What is American Pharmacists Month?
Each October, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recognizes the crucial role that pharmacists play in providing essential healthcare services to our communities. It’s a chance to raise awareness for the significant contributions that these healthcare workers – and their teams – make to their patients’ health and well-being.
What does a typical day look like for a pharmacist?
As the most accessible community medical professional, Pharmacists are often the first line of care for many patients. They are crucial players in assuring that basic medical needs are being met. This means their daily tasks and responsibilities can include any number of the following:
- Dispensing prescription drugs
- Advising how to take or administer medication
- Evaluating medication usage to prevent negative interactions with other drugs or health conditions
- Providing information about general health
- Providing information on healthcare supplies and medical equipment
- Administering vaccinations
- Compounding medications, as needed
- Ensuring compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations
What is the typical course of study required to become a pharmacist?
There are a few educational paths that a person desiring to become a pharmacist can take, including four-year programs after achieving an undergraduate degree; accelerated, two– to three-year programs; and six– to seven-year programs that accept students directly from high school. Required courses include a mix of chemistry, pharmacology, medical ethics, and health management prior to performing an internship in a medical setting. Regardless of the path chosen to achieve a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Degree, all candidates must attend a school or college that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
At PDMI, we have a Clinical Team of talented PharmDs that works each day to improve people’s health and well-being. Acting as the organization’s drug information experts, the team advises our clients, partners, and their patients in many ways, including:
- Reviewing medications for formulary placement and to share valuable clinical recommendations on new products
- Developing and maintaining Clinical programs, including Formulary, Specialty, and Step Therapy
- Identify opportunities to decrease plan costs for clients with minimal patient impact
- Using prior retail pharmacy experience to oversee the Call Center and to enact successful, efficient processes for our pharmacy partners
Contact us to see what our Clinical Consulting and Pharmacy Team can do for you.