There are more than 200,000 pharmacy jobs in the US, and just one job description can’t describe them all. Pharmacists can practice in various locations, including independently owned drugstores, national grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and military posts.
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Despite their diverse professional backgrounds, pharmacists carry out the following duties in their daily work:
- Administer Prescriptions
This entails dispensing medications to patients, making a bottle label, and counting out tablets.
- Communicate With Patients
Whenever a prescription order is unclear or harmful to a patient, you should confirm the dosage and formulation (for example, liquid or tablet) and whether a brand’s product is good for the patient or if there is an alternative suffice.
- Make sure patients are safe
Every time a patient gets a new prescription or a refill, you should look at their medication history. This is the best method for a pharmacist to stop using potentially harmful drugs.
- Counsel Patients
This goes beyond simply providing information on the negative side effects of drugs, food, alcohol, and drinks. To ensure that medications are working, patients are counseled on how to take their medications, when to take them, how to reduce the side effects while increasing the benefits of their medications, and how to express any concerns they may have.
- Work on The General Health Status of All Patients
More than just prescribing drugs, pharmacists are needed to maintain the health status of all patients around them. Pharmacists must give patients tips on using over-the-counter medicines, taking vitamins, using health supplements, using herbal and natural health products, exercising, and eating healthfully.
- Communicate with insurance providers
This is mostly important for independent pharmacies. Pharmacists must submit insurance claims, deal with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance providers to secure payment, and resolve coverage denials.
- Supervise Staff
Pharmacists are ultimately responsible for these “three Rs”, which are the right medicine, the right patient, and the right dose. To adequately perform this obligation, you must supervise the work of pharmacy students, intern students, and residents and also serve as their mentor. Making recruiting decisions, creating and enforcing workplace standards, and overseeing pharmacies are additional tasks of pharmacy owners and managers.
- Carry out administrative duties
Everyone in a pharmacy has duties related to maintaining patient files, making sure necessary products are stocked, and generating and filing required reports. If you work as a manager or supervisor, you should spend as much time as necessary on administrative tasks and patient care.
- Stay in touch with Coworkers
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals should be informed about new drugs and drug therapy procedures in the healthcare industry.
- Additional Note: To obtain or renew your license as a pharmacist, you must complete certain educational requirements. You must also stay informed about the latest drug approvals, product assessments, and changes to the indications and warnings for medications. Finally, you must comply with all applicable federal and state laws governing pharmacies. This final point is very crucial. The pharmacy practice laws vary yearly and are specific to each state and territory. It will be easier to learn about and adhere to these regulations if you join the pharmacy association in your state.
