Pharmacists

Pharmacists are health professionals who practice the art and science of pharmacy. In their traditional role, pharmacists typically take a request for medicines from a prescribing health care provider in the form of a medical prescription and dispense the medication to the patient and counsel them on the proper use and adverse effects of that medication. In this role, pharmacists ensure the safe and effective use of medications. Pharmacists also participate in disease state management, where they optimise and monitor drug therapy – often in collaboration with physicians and/or other health professionals. Pharmacists have many areas of expertise and are a critical source of medical knowledge in clinics, hospitals, and community pharmacies throughout the world.
Pharmacists are sometimes small-business owners, owning the pharmacy in which they practice. Their specialized knowledge as skilled professionals makes them a vital part of any healthcare team. They act as a learned intermediary between patients and other healthcare providers to ensure that proper medical therapy is chosen and implemented in the best way possible. Pharmacists are sometimes referred to as chemists (or dispensing chemists), which sometimes causes confusion with scientists in the field of chemistry. This term is a historical one, since pharmacists originally were required to complete an undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (PhC) and were known as "Pharmaceutical Chemists". Roles: Pharmacists are trained in pharmacology, pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy practice (including drug interactions, medicine monitoring, medication management), pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, kinetics, nephrology, hepatology, and compounding medications.
One of the most important roles that pharmacists are currently taking on is one of pharmaceutical care. It 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 regime • Better chronic disease state management • Lessen cost of insurance • Strong pharmacist-patient relationship 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 the primary care of patients. 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 • delegate 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 • referral 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
QUALIFICATION: The requirements of pharmacy education, pharmacist licensure and post-graduate continuing education vary from country to country and between regions/localities within countries. In most countries, prospective pharmacists study pharmacy at a pharmacy school or related institution. Upon graduation, they are licensed either nationally or by region to dispense medication of various types in the settings for which they have been trained.
Practice specialization Specialties exist within the pharmacy profession, with the place of occupation being the major differentiator. Specialties include: • Academic pharmacist • Clinical pharmacist (consisting of many subspecialties such as Pediatrics, Geriatrics, etc.) • Community pharmacist • Compounding pharmacist • Consultant pharmacist • Drug information pharmacist • Home Health pharmacist • Hospital pharmacist • Industrial pharmacist o Nuclear Pharmacist • Oncology Pharmacist • Regulatory-affairs pharmacist • Veterinary pharmacist
WORKING CONDITIONS: Pharmacists usually work in a clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated area that resembles a small laboratory. Pharmacy can be mentally demanding, in part because of the thousands of drugs that are in the medical arsenal, and in part because of the need to keep current on the hundreds of new drugs introduced every year. Pharmacists spend a lot of time on their feet. According to a recent survey, Pharmacists average 40 hours a week in their primary work setting. A small percentage of Pharmacists work in a secondary setting where they average 15 hours a week, often as a consultant to a nursing home or other facility. Pharmacies often are open in the evenings and on weekends. Self-employed Pharmacists average about 48 hours per week.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK :The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. Estimated number of workers in 1993 14,640 Estimated number of workers in 2005 18,550 Projected Growth 1993-2005 28% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 3,340 (These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.) The employment outlook for Pharmacists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2005. The demand for Pharmacists will be stimulated by population growth and the aging of the population, which will boost demand for pharmaceutical services. Moreover, community pharmacies are expected to hire more Pharmacists because of a trend towards shorter working hours. Other factors likely to spur demand for Pharmacists include scientific advances that have made a wider range of drug products available for preventive and therapeutic uses, the rising standard of health care, and the growth of public and private health insurance programs that provide payment for prescription drugs. Employment of Pharmacists in hospitals and other health facilities is expected to rise faster than in other work settings. Pharmacists with advanced training will be needed for college teaching and top administrative posts.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS :Salaries of Pharmacists are generally influenced by the location, size, and type of employer, as well as the duties and responsibilities of the position. The average salary in California for Pharmacists was about $70,200 a year in 1996. The earnings range from about $30,000 to $85,000 per year or more. Wages are generally higher for larger employers in urban areas. Wages in 1998 for a Pharmacist I in the State government ranged from $4,139 to $4,564 a month, while the salary for Pharmacist II ranged from $4,547 to $5,014 per month. The Federal Government starts its Pharmacists at the GS-9 level which ranges between $29,577 to $38,451. The usual progression is to the GS-11 level which pays between $35,786, and $46,523.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING: To practice pharmacy, a license is required. Licensure requires graduation from an accredited pharmacy degree program, passage of a State board examination, possession of a specified amount of practical experience, or an internship under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist. Internships generally are served in a community or hospital pharmacy. Admission requirements vary from nation to nation .In India it is generally 4 years in U.S.A it is 5 years. Because entry requirements vary among colleges of pharmacy, pre-pharmacy students should follow the curriculum pattern required by the college they plan to attend.
ADVANCEMENTS: Pharmacists often begin as employees in community pharmacies. After they gain experience and secure the necessary capital, they may become owners or part owners of pharmacies. A Pharmacist with experience in a chain drugstore may advance to a managerial position, and later to a higher executive position within the company. Hospital Pharmacists who have the necessary training and experience may advance to director of pharmacy service or to other administrative positions. Pharmacists in manufacturing often have opportunities for advancement in management, sales, Research, quality control, advertising, production, packaging, and other areas.After the Patent Regime introduced in the 2005 in India the industry is more focussed towards the clinical research and hence it creates an ample of oppurtuniteis for clinical phramacists.
FINDING THE JOB: Employers advertise in trade and daily papers and advise pharmacy schools of vacancies. Information about job openings is also passed among Pharmacists. Government positions are filled from civil service lists.