Jane Fern's Pharmacists Guide

Historically, the fundamental role of pharmacists is to distribute drugs that have been prescribed by a medical practitioner to patients. In more modern times pharmacists advise patients and health care providers on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Pharmacists monitor the health and progress of patients to ensure the safe and effective use of medication. In some cases, pharmacists may practice compounding (mixing ingredients to form medications); however, most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a standard dosage and drug delivery form. In some jurisdictions, pharmacists have prescriptive authority to either independently prescribe under their own authority or in collaboration with a primary care physician through an agreed upon protocol.

Pharmacists are trained in pharmacology, pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy practice (including drug interactions, medicine monitoring, medication management), pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacokinetics, drug delivery, pharmaceutical care, nephrology, hepatology, and compounding medications. Additional curriculum covers diagnosis with emphasis on laboratory tests, disease state management, therapeutics and prescribing (selecting the most appropriate medication for a given patient).

One of the most important roles that pharmacists are currently taking on is one of pharmaceutical care[citation needed]. Pharmaceutical care involves taking direct responsibility for patients and their disease states, medications, and the management of each in order to improve the outcome for each individual patient. Pharmaceutical care has many benefits that include but are not limited to:

* Decreased medication errors
* Increased patient compliance in medication regimen
* Better chronic disease state management
* Strong pharmacist-patient relationship
* Decreased long-term costs of medical care

Pharmacists are often the first point-of-contact for patients with health inquiries. This means that pharmacists have large roles in the assessing medication management in patients, and in referring patients to physicians. These roles may include, but are not limited to:

* clinical medication management
* the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical medication management required.
* specialized monitoring of disease states
* reviewing medication regimens
* monitoring of treatment regimens
* delegating work
* general health monitoring
* compounding medicines
* general health advice
* providing specific education to patients about disease states and medications
* oversight of dispensing medicines on prescription
* provision of non-prescription medicines
* counseling and advice on optimal use of medicines
* advice and treatment of common ailments
* referrals to other health professionals if necessary
* dosing drugs in renal and hepatic failure
* pharmacokinetic evaluation
* education of physicians and other health care providers on medications and their proper use
* limited prescribing of medications only in collaboration with other health care professionals
* providing pharmaceutical information
* promoting public health by administering immunizations

The job of pharmacist is considered a profession and professional registration or possession of a license to practice pharmacy is universally required. Pharmacists are sometimes (often, in numerous countries in Europe) small-business owners, owning the pharmacy in which they practice. Their specialized knowledge as skilled professionals makes them a vital part of any health care team. They act as a learned intermediary between patients and other health care providers to ensure that proper medical therapy is chosen and implemented in the best way possible.

In the United States, as of 2006, there were 243,000 persons employed as pharmacists in 2006. Of these, 62 percent worked in community pharmacies, either as salaried employees or self-employed owners; 23 percent worked in hospitals; the rest worked for mail-order pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, offices of physicians, or government agencies.

A pharmacist in the US averages 125000/year salary. This is mostly due to a shortage, that is predicted to turn into a surplus in 2015. Pharmacist salaries will then decrease to be more inline with Physical therapist, Optometrist and Occupational therapist.

Source: Wikipedia

Labels: distribute drugs, fundamental role, medical practitioner, pharmacists