Jane Fern's Pharmacists Guide

by Joseph Devine

Pharmacy medication errors are one of the most common forms of medical malpractice which occurs in the United States. Every year, approximately 1.3 million people are injured because of an improperly written or filled medication prescription, and an additional 100,000 die. More people die every year as a result of pharmaceutical malpractice than do from AIDS, diabetes, pneumonia, and even car accidents. Not only that, but it's expensive: every year, it costs us between $29 and $72 billion. It's an incredibly costly problem in both financial terms and human terms. And worse than that, it's absolutely preventable.

Malpractice, after all, is human error, and can therefore be prevented by exercising care and respect. Of all hospital admissions, approximately 3% are due to medication problems. About 3% of hospital patients have to extend their stay by 8-12 days due to improperly administered medication. In a survey, a shocking 42% of people responded that they had experienced a medication mistake, or they knew someone who had. These are statistics that must be reversed, and can, but only through responsibility and diligence.

When you go to a doctor or check into the hospital, you are putting your life and health in the hands of trained professionals. But sometimes those professionals make mistakes and administer the wrong medication, or administer the right medication in the wrong amounts or at the wrong time.

Being improperly administered medication can have several negative results. You can have a bad reaction to the drugs which jeopardizes your health. You may even be allergic to the medication. Sometimes, the drug has no effect at all, though this, too, can be dangerous; the patient's treatment may be delayed by the confusion.

The Numbers:

According to a report from a fairly typical hospital, the breakdown in pharmaceutical errors was as follows:

* 39% of errors were due to improper dosing; that is, giving a patient a dosage amount different from what was prescribed.
* 17% were due to administration of a different drug than prescribed.
* 15% were due to accidental subcutaneous infusion of an intravenous drug.
* 12% were due to the drug being administered to the wrong patient.

These numbers are tragic because they represent easily avoided errors. If you have been injured due to pharmaceutical malpractice, it is within your right to file a lawsuit to receive compensation for your injury. It can be beneficial to talk to a personal injury lawyer specializing in medical malpractice.

If you would like to learn more about malpractice law, visit pennsylvaniamalpractice.com.

Joseph Devine

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medical malpractice, medication errors, pharmaceutical malpractice, pharmacy medication errors

Labels: medical malpractice, medication errors, pharmaceutical malpractice, pharmacy medication errors

By Maria Treadaway

If you're reading this then you are probably one of the 75% of people in the world who choose to supplement their diet with vitamins at some point in their lives. More than likely, you have stood in front of shelves staring in confusion at the huge array of nutritional supplements available everywhere from your local supermarket to specialised health shops. Well, to simplify things down to their essence, you really only have two choices.

Your Purchasing Options

You can buy over the counter vitamins from the supermarket, or pharmaceutical grade vitamins which are generally about three to four times more expensive. On first glance, it's seems quite obvious. Most people want value for money and so opt for the cheaper choice. But...are you really getting value for money? And worse, is the money you spend getting flushed down the toilet - so to speak? First let's back up and get an idea of what the differences between supermarket type vitamins and pharmaceutical grade vitamins are.

OK. So What Are The Differences?

Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are made from pharmaceutical grade raw materials to pharmaceutical grade manufacturing standards in FDA-registered facilities following the US Pharmocepia guidelines (USP) for dissolution of the capsule or tablet. You'll know you're buying a pharmaceutical grade supplement because there'll be a USP designation on the label.

In contrast, the drugstore variety are made from food grade raw materials to food grade manufacturing standards. To give you an idea of what these two statements mean: imagine a chocolate chip cookie factory. When you get the final product, there may be two chocolate chips in one cookie and five in another. Ok for chocolate chip cookies, but do you really want to buy vitamins manufactured to the same standards as chocolate chip cookies? The upshot is, you really won't be able to guarantee the purity, strength, quality or identity of the ingredients within an over the counter vitamin supplement whereas pharmaceutical grade vitamins need to contain exactly what they say they contain in the measurements stated. If this doesn't convince you then what about...

Bioavailability. What Is It?

It is the extent to which a supplement can be broken down and actually used by the body. Your supermarket variety vitamin is manufactured using the least expensive ingredients which means they'll be in a form not easily broken down by the body. They also contain a lot of fillers and binding agents (these are substances used to make the pills stick together and be big enough to swallow). But if your body can't break the vitamin down and can't use the form it's given, you will not benefit from taking it and you will effectively and literally be flushing your money down the toilet.

Compare this to pharmaceutical grade vitamins. In a pharmaceutical grade vitamin the nutrients are metabolized at a rate of 80-95 mg. out of 100 mg. These measurements are known as a result of rigorous testing and independent verification by third parties. They are also coated so that they are released into the proper section of your gastrointestinal tract for maximum absorption. And if this doesn't convince you...

An Illuminating Example

Remember when I mentioned value for money? Well consider this: imagine a supermarket vitamin tablet contains 100mg of an ingredient. This weight will also contain the binders and fillers to make it hold together. So maybe the actual vitamin or mineral is 15mg of the 100 mg. Don't forget that the form will be one not readily broken down. Now compare this to a pharmaceutical grade vitamin in which 99% of the ingredient must be what is stated on the label. This means you would have to take eight times as many supermarket vitamins to get the same dosage as a pharmaceutical grade vitamin. So, as your perusing the shelves and reach for the nearest (and cheapest) multimineral supplement, multiply the cost by eight and them ask yourself whether pharmaceutical grade vitamins seem expensive.

To Your Health

Maria Treadaway - Passionate Advocate of Optimal Nutrition

Find out about a huge variety of vitamins related topics here http://www.Vitamins-Infoexpress.com

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Labels: drugstore vitamins, nutritional supplements, over the counter vitmains, pharmaceutical grade vitamins

By Elizabeth Morgan

Pharmaceutical companies have a major social responsibility while performing on a profitable motive. Several public platforms are shared by major pharmaceutical companies for this very purpose.

The pharmaceutical industry has several issues to contend with for profitable survival. The United States does not have regulations for drug prices, but several other regulations monitor the functioning of pharmaceutical companies in the country. Fierce competition from illegal drug imports is also an issue that cannot be ignored by major pharmaceutical companies.

There are several associations that represent pharmaceutical manufacturers. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations is an organization that is at the apex. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organization. Its members are several research based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine companies from both USA and other countries as well.

Organizations such as these, work for a global policy environment that is conducive to innovation in the pharmaceutical field. A survey of major pharmaceutical manufacturers indicates that collectively the industry has almost 700 medicines in the pipeline. These medicines are aimed at providing relief to people suffering from various diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart diseases and stroke among others.

The existence of a platform like an international association provides opportunities to major pharmaceutical companies to have collaborative relationships among themselves and foster industry growth in such a manner that provides avenues for overall improvement in public health while being commercially profitable.

One of the major pharmaceutical companies is Eli Lily, a global player. Their specialties include drugs for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, endocrinal disorders, diabetes and several infectious diseases. Cephalosporin, erythromycin, insulin and Prozac are among Eli Lily's major pharmaceutical breakthroughs. Pfizer is another major pharmaceutical company that has contributed a lot to alleviate human and animal suffering. Based in New York, Pfizer has been around since 1849.

Parke-Davis, Proctor & Gamble, Bristol-Myers Squib, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company, Mars Incorporated, Bayer AG, Quest Diagnostics, Tyco International and Cardinal Health Incorporated are a few of the major pharmaceutical companies in the USA.

Pharmaceuticals provides detailed information on Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Companies, Pharmaceutical Jobs, Pharmaceutical Naming and more. Pharmaceuticals is affiliated with Mexican Online Pharmacy.

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Labels: Pharmaceutical Companies, Pharmaceutical Jobs, Pharmaceutical Naming, pharmaceuticals

By Andrew Regan

Research and development is critical in all industries. And, when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry R & D not only generates income for the companies involved in the research but it often results in lives being saved, or at least in the quality of patient's lives being improved.

It can take many years, as well as millions of pounds to perfect and test a pharmaceutical product. In 2006 alone almost £4billion was spent on pharmaceutical research and development. Once developed, years of testing follow to ensure that any new drug or medicine adheres to the appropriate government guidelines before being released to the general public. During that period of development it can be a perplexing time for research scientists as they strive to find the perfect solution, for example to a life-threatening illness or a debilitating disease.

