy and health advice for special populations such as the elderly, children, pregnant or nursing mothers.
• Drug interaction and duplication screening
Pharmacists keep a computerized medication record, particularly for your prescription medicines. They can watch out for potentially harmful drug combinations and can point out drug duplication – important if you are seen by more than one physician. Since these records often do not include nonprescription products you take, check with your pharmacist before buying these kinds of products if you take other medicines or have any medical conditions.
• Medicine selection
The pharmacist can help you choose nonprescription products, vitamins an herbal supplements or if needed will recommend that you seek more advanced medical treatment. Ask your pharmacist if a less expensive generic version of your medicine is available and appropriate for your condition. Pharmacists can also provide guidance on selecting products like diabetes monitors, home healthcare test kits and supplies and medical equipment.
• Demonstrate how to use a medication
Use of injectable medicines, inhalers, patches, eye and ear drops and suppositories require a special administration technique. Carefully review instructions with your pharmacist and demonstrate as best as possible that you know how to use the product before leaving the pharmacy. Ask about medication storage to optimize the shelf life of your product and safeguard against poisonings.
• Provide written information
You will likely receive a one-page information sheet about your prescription medicine or find the package insert to provide additional details about your medicine. The information provided can be a bit overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist if you have any questions. Certainly, the internet is another source of general drug information, such as www.drugs.com and MedlinePlus.gov.
• Drug Delivery
If you are house-bound or take care of someone who is, choose a pharmacy which delivers.
• Provide health screening
Many pharmacies provide high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol screening. Pharmacists may help guide you on whether your condition is treatable with a nonprescription product or whether you should seek medical attention.
• Immunizations
Pharmacists are trained to administer important immunizations for you and your family such as vaccines to prevent COVID-19, influenza, shingles and others.
What You Can Do for Your Pharmacist
• Don’t go pharmacy hopping
Develop a relationship with a single pharmacist who is aware of your medical conditions and medication history and is willing and able to perform the services you need. This is especially important if you go to multiple healthcare providers.
• Have a brown bag session
Set up a time to speak with your pharmacist about your medicines. Gather all your prescription, nonprescription, vitamins, herbals, topical and internal products you take and place them in a brown bag to review with your pharmacist every few months to make sure you are only taking the medicines you need and are using them correctly. The pharmacist can help screen for potential drug interactions and duplication. If you have any outdated or expired medicines at home, this is a good time to give them to the pharmacist for safe disposal.
Check out the accompanying video program (Episode #9) to this article at www.DrLinda.TV entitled, “Know Your Pharmacist”.
For more information on Talk About Your Medicines Month go to:
