tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133434752101334071.post8005176862944757415..comments2024-03-27T07:27:26.027-04:00Comments on Eric, Pharmacist: Patient counselingEric Durbin, RPhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09170995334706647447noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133434752101334071.post-7962198525890205962010-08-09T01:51:48.729-04:002010-08-09T01:51:48.729-04:00In defense of the newborn PharmD's... I've...In defense of the newborn PharmD's... I've chosen a clinical path for myself-doing the whole residency thing. But I honestly find I miss some of the retail scene. Not the problems naturally, but my happiest intern days were when I could walk with a patient to the OTC aisle and help them. Or explain something until I saw the comprehension dawn on their face. While working in the hospital, I saw no problem hopping to our outpatient pharmacy and pulling some time there to cover a pharmacist who had to go home ill, take a dinner break, or just lend an extra hand.<br />But from the inpatient side of things, there have been several times that I can recall intervening with some prescribers with discharge Rx's. I remember a post-MI patient who I was talking to about compliance (since she had been previously non-compliant, and was relatively young for an MI) and bingo, cost was an issue. I look at her chart and everything was brand name. I intervened with the PA (grrr) and was able to talk everything but the Plavix into generic.<br /><br />In my current residency, there is no staffing component. I was actually disheartened to realize this, because I do realize that one of a pharmacists' primary jobs is in the medication distribution processes. I miss this part of the job.<br />I acknowledge that any experienced pharmacist knows more than I do, in terms of real-world practice.<br /><br />Maybe I am exception, but I really hope that most young pharmacists have a similar attitude to mine.Katienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133434752101334071.post-39017460850979417342010-08-04T11:45:21.409-04:002010-08-04T11:45:21.409-04:00Doctoral pharmacists not dispense? How are we goin...Doctoral pharmacists not dispense? How are we going to keep up with the complexities of the job, as part of the whole realm of providing pharmaceutical services? <br /><br />When I started BS pharmacy program in the late 70's our school made it desirable that not only profs had good research backgrounds, etc. but had RPh behind their name at some time in their career, and preferably kept up on that license.<br /><br />I admit that I went back for the PharmD after several decades in institutions BEFORE actually picking up retail shifts, so I didn't have a lot of patient contact, though I did fill scripts in out-patient pharmacies. However, I find it reprehensible if pharmacists do not understand firsthand the nature of the beast in pharmacy, bringing pharmaceuticals, both drugs AND knowledge to the patient, as the DRUG EXPERT.<br /><br />After all, our state boards do not license us as doctors, but registered pharmacists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133434752101334071.post-47545856565095554202010-08-01T18:34:40.840-04:002010-08-01T18:34:40.840-04:00You took the words right out of my mouth! Communic...You took the words right out of my mouth! Communication, education and problem solving are what we excellent pharmacists do best. How many times have you asked a patient what their medication was for and they had no idea? They were just given a prescription and told to take it. How many little old ladies have admitted to you that they take their expensive diabetes med every other day to try to avoid the donut hole? She will never admit that to her doctor. What you described is our exact ideal role in the health care system. And patients cannot take their medication properly unless they receive the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time. And for that, you need a dispensing pharmacist. I will NEVER be ashamed of "just" being a retail pharmacist!Pharmgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15244642744865657599noreply@blogger.com