Indeed, it is that period of intense research, development and ultimately testing that makes branded drugs so initially expensive. For a number of years they are under patent to the pharmaceutical company that developed them and that exclusive reward for innovation is one of the reasons that drugs are developed in the first place. So, production of a ground-breaking drug not only helps humanity but can be extremely lucrative for the company responsible for developing it; either exclusive distribution or production under licence allows pharmaceutical companies to recoup their R &D costs, as well as add to their bottom line.

Because of the potential rewards available, anyone involved in the medical or pharmaceutical fields of research at the top level will have worked hard to get there. Research scientists are often enrolled on extensive post-graduate courses in order to expand their knowledge and learning by companies anxious to attract the best recruits.

But getting into the industry doesn't have to be through the research scientist route. There are many pharmaceutical jobs that aren't involved in front-line research such as marketing, accounting, engineering and IT. In recent times, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the pharmaceutical industry in the UK employs over 68,000 people and many are not directly involved in research.

However, despite the promise of potentially vast financial rewards many of those involved in the industry chose to go into pharmaceutical research for altruistic reasons, whether directly involved in research or not. Such noble reasons for entering the industry include the opportunity to help develop vaccines, medicines and cures in order to reduce the number of life-threatening and debilitating illnesses in both humans and animals. Indeed, for the many employees in the pharmaceutical industry, the best reward for their years of hard work and dedication is the chance to improve people's lives.

Andrew Regan writes on behalf of a digital marketing agency. He hopes you enjoyed his article, but urges you to seek further understanding of its topics before making any decisions based on its content.

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Labels: Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, pharmaceutical industry, Pharmaceutical Jobs

By Clint Cora

The Financial Rewards Including a Company Car

A career in pharmaceutical sales offers some of the best benefits and perks anyone can ask for in a job. Typical starting salaries are in the low $30,000s and established representatives can have base salaries in the $90,000s. Bonuses on top of that for high sales performers can easily push incomes into the six figure range. But in addition to the money, there are numerous other attractive perks in pharmaceutical sales.

One of the nicest perks that pharmaceutical sales representatives enjoy is the use of recent model company cars. These are usually midsize sedans that are leased under a company fleet program. Some pharmaceutical companies even offer minivans to their sales forces and I’ve seen reps drive sport utility vehicles as company cars too.

Company car leases are usually short term with durations of a few years only so the sales representatives end up driving relatively new vehicles all the time. Once a company car’s lease expires, the rep gets a new vehicle! All the maintenance costs such as tune ups, oil changes, gas and insurance are paid for by the company so basically the sales reps get to drive their cars for free (although for taxation purposes, the company’s payroll department may report a taxable benefit for sales force staff).

Some companies have been known to offer the vehicles that are near the end of lease terms for sale at significant market discounts. Representatives have been able to purchase relatively good condition used cars for other family members and friends at very attractive prices through such programs. Some have even resold these vehicles on the used car market for a tiny profit.

In addition to a company car, a pharmaceutical representative also has access to an expense account which enables him or her to entertain customers such as physicians on a business level whether it is for meals at nice restaurants or other for business social activities such as golf outings or attending sporting events. Of course, the rep is expected to participate with their customers at these business social activities.

The Freedom and Independence

For those individuals who do not like the idea being stuck inside with an office job, a pharmaceutical sales position offers the opportunity to spend most working hours out in the field visiting customers like physicians, nurses and pharmacists. Pharmaceutical reps have the freedom to set and organize their own working schedules. No single day is identical as different customers at different locations are visited each working day. Pharmaceutical sales involve a lot of independence, as the pharmaceutical reps’ bosses or district sales managers are usually not around 95% of the time. Therefore, there is nobody to constantly look over your shoulder most of the time for this line of work.

The Travel Opportunities

Pharmaceutical companies usually conduct sales meetings for their sales forces at nice locations, sometimes even at exotic foreign spots which give representatives opportunities to travel at the companies’ expense. Accommodations, meals and entertainment during these meetings are usually top notch. I’ve stayed at five star resorts, been on a Mediterranean cruise, took a sightseeing plane ride through the Grand Canyon, skied in the Rockies, attended live theatre in New York City, toured the ancient city of Pompeii and experienced many other interesting activities that were all paid for while working for pharmaceutical companies.

There are also opportunities for pharmaceutical representatives to attend large medical conferences which are often held at nice locations as well. Some representatives have been able to bring along spouses, partners and relatives to combine business trips with personal vacations. Again, all or a large part of the travel costs were already paid for by the company. I utilized company paid flights and extended some stays before or after company meetings for personal vacations. I was able to go scuba diving in the Egyptian Red Sea this way. I know reps who extended trips in Europe and the Caribbean in combination with company meetings.

The Satisfaction of an Important Role in Health Care

Of course along with these perks, there are other factors involved in pharmaceutical sales which can be very satisfying. Pharmaceutical reps are in a position to help educate doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical students about their drug products along with the associated medical conditions they treat. There is some great satisfaction when a medical professional tells you that your product has made a positive difference in a patient’s health, especially when the professional never used your product before your introduction of it to him or her.

It would have been your selling efforts that caused the doctor to change prescribing habits which ultimately helped treat the patients better. This makes a pharmaceutical representative feel like an important part of the overall medical health care team. It’s a good feeling indeed when one knows that he or she is part of a company responsible for bringing a much needed medical product to society.

Clint Cora is the author of the book "How To Get A Dream Job In Pharmaceutical Sales - Direct Inside Advice and Guidance from a Sales Manager". He is a former pharmaceutical sales manager and executive. More information about pharmaceutical sales jobs can be found at http://www.GetPharmaceuticalSalesJob.com

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Labels: career, drug, job, jobs, pharmaceutical, position, representative, representatives, sales

By Ryan Stewart

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most lucrative business sectors as evidenced by its $550 billion global industry revenue in 2004. As such, many careers have been developed to cater to the varying needs of the industry. One good example of such a career option is pharmaceutical sales, which is believed to be one of the most sought-after careers in the job market today.

The reason behind this trend is that pharmaceutical sales offers extraordinary salary potential, which may go as high as six-figures annually. Other amazing perks are special bonuses, a company car, trainings in exotic locations, flexible work hours, as well as unlimited opportunities for career growth.

Needless to say, many people who already have a career in sales are slowly but surely transitioning into pharmaceutical sales. If you're one of those people who are ready to take your sales career to the next level, there are a variety ways to do just that.

For starters, educating yourself about the pharmaceutical industry is an important first step. Learn about various pharmaceutical companies, especially the biggest and most successful ones and how the entire industry is doing. It's also important to keep yourself updated on industry trends.

In addition, equip yourself so that potential employers may notice you. As mentioned earlier, pharmaceutical sales positions are so in demand these days that you have to truly stand out among other hopefuls. To address this concern, there are online companies today, which through their websites are offering products and services that aim to help prospective pharmaceutical sales reps – with or without sales experience – to land a job in the field.

Such products and services may include how-to e-Books and other information materials, resume writing and evaluation services so that your resume is specific to and targeted towards the pharmaceutical sales industry, and more. They also offer interview coaching, which may include doing mock interviews to help you develop the confidence and to ensure that you know the right things to say.

It would also be a good idea to begin establishing networks with other pharmaceutical industry professionals, particularly in your area. The reason behind this is that job openings are oftentimes filled through referrals from existing pharmaceutical sales reps and that pharmaceutical companies rarely post job ads, except for those which are relatively harder to fill. As such, you definitely would want to be in that loop.

Lastly, different companies have different requirements – some require their pharmaceutical sales reps to at least have a bachelor's degree, others may require an MBA. But in the end, having a smooth transition to pharmaceutical sales boils down to having the right attitude. For instance, one should have an aptitude for science so that learning would be a breeze. More than having the sales or the medical background, equally important is displaying your outstanding interpersonal communication skills. An aspiring pharmaceutical sales rep should be able to relate to different types of people.

Also, an aspiring pharmaceutical sales rep should be an aggressive, motivated and driven self-starter with high achievement goals. This is especially important once you've actually got the job. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to succeed. Needless to say, pharmaceutical sales is one career option where the saying “you reap what you sow” is very, very true.

Ryan Stewart has coached hundreds to pharma sales success (and he's done it all for free). To jump-start your pharmaceutical sales career go to pharmaceutical-sales-representative.com

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Labels: career, job, medical, networking, pharmaceutical, resume, sales

by Scott Knutson

Pharmacy technicians are in demand today and the job outlook for the foreseeable future is simply outstanding. In fact, any pharmacology based occupation will certainly be wide open and ever growing for years and years. With the oldest of the baby boomers getting ready to retire and with people living longer than ever before there is no simply no way to go wrong with a career in pharmacology. Pharmacy technicians are currently in high demand and jobs are opening up faster than they can be filled and due to the fact there can be as many as four technicians aiding one single pharmacist… well, you get the picture.

