Pharmacists are an untapped resource in today's healthcare system: untapped by prescribers making treatment decisions; untapped by patients who might benefit from education and advice about their medications; and untapped by others who influence medication use, such as hospital administrators and payers.
In fact, many healthcare professionals are unaware of the extensive education and training of today's pharmacist. The doctor of pharmacy is now the degree granted to all graduating pharmacists. Core requirements include years of training in pharmacotherapeutics and experiential clinical education. Many pharmacists also complete accredited postgraduate residencies and acquire additional certifications and credentials.[1]
How can you benefit from the expertise of a pharmacist?
If you are a physician, develop relationships with pharmacists who practice in your setting. If you practice in a hospital, learn how to work more effectively with the pharmacy department and seek ways to collaborate. This will improve patient care by improving the safety and quality of the medication use process.[2,3]
If you practice in the community, develop relationships with pharmacists in your area beyond the traditional phone calls to clarify a prescription and coverage. Nearly all states have collaborative practice laws that allow physicians and pharmacists to work together in the care of patients.[4]
Tell your patients to insist on talking with the pharmacist when they get their prescriptions filled, and come prepared with questions about their medications. Patients and hospitals should insist on speaking with a hospital pharmacist whenever they have questions about their medications.
Pharmacists have a great deal to offer any health professional who deals with medication-related issues. They can help improve the safety of medication use, recommend equivalent but lower cost treatment options, and help identify the most effective therapies based on the most current and credible scientific evidence.
Take advantage of the resources pharmacists can provide by integrating them into the patient care team. The quality and safety of patient care will improve as a result.
That's my opinion. I'm Kasey Thompson, Director of Patient Safety at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Footnotes
Readers are encouraged to respond to the author at kthompson@ashp.org or to Paul Blumenthal, MD, Deputy Editor of MedGenMed, for the editor's eyes only or for possible publication via email: pblumen@stanford.edu
References
- 1.American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Residency accreditation. Available at: http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/quart2.asp?CID=2025&DID=2076 Accessed May 16, 2007.
- 2.McMullin ST, Hennenfent JA, Ritchie DJ, et al. A prospective, randomized trial to assess the cost impact of pharmacist-initiated interventions. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159:2306–2309. doi: 10.1001/archinte.159.19.2306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Leape LL, Cullen DJ, Clapp MD, et al. Pharmacist participation on physician rounds and adverse drug events in the intensive care unit. JAMA. 1999;282:267–270. doi: 10.1001/jama.282.3.267. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Collaborative drug therapy management. Available at: http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/doc1.asp?CID=738&DID=3976 Accessed May 16, 2007.
