Anyone who is planning to pursue a career in pharmacy knows that it is a field that requires significant time and effort, so before you make the decision to opt for a degree in pharmacy, it is important to know what pharmacists do.
To become a pharmacist, you will need to complete your degree in PharmD.
Before you make this decision, it is important to know what pharmacists are.
In this blog, we will explore all about pharmacists.
Let’s get started with what pharmacists actually do.
What Are Pharmacists?
Pharmacists are specialized healthcare practitioners with training in different sectors such as storing, handling, preparing, and distributing a diverse range of medications.
A pharmacist plays an important role when it comes to instructing patients on the proper use and administration of their prescribed drugs.
Moreover, they serve as a vital last line of defense, verifying that dosages prescribed by your doctor are accurate and that you will not face any dangerous or potentially adverse drug interactions.
Now that you know what pharmacists are, let’s have a look at where they work.
Where Can You Find A Pharmacist?
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Where do pharmacists work? |
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Hospitals |
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Mental Health Facilities |
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Assisted Living Facilities |
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Nursing Homes |
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Rehabilitation Centers |
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Poison Control Centers |
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Pharmacies |
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Government Facilities |
Table 1
Overall, you can find pharmacists anywhere where patients require medication preparation or distribution.
Why Are Pharmacists Vital?
1. Identify Harmful Drug Interactions
Pharmacists have the expertise to identify potentially hazardous drug interactions.
This is because they spend years comprehending medications and how they interact with the human body.
Moreover, they also have ample knowledge of how different medications interact with each other as it may not be suitable for an individual to start a new medication that may possibly react with the existing ones.
When it comes to disease or pain management, your healthcare professional may prescribe more than one medication at the same time.
Under rare circumstances, these medications may lead to harmful interactions with supplements, foods, or any other drugs.
With the help of some probing questions, your pharmacist can intervene to help you modify your medication routine in a way that would ensure your optimal safety.
2. Support Medication Adherence
A busy schedule and concerns about potential side effects of different medications can be a significant challenge for patients.
This is where the pharmacists come in. They play an important role in supporting medication adherence.
So what do pharmacists do when it comes to medication adherence?
Well, they provide useful assistance to patients that help them in sticking to their prescribed medication routines.
Consider this an example:
Your pharmacist may advise you to use a single pharmacy as it would help you streamline refills.
They can also provide you with over-the-counter consultations which would help address any doubts that you may have.
Reviewing your medication from time to time is also instrumental in promoting consistency. This helps in assessing whether a medication is beneficial or if it's causing unwanted side effects.
Once all these issues are catered to, you receive better quality healthcare.
3. Compensate For Your Doctor’s Absence
Imagine you have a query you want an answer to almost immediately but your doctor isn't available at the moment. What would you do?
Well, this is where your pharmacists can serve as a reliable confidant in your doctor’s absence.
Not only are they able to establish long-term relationships with patients, especially those living in rural areas where the accessibility to healthcare professionals is limited.
You can easily reach out to pharmacists for quick inquiries or to report any side effects that may result from any new medication or changes in the old one.
Along with this, there are a number of value-added services that pharmacists are able to provide you with. These include:
- Checking blood pressure
- Cholesterol monitoring
- Blood sugar testing
This allows patients to make informed decisions about their health and seek subsequent medical attention if required.
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4. Stop Drug Abuse And Misuse
Improper use of prescriptions can result in harmful side effects, addiction, and in severe cases, fatal outcomes.
In today’s time, pharmacists have the ability and power to use their roles in a way that would help mitigate incidents that may result in unfortunate outcomes.
This is made possible with effective prescription management.
When pharmacists have all the patient information in a centralized database, they are equipped to safeguard them against potential misuse or abuse of drugs.
Another way to prevent drug abuse is to conduct educational campaigns on safe medication disposal and collaboration with healthcare practitioners who can devise valuable strategies to address this concern.
5. Making Compounding Easier For You
Are you someone who finds it difficult to swallow medicines or gets allergies easily?
This is where your pharmacist can make things easier for you.
A pharmacist has expertise in compounding, which involves blending various medications or components to create a tailored, single-use application.
Imagine it like this: a pharmacy that amalgamates multiple supplements to produce a singular gel capsule, liquid, or topical solution that helps in adhering to medication.
Types Of Pharmacists
Now that you know what pharmacists do, let’s have a look at the different types of pharmacists.
1. Community Pharmacists
This type of pharmacist is employed in different retail pharmacies.
So what do pharmacists do at the retail pharmacies?
Well, their primary responsibilities include distributing medications and offering consultation on topics such as prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medication, basic health conditions, and related areas.
2. Clinical Pharmacists:
These pharmacists are employed in settings similar to clinics and hospitals.
Their main responsibility is to provide direct care to patients which includes prescribing medications, monitoring, and adjusting dosages as required during treatment.
Moreover, they are also responsible for administering a wide range of medical tests.
3. Consultant Pharmacists
As the name suggests, these pharmacists offer consultation services to hospitals, insurance providers, and various healthcare facilities, often intending to improve pharmacy operations.
Patients can also visit them for direct consultations on topics such as prescription management.
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FAQs
1. Are pharmacists doctors?
Are pharmacists doctors is a question everyone wants to know about.
Well, the answer may vary from country to country.
In Pakistan, pharmacists have the option to use the "Dr." prefix.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council reserves the use of the "Dr." prefix for MBBS and BDS doctors only.
However, the Chairman of the Pakistan Pharmacy Council has confirmed that pharmacists are permitted to use the doctor prefix, and this recognition extends internationally.
According to the chairman, pharmacists are entitled to refer to themselves as doctors in Pakistan.
Are pharmacists doctors? The straightforward answer is yes, they can be referred to as doctors.
2. What do you know about PharmD vs. RPh?
Here’s all you need to know about PharmD vs. RPh.
PharmD is a doctoral qualification that is achieved by individual professionals after several years of education.
This degree is a mandatory requirement for everyone who is aspiring to become a pharmacist.
Once the degree has been completed, the graduates are then required to clear different sets of exams and obtain a license as a registered pharmacist.
So when it comes to PharmD vs. Rph, you can consider PharmD as a prerequisite for Rph.