Initially, pharmacy technician students are required to follow the same educational and training path that pharmacists travel except their training stops short of having to complete a full fledged PharmD degree.

Although the pay is less than a pharmacist, a highly qualified pharmacy technician can still make a respectable living in a rewarding and challenging career.

Like a pharmacist, pharmacy technicians also serve patients but in most pharmacies they report directly to the pharmacist. A pharmacy technician has duties that are both challenging and rewarding.

Overall, the duties of pharmacy technician are pretty consistent regardless of their place of employment which can range from the traditional pharmacy to hospitals and clinics to mail order pharmacies.

The workplace options are another appealing aspect to a pharmacy technician career. The breakdown in workplace options is roughly like this. About 70% of pharmacy technician jobs are currently in retail pharmacies which includes both chain store pharmacies and independently owned pharmacies.

Another 20% of pharmacy technician jobs are located in hospitals and the rest are scattered throughout clinics, wholesale and mail order pharmacies.

A few of the most important skills a pharmacy technician needs to master are people skills, organization, the ability to focus and perform under a wide variety of pressure situations, multi-tasking, the ability to work independently and a knack to handle it all with a smile.

These skills and character traits enables your supervising pharmacist to have the confidence that you can handle all types of situations and the ability to delegate whatever task needs to be done and that you'll get it done and done right.

In addition to having a good working relationship with your supervising pharmacist, as a pharmacy technician you will also be required to interact on a daily basis with patients, pharmacist aids and other healthcare professionals. As a result, teamwork is another vital aspect any highly trained pharmacy technician.

As a pharmacy technician your daily duties can vary greatly and can range from verifying the accuracy of prescriptions, labeling bottles, inventory, interacting with patients, database management and whatever the supervising pharmacist needs done.

Although working in a clean, controlled work environment is nice, it's certainly not the primary factor that appeals to those interested in becoming a pharmacy technician but it's simply another one of those subtle benefits of this ever growing career in the healthcare industry.


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Labels: pharmacy technician, Pharmacy Technicians

By Scott Knutson

With the current shortage for highly skilled pharmacy technician's it's no surprise that all sorts of schools, as well as their online counterparts are offering an ever increasing number of pharmacy technician programs. These programs are specifically geared towards improving the quality of pharmacy technician graduates nationwide who will then help fill in the current gap in need for trained pharmacy technician graduates in the health care industry.

The relationship between a pharmacy technician and a pharmacist is similar to that of a paralegal and an attorney in that in essence the pharmacy technician is an assistant and performs a wide variety of tasks and assignments that are a bit less high profile and that don't require and actual pharmacist license. In most circumstances, their boss is a registered pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians duties include a wide variety of duties like: keeping track of patient records, packaging and labeling prescription medication, keeping track of the drug supply, compounding medications, understanding prescription orders, doing inventory, doing the preparation of sterile products as well as billing and crediting the patients while also being able to work with a computer.

Pharmacy technicians can be assigned to various health care settings from hospitals, drug wholesalers, mail order pharmacies, home health care agencies as well as long term care facilities.

The current job market for pharmacy technicians is on fire and is one of the primary factors why more and more people are looking into a pharmacy technician career. The options are unlimited and expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future for a properly trained, competent pharmacy technician.

Of course salaries and benefits vary depending on an individual's experience, the type of employer and which part of the country the employer is located but it's clearly possible to make a comfortable living.

Most highly rated and reputable pharmacy technician programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists or ASHP and it's becoming more common for employers to require that any prospective pharmacy technician be to obtain their certification and license before they will be hired.

Many pharmacy technician programs include some type of hands on internship in a local pharmacy to get hands on experience along with the book work which ranges from pharmacology and medical terminology to human body structure to pharmacology law.

Due to the demand and popularity of night classes and online learning more and more pharmacy technician training schools and course offer flexible class schedules to accommodate not only the young but those already working adults who are looking for a career change.

If the allure of a pharmacy technician career appeals to you, check out the links below.

Visit pharmacy tech online or pharmacy tech or pharmacy tech school for more information on a Pharmacology Career.

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Labels: pharmacy technician

By Eric Morris

Pharmacy technicians are one of the leading professionals in the health care division. They usually undergo complicated tasks than the pharmacy aides. Their job is to provide information regarding medicines to patients, regarding the dosages, effects, and after effects. They not only give instructions to patients, but also look after almost every function in the pharmacy store. Pharmacy technicians should not give medicines without proper consultation with the pharmacists.

A licensed pharmacy technician is the one who advises his patients. There are pharmacy technicians who get trained only on the job, but many pharmacists entertain only licensed technicians. Licensed pharmacy technicians are helpful as they are aware of the medicines and their side effects. The responsibility of pharmacy technicians varies according to the location. They take care of the shop on a whole like attending telephones, preparing bills, book keeping, handling cash and stock maintenance. Invariably, they are allowed to do all the routine works of the shops. In some places, he takes charge of the prescriptions and gives guidelines on the medications.

Pharmacy technicians are certified as Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. They should pass out the National Pharmacy Technician Examination. Candidates with high school diploma and GED (General Equivalent Diploma) are eligible for this examination. Pharmacy technicians are also given training in some hospitals, technical schools and colleges.

Pharmacy technician should be strong in mathematics, spelling and reading. They should be able to read and assess the prescribed medicines immediately. They should be very active and alert to attend the needs of the patients and also in instructing the dosages specified in the prescription. Their communication skills and the quality of interacting with people should be good. This quality of interacting and communicating effectively with patients will help them in their profession. Pharmacy technicians are expected to handle all types of people skillfully.

Pharmacy technicians will be the most sought for people in the future. They can work in hospitals, private clinics, health centers, pharmaceutical stores, groceries, departmental stores and so many other places. The job opportunities are bright for them. The salary ranges from around $8 to $18 per hour. They will be in much demand as the population is increasing. The more the increase in population, more will be the requirement of medicines. Simultaneously, the requirement of medicines will promote the necessity of more pharmacy technicians.

Pharmacy Technicians provides detailed information on Pharmacy Technician Careers, Pharmacy Technician Certification, Pharmacy Technician Continuing Education, Pharmacy Technician Exams and more. Pharmacy Technicians is affiliated with Digital Scales.

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Labels: Pharmacy Technician Careers, Pharmacy Technician Certification, Pharmacy Technicians

By Adella Klein

One of the reasons why the medical industry is (and always has been) one of the busiest sectors of today's economy is because of high demand. So many individuals are in dire need of prescription medication that it's hard for pharmacists to keep up with the demand of their consumers. As a result, most pharmacists are left with little time to foster relationships with their patients - which can be very detrimental when it comes to prescription meds.

Why is it Important to Talk to Your Pharmacist?

Discussing your prescriptions with your pharmacist before taking your medication is important for a number of reasons. First of all, you need to know the method of taking each pill. Do you need to drink water, eat, take it on an empty stomach etc? You also need to make sure that your new prescription isn't going to affect any other medication you may be taking at the time. Likewise, it's always good to know the side effects associated with the prescriptions you're about to take. This leads us to our next topic...

What Questions Should You Ask Your Pharmacist?

As we mentioned above, questions like "how should this medication be taken?" or "will this medication affect any of the other prescriptions I am currently taking?" are both really great questions to ask your pharmacist. Inquiring about the side effects, dosage requirements and ingredients in the medication (especially if you're prone to allergic reactions) are all very important questions to ask your pharmacist before taking your medication as well.

Why Can't I Just Ask My Doctor?

We encourage you to ask your doctor as many questions as you can during your appointment. Unfortunately, once you leave it can be difficult to get in touch with him/her again once you've obtained your medication. In this case, asking your pharmacist is just as good (if not better) than asking your doctor. Pharmacists are experts in prescription ingredients, reactions, dosages etc. so your pharmacist may be more insightful than your doctor anyways.

Never be afraid to ask your pharmacist questions - it's what they are there for. It's better to ask beforehand than to end up in a detrimental situation that could have been avoided had you taken a few minutes to speak with your pharmacist. And remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question - so ask away!

Adella Klein has been taking Prescription Medication for years and wants to stress the importance of communication between pharmacists and their patients. In her spare time she shares her expertise on Medication by writing articles for OneHealthyLifestyle.com.

