Pharmacists are health
professionals who practice pharmacy. Pharmacists are
highly-trained and skilled healthcare professionals who
perform various roles to ensure optimal health outcomes for
their patients. Pharmacists typically take an order for
medicines from a physician in the form of a medical
prescription and dispense the medication to the patient.
Pharmacists are also often small-business owners, owning the
pharmacy in which they practise. This unique dichotomy is
often the subject of debate within the profession - in part
due to the perception of pharmacists as "common shopkeepers"
by many in the community.
Pharmacists are often, incorrectly, referred to as "Chemists".
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". This is, however, no longer
appropriate and may result in confusion with practitioners of
the field of chemistry.
Qualifications
The basic requirement for pharmacists to be considered for
registration is an undergraduate or postgraduate Pharmacy
degree from a recognised university. In most countries this
involves a four-year course to attain a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
degree.
In Britain, integration with the European Union has resulted
in the BPharm course being superceded by a four-year course
for the qualification Master of Pharmacy (MPharm). In
Australia, apart from the four-year BPharm course, there is
the option of a postgraduate 2-year MPharm course for those
with undergraduate science degree.
In the United States, pharmacists complete a two-year
pre-pharmacy undergraduate program. Following that, the
pharmacist will then complete a four year pharmacy program.
They will be awarded a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree upon
completion of the program. Then a pharmacist will complete an
optional post-graduate residency or otherwise enter into the
pharmacy practice of their choice, ex. hospital, compounding,
nuclear, hospice, community, retail, etc. In the United
States, people must pass the Naplex exam and an additional
state exam before they can acquire a license to practice
pharmacy in that state. It was created by the National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy (http://www.nabp.net)® (NABP).
Pharmacists are trained in fields including pharmacology,
chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy practice
(including drug interactions, medicine monitoring, medication
management), pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, physiology, anatomy
and biochemistry.
Registration
In order to practise as a pharmacist, the person must be
registered with the relevant statutory body, which governs the
registration and practice of pharmacy within the territory of
its jurisdiction. There is often a requirement for the
pharmacy graduate to have completed a certain number of hours
of experience in a pharmacy, under the supervision of a
registered pharmacist. The statutory body will usually
administer a written and oral examination to the prospective
pharmacist prior to registration.
In Great Britain, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain is responsible for regulation of pharmacy affairs.
Graduates must complete one year of practical training in a
pharmacy prior to eligibility to sit the registration
examination.
In the United States, a person must pass the Naplex
examination before they can practice pharmacy.
Roles
Pharmacists are often the first point-of-contact for patients
with health enquiries. This means that pharmacists have large
roles in the primary healthcare of patients.
These roles include, but are not limited to:
* compounding medicines
* dispensing medicines on prescription
* provision of non-prescription medicines
* counselling and advice on optimal use of medicines
* advice on common ailments
* referral to other health professionals if necessary
* general health advice
* monitoring of treatment regimens
* general health monitoring
* reviewing medication regiments
* clinical medication management
* providing pharmaceutical care
Specialities
Specialties exist within the pharmacy profession, much as in
the medical profession. The primary factor resulting in
specialisation is the place of occupation. Such specialities
include:
* Community pharmacist
* Hospital pharmacist
* Consultant pharmacist
* Locum pharmacist
* Drug information pharmacist
* Regulatory-affairs pharmacist
* Industrial pharmacist
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