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Labels: healthy living, medication, medications, onehealthylifestyle.com, pharmacists, prescription medication

By Tiffany Provost

Make no mistake, a pharmacist’s job description entails more than just counting out tablets and dispensing medicines. Being a pharmacist takes years and years of study in the health field. If you think you may want to become a pharmacist, these tips will guide you through the steps you need to take.

1. Early preparation. High school is the time to begin preparation for becoming a pharmacist. To get into college, your GPA needs to meet a minimum score of 3.5. If you can keep up good high school grades and an impressive SAT you should get accepted into the pharmaceutical course of your choice at college.

2. Complete the required courses. Every school differs on this, but you will need to complete at least two years of pre-course work, with good grades marks in each course. This will allow you to enroll for a pharmacy course.

3. Finish pharmaceutical school. Once your first two years of prerequisite course work, are done, you can apply to and complete the pharmacy program. There is a Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) to complete before you can actually apply to the school you wish to attend. Once you get in, really aim to make a success of the course by studying your subjects diligently. This step in the process will likely take three to four years, depending on what grades you obtain, how your course is loaded, and the particular program you select.

4. Residency. When you graduate from pharmaceutical school, you will have nearly completed everything you need to be a pharmacist. For a bit of valuable real-life work experience, you will now have the option of doing a 12 month residency working with a fully qualified pharmacist. This is optional choice, but could just give you the boost you need to start your pharmacy career.

5. Get certified. You will likely need to get your license to become a pharmacist – but it varies with each state. Every state has a mandatory exam to be completed by pharmacy graduates so they can legally become pharmacists. Most commonly, this certification needs to be done every two years.

6. Start applying for jobs! Once you have finished school and residency (which is optional), you are actually a pharmacist. Now just get the job! Search for jobs at job websites, the newspaper, and of course at pharmacies. Leave no stone unturned if you are having trouble securing a position. Walk into every local drug store to find out if there are any jobs going. Hand around your CV and your name to anyone who will listen. Let people know you want to become a pharmacist. Prove yourself and get some more experience by taking a lower paying position. It only has to be temporary and when you have done your stint as an assistant, you will be certain to improve your chances of getting your dream job as a pharmacist.

Tiffany Provost writes about Medical and other Career tips for HowToDoThings.com.

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Labels: pharmacist

By Scott Knutson

With so many amazing colleges, universities and technical learning facilities offering pharmacy degrees there is no reason why anyone with the desire to make a difference in patients life's could not engage and transform a dull career into something that is appealing and heartfelt.

Pharmacy schools abound throughout the United States. Many offer specific courses that are directly connected to degrees that are beneficial to becoming a pharmacist. With this remarkably condensed type of higher education offered it is easy to find a school that offers courses that are directly related to your goal of pharmacy training. Many schools offer courses that do not involve prerequisite courses that stem off and away from this direct goal.

Successfully engaging in the pursuit of a pharmacy career can occur at any age. Whether you have just graduated from high school or have been out of school for years, becoming a pharmacist or pharmacy technician can be an easily accomplished goal. You can also upgrade from being a pharmacy technician to working as a pharmacist in no time. If this type of a career interests you, you need only weigh the facts about the pharmaceutical needs of our society in order to know you will have a safe secure job in the work force for many years to come.

With people living longer than ever and with the advancements in modern medicine progressing in leaps and bounds, pharmacy skills will be a solid choice for future employment. Interesting, always changing, and steadfast are words that sum up a career in the pharmacy industry.

In engaging in the courses available for pharmacy training one thing you will quickly discover is whether you have the people skills that are necessary to be a personable pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In most cases, in any pharmacy setting, you will be in close contact with lots of people on a daily basis.

As a pharmacist you will interact with physicians. And on a more intimate level you will interact and get to know the physicians office personnel. The doctors that your patients will have prescriptions with can vary from being general physicians to being doctors of oncology and beyond. With that variation in medical doctors also comes a diverse array of patients and prescription needs.

Patients can suffer from anything as mild as a skin rash to a chronic disease that is life threatening. Within this range the patients you encounter and the questions they may ask will not always be typical. A kind and courteous bedside manner is as essential to a successful pharmacist as it is to any physician. Patients are looking to you with trust and hope and it is imperative you treat each one as a unique situation.

As a pharmacy technician you will work under a pharmacist and be expected to pull your weight at all times. As you learn and grow into a comfortable place within the available pharmacy career choices there will be no guessing as to whether you made the right decision. Understanding and relating to the people and situations that arise through out the class room atmosphere will directly prepare you for the work week that lies ahead for you as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Visit Pharmacy Technician | Pharmacy Jobs or Pharmacy Schools for more information on a career in pharmacology.

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Labels: pharmacy, pharmacy career, pharmacy degree

By Charlie Thai

1) Flexible Working Schedules

The truth be told, there are not many other jobs out there that offers attractive working schedules. As a pharmacist, you are in control of your work schedule. You can choose from a myriad of working times. For most pharmacists with a family, they tend to opt for the regular 9AM to 5PM jobs in grocery chains and retail stores. For others, a 7 on and 7 off schedule may better suit them. This works by having the pharmacist work 7 days straight usually for a 12 hour shift. After 7 days of work, the pharmacist gets to either rest for the next 7 days or he or she can choose to work more hours for other companies. This type of scheduling puts the control to pharmacists who are interested in earning more income.

2) Great Working Salary

Depending on the location and need of pharmacists in the region, generally they can make anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 per year. This is a lot of money considering the fact that you do not need to go through all of the training to become a pharmacist compared to a medical doctor's journey.

3) You will always have a job

As of this writing, the demand for pharmacist is much more than the supply. There is a current pharmacist shortage in most areas of the U.S. So therefore, pharmacists are currently enjoying a period of mobility, stability and flexibility as they practice their profession.

4) You will have great benefits

In order to attract new graduating pharmacist, most companies offer lucrative and enticing retirement and health benefits. These include attractive 401k plan packages, medical insurance coverage and even paid vacations to places like Hawaii and Alaska.

5) You can still be involve in healthcare and help people

Many students are interested in healthcare but feel that they are limited to either becoming a doctor or nurse. Well, as a pharmacist you are still involved in a patient's life. Pharmacists are not just people with a bright white lab-coat, who just "Count, Pour, Lick and Stick" all day. Rather than this, pharmacists are the intermediary between the doctor and patient. They consult the patients on their medications, contact doctors when there is a drug-drug or drug-food interactions, contact insurance companies to ensure proper billing and they do many more things to save people's lives all day long. Of course, these actions usually go unnoticed due to the common people's stereotypical views of most pharmacists.

6) You do not have to deal with bodily fluids

Pharmacists are known to work in a nice clean environment. They usually do not deal with blood or other nasty bodily fluids coming out of the patient's system.

7) You will enjoy the dynamicity of this profession

Pharmacist can work anywhere from the corner drug store to research to working with doctors and nurses in the hospital. There are many career opportunities for the pharmacists to pursue. These include (but not limited to) careers in community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, research, managed care, drug utilization review, academic professor, pharmaceutical representatives, and even CEO of a major Fortune 500 company.

Charlie Thai is a pharmacy student and author of the "How To Get Into Pharmacy School" Ebook. He can be contacted by going to http://www.GetIntoPharmacySchool.com

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Charlie_Thai

Labels: pharmacist, pharmacy

According to American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Pharmacy is the third largest health profession in the U.S. It is a career with a blend of science, healthcare, patient care, computer technology and business. The demand for Pharmacist is extremely high. The opportunities are unlimited and with the population aging, and new drugs coming out the employment future for Pharmacists is good.

There has been an increase in the shortages of pharmacists not only in the United States but around the world. According to US dept of Health and Human Services, the factors causing the shortage are not likely to abate in the near future. Because of this employers are offering jobs to final year students even before their graduation.

This has created a competition among employers seeking the services of Pharmacists and as a result more incentives and big bonuses are being offered. Pharmacists salary is outstanding, compared to market standards with a very comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, dental, 401k, supplemental insurance and more

Pharmacists also enjoy:

a. Job security.
b. Recession proof employment.
c. Well paid job.
d. Ability to open your own business.
e. Working with other health professionals.
f. Financial security.

Pharmacists also have so many choices of different areas of practice like:

Community Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy, Government Agencies, Academics, Hospice And Home Care, Hmo's, Medical And Scientific Publishing,Trade And Professional Associations, Managed Care,Long Term Care And Much More...

Finally:

If you want secure future financially,
If you want to take control of your life,
If you want to have a comfortable life,
If you want to give your family a better quality of life,

Then you should seriously consider becoming a Pharmacist.

To learn more about how to become a Pharmacist click on the link http://www.beapharmacist.com

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Frank_Buachie

Labels: pharmacists, pharmacy

By Amy Nutt

A pharmacist is a professional responsible for dispensing medications and handling prescriptions. The role of the pharmacist is as important as that of any other medical professional. The relationship that pharmacist's share with their patients is an important part of the care-giving circle. That relationship ensures that patients take their medications as prescribed so they may enjoy healthy lives.

The pharmacist of an age ago was seen as an individual who donned a white coat, dispensed root beer floats, and Coca-Cola at the same rate in which they prepared prescription orders. The days of the pharmacist and the soda jerk are gone but the pharmacist maintains their standing as the individual responsible for maintaining the well-being of a doctor's patients.

To become a pharmacist, an individual must attend a 4-year baccalaureate program and complete a set of additional requisites to in order to receive their Doctorate in Pharmacology or PharmD degree. An individual who desires to become a pharmacist must be strong in science and math as a lot of their certification is based on a study of chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology. Although pharmacists do not operate on patients, they must have an understanding about how the body works and the basic chemical make-up of the human body.

Pharmacists are board certified practitioners who must pass a rigorous licensing examination in order to be able to practice. Once these requirements have been met, a pharmacist begins practicing their profession. Pharmacists are licensed by the state in which they do business, but are subject to both state and federal laws with respect to the dispensing medication.

Pharmacists are employed by hospitals, retail chains and pharmacy stores or work as consultants on policy regarding prescription medicines. It is the role of the pharmacist to understand the make-up of the human body and the chemical interaction between certain drugs and the body. This understanding may be the difference between life and death in certain circumstances.

A pharmacist earns a little more than $100,000 a year in salary. When you consider that, the pharmacist does not complete quiet as much training as a medical doctor that number translates into a heath amount. The trade-off is the amount of scrutiny and oversight that a pharmacist faces, from state officials up to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

If you are planning a career as a pharmacist, you should spend some time at your local pharmacy and get a feel for the type of work that goes on from day to day. If you are old enough, you may consider a summer position in the pharmacy as a way to gain a first-had perspective. You should also take care to make sure that your chemistry and mathematical skills are very good.

The field of pharmacology is growing as the baby boomer population ages, requiring an urgent need for additional trained professional pharmacologists. This need promises a good paying career that comes with the added benefit of being part of the community.

Staffing agency offering full time and part time pharmacy jobs. Visit us to learn more about the wide range of pharmacist jobs opportunities.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

Labels: clinical pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacists, pharmacology

By Charlie Thai

Many students these days are pursuing a career in pharmacy. And I can't blame them. Some advantages of becoming a pharmacist are:

1) Starting salary can be anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 depending on location and need

2) A pharmacist's work schedules are flexible. You can work 7 on and 7 off, work during the evenings or work the usual 9-5 job

3) You will come out with less debt compared to other health professional schools.

4) You can become a fully-fledge licensed pharmacist in your early 20s and do not have to complete a residency

5) You won't have to deal with blood

There are many other advantages to becoming a pharmacist. Above are just a handful of them.

Now, how can you become a pharmacist?

If you are in high school and are interested in pharmacy school, I recommend that you take a look at a few 0-6 years program schools. This program works this way. The high school student applies into this program. As long as the students get the minimum grade point average (GPA) and SAT scores they should be able to get into the program. An interview may be required at some schools, so please check with each individual school. After 2 years of pre-requisite coursework with high marks, the student then proceed into the pharmacy school, where they complete either 3 or 4 years of pharmacy school coursework. Once completed, the student can opt to a 1 year residency or could go out and practice pharmacy immediately.

The shortest 0-6 years program school is University of the Pacific's (UOP) School of Pharmacy located in Stockton, CA. They offer a program that is as short as 5 years.

Below are some schools that offer 0-6 year programs:

Albany College of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Florida A & M University, Hampton University Massachusetts - Boston, Northeastern University, Ohio Northern University, Philadelphia, Rutgers University, St. John's University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, University of Findlay, University of Missouri at Kansas City, University of Rhode Island, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Pacific and University of Pittsburgh

Now if you are a college student or non-traditional student, the road to becoming a pharmacist is similar to a high school student. Basically, you'll need to complete the pharmacy school requirements, take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT - if appropriate) and apply to the pharmacy school of your choice. There are many roadblocks that a student who are applying to pharmacy school may face. These questions include: How do I prepare myself to apply to pharmacy school? What should I major in? What extracurricular activities should I be involved in? Do I need to graduate with a bachelor's degree? Etc.

How To Get Into Pharmacy School ebook will show you how one student got into the pharmacy school of his choice within 4 short months after applying.

After graduating from pharmacy school, the student is now a fully-fledged pharmacist and only after becoming licensed, by taking the required test for the state the student is interested in practicing in, then he or she can begin working as a pharmacist.

As a pharmacist, you must renew your licensure every 2 years. This licensure process requires the pharmacist to take 30 units of Continuing Education (CE) classes either online or by signing up for a class. Other than this, the pharmacist can enjoy his or her career in the field of pharmacy.

Charlie Thai is a pharmacy student and author of the "How To Get Into Pharmacy School" Ebook. He can be reached by going to http://www.GetIntoPharmacySchool.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlie_Thai

Labels: pharmacist, pharmacy, pharmacy student

Recently, Legitscript.com and KnujOn.com released a report analyzing the Yahoo Search engine’s advertisements for online pharmacies. The results are quite disturbing and it’s a wonder law enforcement agencies have not yet cracked down.

Legitscript.com is the only Internet pharmacy verification organization in the United States identified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as adhering to its standards for certifying Internet pharmacies. KnujOn.com tracks Internet criminality and has succeeded in removing over 100,000 spam websites from the Internet.

The report, released by these companies on August 18, showed that around 80 percent of the search engine’s advertisements concerning online pharmacies reviewed by the researchers were not operating in compliance with United States federal laws. The report states the researchers were able to order and receive medication normally requiring a prescription without one — a clear violation of Drug Enforcement Administration regulation of potentially habit-forming medications. One site even imported the medications ordered from India, which is also in violation of United States Law.

The report also touches on Pharmacychecker.com, the pharmacy verification service used by Yahoo, Google and Microsoft to determine the legitimacy of pharmacies in ads they display. The researchers were able to obtain drugs without a prescription from an online pharmacy listed on and approved by Pharmacychecker.com. These drugs were also imported from India.

Yahoo’s current policy mandates that an online pharmacy advertised through the search engine be “based in” the United States or Canada; however, three sites in the study which were approved based on having Canadian pharmaceutical licenses actually shipped their medications from places like India, Singapore And Barbados. A fourth site, also approved in Canada, stated it could only fill prescriptions in Canada and to do so in other countries would be illegal.

It is important to note that these issues are far from isolated, as a previous report focused on Microsoft’s search engine Bing.com and the findings were similar. Also, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the National Association on Addiction and Substance Abuse have written Google, Microsoft and Yahoo informing them that they were profiting from online pharmacies acting unlawfully.

“We’re making this a public issue because it’s time for this to stop,” KnujOn President Garth Bruen said. “If the search engines continue to knowingly facilitate illegal prescription drug sales, then we’ll continue to issue these reports. Our reports stop when the problem is fixed.”

“Yahoo needs to require that its Internet pharmacy ads adhere to US laws and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy standards,” LegitScript President John Horton said. “These are the same safeguards that govern brick-and-mortar pharmacies used throughout the US everyday. Shouldn’t American Internet users be assured of the same safeguards online?”

If you are someone who gets his or her medications from an online pharmacy, you may be putting yourself and your family in danger. If this is the case, we suggest you look further into the companies from which you choose to procure your medications.

by: Ryan Cloutier

http://blastmagazine.com

Labels: advertising, health, internet pharmacies, medication, yahoo

While 26 percent of Americans has used a Search Engine for finding drug information online, still only a few are venturing into the online prescription drug marketplace.

The prescription drug market is enormous and includes millions of Americans who go online to get information about the medicines they consume.

According to the new Pew Internet & American Life Project "Prescription Drugs Online" report, 64% of American households contain a regular user of prescription drugs, and one in four Americans (26%) has used the Internet to look for information about prescription drugs.

However, just 4% of Americans have purchased prescription drugs online, because, simply, most Americans do not fully trust the online prescription drug marketplace.

While 62% of Americans think purchasing prescription drugs online is less safe than purchasing them at a local pharmacy, only 20% think online purchases are as safe as local purchases. The remaining 18% responded that they did not know or that it depends on the situation.

In fact, even though one in five said online drug purchases are safe, only a fraction have ever bought prescription drugs online. The survey found a mere 4% of Americans have ever actually purchased prescription drugs on the Internet. To put that in actual numbers, of the 2,200 American adults surveyed just 93 people said they had purchased prescription drugs online.

When it comes to why people purchase drugs online, even though the sample size was small, Americans who have ordered prescription drugs online cited convenience and cost savings as the main reasons why they decided to take the leap. Privacy was the least likely factor of the choices offered in the survey.

When asked about the last time they purchased prescription drugs online, the majority of Rx purchasers said they visited a site that was based in the United States, and only a few visited a site based in another country. In addition:

-- Three-quarters of Rx purchasers said the last time they purchased prescription drugs online, they bought a drug for a chronic medical condition such as high blood pressure or arthritis.

-- One-quarter said their last purchase at an online pharmacy was to aid weight loss or sexual performance.

-- Most were satisfied with their last contact with an online pharmacy and plan to order prescription drugs online in the future.

All in all, the survey was upbeat about the future of the online drug market, stating that "Ignorance and mistrust of the online prescription drug market may be dispelled by further research and good experiences," and indicating that many Americans may soon change their minds about the safety of online prescription drug purchases.

Drawing an analogy to the growth in another large online category, the report stated: "[Prescription drug purchasers] who research a product online often become customers.

Convenience is the number one reason why banking became the fastest-growing activity between 2000 and 2002 — and it is the main reason why current Rx purchasers made the switch from offline to online ordering."

Labels: drugs, internet, medicines

The current model of pharmacy practice, and of Western medicine as a whole, is based upon managing symptoms. In some cases, this may be necessary, at least for a limited amount of time. The problem is that care for the patient often stops with a prescription being handed over. A competent pharmacist will provide medication counseling with the goal of ensuring optimal drug therapy. Ultimately, however, the underlying cause of the symptoms is not being addressed. At this point, dispensing drugs to patients without providing further wellness education only compounds the problem. It is like giving them a crutch to rely on; patients receive false reassurance that their problem is "taken care of." And considering that most people only think about their health status when something is obviously wrong, a great opportunity for intervention and assistance with therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) is missed. Thus, the patient is left with degrading health, a lack of awareness, and masked symptoms. Furthermore, drugs may produce side effects, many times resulting in additional prescriptions. Under such conditions, it isn't hard to see how a downward spiral in the patient's health might be established.

Where are we now?

Just take a quick glance at our current healthcare system. Spending is on the rise, while the country's health deteriorates. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer are epidemic. The scope of allopathic medicine is too narrow to reverse this trend on its own. It certainly has its place in the healthcare arena, most notably for acute care, as in cases of trauma. And an incredible amount of information has been discovered under its umbrella. Still, what good is the most thorough understanding of biochemistry, pharmacology, or surgical technique if millions continue to suffer from debilitating chronic disease?

You see, the strength of the allopathic model can also be its weakness, depending upon the situation to which it is applied. When used to temporarily stabilize the body, system by system, there is no better approach. It fails miserably, however, for keeping individuals disease-free over the long run. The innate healing ability of the body is too complex, and the factors that contribute to chronic disease too numerous to lend themselves to a quick fix solution.

Likewise, judging the effectiveness of natural medicine, using allopathic standards, fails to acknowledge its aggregate and superior healing ability. It's like comparing apples with oranges. These two medical philosophies are founded on distinct principles and treatment practices.

Without a more integrative model, health care will continue down a doomed path. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results.

Where should we go from here?

Thoreau is known to have said that "there are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one striking at the root." Look around, and you can see those devoted to working on the root causes of chronic disease, focusing on prevention and overall wellness. Naturopathic physicians, nutritionists, educators, herbalists, and even some medical doctors and pharmacists, to name a few, represent this group of healers who hint at the possible paradigm shift in medicine.

Pharmacists, in particular, hold an excellent position for implementing positive changes. They are the first point of access to health care for the majority of Americans, owing to the accessibility and convenience of pharmacies.

The profession of pharmacy is already following a trend away from the dispensing role toward one of patient-centered care. This is partly because most aspects of dispensing can now be accomplished by automated equipment or technicians. Why would a company want to dish out high salaries for a job that can be done by a robot, especially when robots don't make mistakes?

Compensation no longer depends entirely upon filling as many prescriptions as possible. It also comes from functioning as a consultant, as an information expert, and as an educator. So, why not take one more step forward and continue this trend? Pharmacy services could promote wellness and optimal outcomes, not just optimal medication usage. Pharmacists have an opportunity to push the envelope, serving as genuine patient advocates, while securing their future as indispensable healthcare providers.

Integrative pharmacies offer a glimpse of hope for the future of health care. These are centers of wellness, rather than centers of disease. Here, conventional and complementary medicine go hand in hand. Typical employees include naturopaths, nutritionists, nurses, massage therapists and aestheticians, as well as pharmacists. Education is highly emphasized, with classroom lectures and workshops being a normal part of services. Many topics are covered including smoking cessation, weight reduction, yoga instruction, and management of various disease states. Nutritional supplements and herbal products are as commonplace as prescription drugs.

Impressive business models for such an operation already exist. For example, Elephant is a pharmacy that originated in Berkeley, California and continues to grow in the San Francisco area. Pharmaca is another integrative pharmacy that has locations throughout the Western United States.

References:

Isaacs, Nora. "The New Pharmacy." Natural Health, April 2004.
(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/...)

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
(http://www.pharmaca.com/)

Elephant Pharmacy
(http://www.elephantpharm.com/)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 by: Jeremiah Smith, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author

About the author:
Jeremiah Smith is a pharmacy student with a strong interest in naturopathic medicine and a passion for helping people achieve optimal health.

Labels: health, medicines, pharmacy

If asked to name one thing that affects our life in most phases one would hardly say pharmaceuticals. But wait this is a fact that most of us since our birth depend on pharmaceuticals in one-way or other. Definitely by age our dependence on pharmacy products increases but even teenagers and young ones consume a big percentage of pharmaceutical derivatives.

Pharmaceuticals play a vital role in our day-to-day living. And hence their rising costs are destined to be our major concern. The ever growing price of pharmaceutical products severely pinches one’s pocket, because this is one area where there is no choice of take or leave. If a person is suffering from certain disease and the doctor prescribes him any medicines he must purchase it whether it suits his pocket or not. One is left with no choice but to pay the chemist. Hence there is a great need to regulate the prices of drugs, at least to watch that its price is not much above the cost incurred plus a marginal profit for the manufacturing company. As of now many market leaders are found to price their monopoly drugs at a very high rate. Even medicines or regular use are very costly. Drugs sold by prescription being much more expensive than those sold over the counter by the chemist. Hence, a person is often tempted to go for over the counter choice.

Big pharmaceutical players in the market also pay much attention to research and development of new medications possible. A big amount of money is invested in the R & D branch of the industry. Based on the market requirements and demands, companies try hard to invent a suitable drug to cure any ailment. Millions are spend in this type of research. And once any company hopes to have created any new medicine it has to pass through many different stages to get the approval of the drug controlling authority, FDA. FDA governs the stages of research, development and manufacture that have been undergone for any new drug before being exposed to consumers. Only after it has approved and given its quality assurance any drug shall be sold to public.

Even before any drug is presented to FDA it undergoes intensive testing which is carried on animals and even humans. These tests confirm about the effectiveness of the medicine and makes sure that the invented drug does not have any serious side effects. Animals that are used to carry these tests often raise a controversy among the environmentalists. They strongly object about animals being tortured for the benefit of mankind. While the companies defend by saying that it is important to save mankind and those animals can easily reproduce. Whatever be the case this controversy goes on forever without a suitable solution. All this research work is necessary so that the ultimate consumer gets nothing but the best.

With the high growth rate in the pharmaceutical industry all the companies employed in this sector are facing though competition. There is a constant endeavor to attract the consumers by direct marketing and efficient advertising plans targeted towards customers. We all need to be aware of what types of drugs are available in the market and take our judgment meticulously and not get carried away by advertisements.

Labels: medicines, pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical guide, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy

The blogosphere is full of information and commentary for people of all walks of life, and pharmacists are no exception. What follows is a list of the Top 50 Pharmacist Blogs that focus on a wide variety of topics, from opinionated postings to the health and well-being of patients. Pharmacy Opinion Blogs Just like with other jobs, pharmacists have to deal with a lot each day that stresses them out and bogs them down. The following blogs discuss issues that pharmacists have to face on a daily basis and hold nothing back in regard to how they feel about everything from patients to paperwork. Get ready to laugh, cry, or be shocked by what these bloggers have to say about what they deal with in the profession.

1. The Angry Pharmacist: For opinionated posts about drugs, patients, and pharmacy in general, read through this blog and see how this blogger earned his name.
2. Jim Plagakis: This pharmacist’s blog discusses current trends and problems in the world of pharmacy.
3. Drug Monkey: According to this blog, ”your pharmacist my hate you.” Take a look and find out why.
4. Drugs R Phun: This pharmacist blows off steam from the stress of the job by telling anecdotal stories about patients that come to her pharmacy.
5. Fast Food Pharmacy: This blog is dedicated to the in and out, fast paced pharmacy world. Laughs and strange patient stories are guaranteed when you visit.
6. The Angriest Pharmacist: This blog is not for the faint of heart. For real, unadulterated opinions on the day to day life of a pharmacist, browse through the posts on this blog.
7. And You Wonder Why Your Pharmacist Never Smiles: This blogger focuses on the pharmacist-patient relationship and certainly has a lot to say on the matter.
8. The Frantic Pharmacist: Take a look at what this pharmacist has to say about the profession, and the ups and downs that come along with dealing with patients as well as colleagues.
9. Farmacy is Fun: Farmacy is Fun takes a lighthearted approach to dealing with patients and their care.
10. A Day at the Pharmacy: The posts on this blog come from a provincial UK Pharmacist who discusses dealing with annoying, as well as ”occasionally lovely” patients and their needs.
11. Pharmacy Slave: Think you have it bad? Read this blogger’s humorous posts and breathe a sigh of relief.
12. Pharm Barbie: Read the musings of this pharmacy student who works ”twiddling her thumbs in a chain pharmacy.”
13. Pharmer Jane: For a good mix of humor, advice, and discussion related to daily life in the pharmacy, take a peek at what Pharmer Jane has to say.
14. Pissed Pharmacist: The tagline says, ”I think I need a new job.” That’s just the beginning. For curt, abbreviated humorous posts and rants about being a pharmacist, check this blog out.
15. SomePharmacyGuy: Find musings on the daily grind of pharmacy, from interpreting doctors’ handwriting to dealing with irritating patients when you visit this Australian pharmacist’s blog.
16. Soul Sucking Pharmacy: Read humorous posts from a pharmacist who guarantees that his blog is not HIPAA compliant.
17. Pharmacy God: This retail pharmacy veteran relates tales of being a pharmacist in a time when the job entails far more than just filling prescriptions.
18. The Politically Incorrect Pharmacist: This blogger strives to ”tell it like it is,” without holding back. Amuse yourself with his fearless posts about the world of pharmacy.
19. The Ole’ Apothecary: This blog is about ”pondering what pharmacy is and where it’s going.” The posts range from serious, to humorous, to raving rants.
20. Pharmacy Chick: Another retail pharmacist blogs about the daily goings-on at a pharmacy. The posts on this site are eloquently written and humorous, and give some insight to the reader in the process.

Pharmacy News and Informational Blogs All pharmacy blogs are not about just the day-to-day dealings with patients. The following blogs are about helping other pharmacists to stay informed, whether about the latest recall, HIPAA compliance, or a whole host of other pharmacy-related issues.

21. Pharmacist Daily: Find current and relevant information for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and contribute to the discussions related to a constantly-changing profession.
22. The Blonde Pharmacist: News and information on the latest pharmacy issues can be found on this blog, along with some strongly-voiced opinions regarding some hot-button issues.
23. Pharmacy and Health Blog: This blog has many posts related to new and cutting-edge treatments and articles related to patient care as well as the profession itself. See what you can learn about the latest health trends, or comment on an existing post.
24. Online Pharmacy News: Find interesting stories, features, and the latest developments in pharmacy news when you visit this blog.
25. RaPharmacy (Canadian Pharmacy News): Take a look at this blog to learn more about drugs for male sexual health and news related to this topic.
26. Online Pharmacy Technician Schools: The goal of this blog is to help keep pharmacists in the know regarding key issues related to giving excellent patient care. Check out what other pharmacists have to say and gather tips, advice, and best practices as well.
27. Fierce Health IT: For up-to-date news related to the world of patient care and pharmacy in a technological context, look no further than Fierce Health IT.
28. PRIME Pharmacist Case Studies: Stay abreast of what’s going on in the world of case studies involving various frequently-prescribed medications and their interactions. Find common side effects and more when you look into the latest case studies on this blog.
29. Bioethics.net: Be informed of current ethical dilemmas facing medical professionals and pharmacist, and see how your peers are responding to these dilemmas.

Professional Development Blogs Staying on top of all of the information and technology in any field can be quite a chore. See what these bloggers have to say in relation to the professional development of a pharmacist.

30. Transitional Committee Blog: Read this blog for views on pharmacy as a profession that is in constant flux. Articles and editorials regarding the role of the pharmacist are primarily featured
31. Pharmacist’s Place: Check out this blog for important discussions, from whether certification is more important than experience, to the value of continuing your education in the field of pharmacy.

Pharmacology Blogs Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. The following blogs feature articles related to drug interactions of various kinds.

32. Pharmacology Journal: Pharmacists may gain some insight about clinical pharmacology by visiting this site.
33. Indiana Systematic Thinking: Posts related to mental health pharmacology, as well as other pharmacology-related posts are available through Indiana Systematic Thinking.
34. Ask a Scientician: This blog, posted by an online pharmacist, has valuable information on drug interactions and pharmacology.
35. My Dominant Hemisphere: Find in-depth articles and best practices related to various pharmacological issues, among other things when you visit this blog.
36. Lancashire Care Library and Information Service: Browse through this blog’s treasure trove of pharmacy and pharmacological posts.

Pharmaceutical Blogs Once a drug’s ability to change an organism’s function is established as having medicinal value, it is then considered a pharmaceutical. Take some time to look through these blogs for more information on specific pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals in general.

37. Eye on FDA: Get the latest news and information related to the Food and Drug Administration’s impact and relationship with pharmaceuticals and the companies that produce them.
38. Black Triangle: Join discussion groups or peruse the articles related to drugs and their effects on patients.
39. Pharma Marketing Blog: Opinions on pharmaceutical companies and their marketing practices, as well as the effects of their drugs on the public is the focus of this blogger’s attention.
40. WSJ Health Blog: Sift through Wall Street Journal’s authoritative collection of articles on pharmaceuticals and health care.
41. Pharma Blogosphere: As the site it self declares, this is ”a blog about blogging in the pharmaceutical industry.”
42. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Updated posts on ethical issues and news related to big pharmaceutical companies can be found on this particular blog.
43. In The Pipeline: This blog is hosted by a man who has worked for several major pharmaceutical companies over the last nineteen years. For an informed, insider opinion about the inner workings of pharmaceutical companies, visit his blog.
44. The IN VIVO Blog: Browse through an amazing amount of articles and research on a wide variety of topics related to the pharmaceutical industry on The IN VIVO Blog.
45. Jim Edwards’s NRx: Look to the blog for news and information on the drug business that ”the media hasn’t written yet.”
46. Fierce Pharma: Turn to Fierce Pharma for daily updates related to big pharmaceutical companies and their products.
47. Prescription Access Litigation: Stay informed regarding consumer education, class action lawsuits, and drug industry accountability issues by visiting this blog.
48. Nurse Practitioner Program: Keep heathly with drug awareness tips from a nurse practitioner blogger.
49. Drug Injury Watch: Drug Injury Watch provides readers with new and information related to side effects and interactions of prescription drugs.
50. Pharmalive: This blog is the self-proclaimed ”pulse of the pharmaceutical industry. Articles, information, commentary and much more related to pharmaceuticals are available for readers to look through.

Labels: pharmacist blogs online, pharmacists, pharmacy

Compounding pharmacy

Compounding is the practice of preparing drugs in new forms. For example, if a drug manufacturer only provides a drug as a tablet, a compounding pharmacist might make a medicated lollipop that contains the drug. Patients who have difficulty swallowing the tablet may prefer to suck the medicated lollipop instead.

Compounding pharmacies specialize in compounding, although many also dispense the same non-compounded drugs that patients can obtain from community pharmacies.

Consultant pharmacy

Consultant pharmacy practice focuses more on medication regimen review (i.e. "cognitive services") than on actual dispensing of drugs. Consultant pharmacists most typically work in nursing homes, but are increasingly branching into other institutions and non-institutional settings. Traditionally consultant pharmacists were usually independent business owners, though in the United States many now work for several large pharmacy management companies (primarily Omnicare, Kindred Healthcare and PharMerica). This trend may be gradually reversing as consultant pharmacists begin to work directly with patients, primarily because many elderly people are now taking numerous medications but continue to live outside of institutional settings. Some community pharmacies employ consultant pharmacists and/or provide consulting services.

The main principle of consultant pharmacy is pharmaceutical care developed by Hepler and Strand in 1990.

Veterinary pharmacy

Veterinary pharmacies, sometimes called animal pharmacies may fall in the category of hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy or mail-order pharmacy. Veterinary pharmacies stock different varieties and different strengths of medications to fulfill the pharmaceutical needs of animals. Because the needs of animals as well as the regulations on veterinary medicine are often very different from those related to people, veterinary pharmacy is often kept separate from regular pharmacies.

Nuclear pharmacy

Nuclear pharmacy focuses on preparing radioactive materials for diagnostic tests and for treating certain diseases. Nuclear pharmacists undergo additional training specific to handling radioactive materials, and unlike in community and hospital pharmacies, nuclear pharmacists typically do not interact directly with patients.

Military pharmacy

Military pharmacy is an entirely different working environment due to the fact that technicians perform most duties that in a civilian sector would be illegal. State laws of Technician patient counseling and medication checking by a pharmacist do not apply.

Pharmacy informatics

Pharmacy informatics is the combination of pharmacy practice science and applied information science. Pharmacy informaticists work in many practice areas of pharmacy, however, they may also work in information technology departments or for healthcare information technology vendor companies. As a practice area and specialist domain, pharmacy informatics is growing quickly to meet the needs of major national and international patient information projects and health system interoperability goals. Pharmacists are well trained to participate in medication management system development, deployment and optimization.

Source: Wikippedia

Labels: pharmacy, types of pharmacies

Clinical pharmacy is the branch of Pharmacy where pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes the use of medication and promotes health, wellness and disease prevention. Clinical pharmacists care for patients in all health care settings but the clinical pharmacy movement initially began inside hospitals and clinics. Clinical pharmacists often collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Clinical pharmacists have extensive education in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, sociobehavioral and clinical sciences. Most clinical pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and many have completed one or more years of post-graduate training (e.g. a general and/or specialty pharmacy residency). Many clinical pharmacists also choose to become Board Certified through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) which was organized in 1976 as an independent certification agency of APhA (American Pharmacists Association). A pharmacist may become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP), Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP), Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP), or a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialities (BPS). There are also subspecialties within the Pharmacotherapy specialty: Cardiology and Infectious Disease. It is denoted as an "Added Qualification" or AQ. In order to obtain one of these specialties you must first be a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and then submit a portfolio to the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties for review to determine if they will grant you the added qualifications.

Within the system of health care, clinical pharmacists are experts in the therapeutic use of medications. They routinely provide medication therapy evaluations and recommendations to patients and other health care professionals. Clinical pharmacists are a primary source of scientifically valid information and advice regarding the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of medications.

A more appropriate definition for clinical pharmacy is, "Clinical pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy which deals with various aspect of patient care, dispensing of drugs and advising patient on the safe and rational use of drug." In some states, clinical pharmacists are given prescriptive authority.

Basic components of clinical pharmacy practice:

1. Prescribing drugs
2. Dispensing and administering drugs
3. Documenting professional services
4. Reviewing drug use
5. Communication
6. Counseling
7. Consulting

Scope of clinical pharmacy:

Drug Distribution Systems
Drug Information
Drug Utilization
Drug Evaluation and Selection
Medication Therapy Management
Formal Education and Training Program
Disease State Management
Miscellaneous:Application of Electronic Data Processing(EDP).

Source: Wikipedia

Labels: clinical pharmacy, pharmacy

Left photo: Modern pharmacy in Norway

Online pharmacies are pharmacies which operate over the Internet. Many such pharmacies are, in some ways, similar to community pharmacies; the primary difference is the method by which the medications are requested and received. Some customers consider this to be more convenient than traveling to a community drugstore.

While many internet pharmacies sell prescription drugs only with a prescription, some do not require a pre-written prescription. In some countries, this is because prescriptions are not required. Some customers order drugs from such pharmacies to avoid the inconvenience of visiting a doctor or to obtain medications which their doctors were unwilling to prescribe. People living in the United States may turn to online pharmacies because medical care and prescription medications can be prohibitively expensive. Many of these websites employ their own in house physicians to review the medication request and write a prescription accordingly. Some websites offer medications without a prescription or a doctor review. This practice has been criticized as potentially dangerous, especially by those who feel that only doctors can reliably assess contraindications, risk/benefit ratios, and the suitability of a medication for a specific individual. Pharmacies offering medication without a prescription and doctor review or supervision are sometimes fraudulent.

In the United States, there has been a push to legalize importation of medications from Canada and several European countries, in order to reduce consumer costs. Although importation of prescription medication usually violates Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and federal laws, enforcement is generally targeted at international drug suppliers, rather than consumers. Often Americans purchase lower-cost foreign drugs by driving to Canadian or Mexican pharmacies, buying their medications when traveling abroad on vacation, or, buying from foreign pharmacies that ship their orders via mail.

Source: Wikipedia

Labels: online pharmacies, online pharmacy

A hospital pharmacy is concerned with pharmacy service to all types of hospital and differs considerably from a community pharmacy.

(Left Photo: A retail pharmacy located inside a hospital in Italy [Prato])

Some pharmacists in hospital pharmacies may have more complex clinical medication management issues whereas pharmacists in community pharmacies often have more complex business and customer relations issues. Because of the complexity of the medication use system, many pharmacists practicing in hospitals gain more education and training after pharmacy school through a pharmacy practice residency and sometimes followed by another residency in a specific area.

Hospital pharmacies can usually be found within the premises of the hospital. Hospital pharmacies usually stock a larger range of medications, including more specialized and investigational medications (medicines that are being studied, but have not yet been approved), than would be feasible in the community setting. Hospital pharmacies typically provide medications for the hospitalized patients only, and are not retail establishments. They typically do not provide prescription service to the public. Some hospitals do have retail pharmacies within them (see illustration), which sell over-the-counter as well as prescription medications to the public, but these are not the actual hospital pharmacy.

Labels: hospital pharmacy, pharmacy

A community pharmacy is one which is not owned (or operated) by a publicly traded company as defined section 2(a) (7) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 7201(a) (7)).

(Left Photo: 19th century Italian pharmacy)

Community pharmacies are pharmacist-owned, privately-held businesses in varying practice settings. They include single-store operations, pharmacist-owned multiple store locations, franchise, compounding, long term-care (LTC), specialty, and supermarket pharmacy operation.

A pharmacy (commonly the chemist in Australia, New Zealand and the UK; or drugstore in North America; retail pharmacy in industry terminology; or Apothecary, historically) is the place where most pharmacists practice the profession of pharmacy. It is the community pharmacy where the dichotomy of the profession exists—health professionals who are also retailers.

Community pharmacies usually consist of a retail storefront with a dispensary where medications are stored and dispensed. The dispensary is subject to pharmacy legislation; with requirements for storage conditions, compulsory texts, equipment, etc., specified in legislation. Where it was once the case that pharmacists stayed within the dispensary compounding/dispensing medications; there has been an increasing trend towards the use of trained pharmacy technicians while the pharmacist spends more time communicating with patients.

All pharmacies are required to have a pharmacist on-duty at all times when open. In many jurisdictions, it is also a requirement that the owner of a pharmacy must be a registered pharmacist (R.Ph.). This latter requirement has been revoked in many jurisdictions, such that many retailers (including supermarkets and mass merchandisers) now include a pharmacy as a department of their store.

Likewise, many pharmacies are now rather grocery store-like in their design. In addition to medicines and prescriptions, many now sell a diverse arrangement of additional household items such as cosmetics, shampoo, office supplies, confectionar, and snack foods.

Source: Wikipedia

Labels: community pharmacy, pharmacy