Pharmacists are medication experts:
They are trained to understand how medications work in your body, and to identify medication interactions. Pharmacists can look at all of the medications you take, including non-prescription medications, and help you determine if a drug is right for you.
Pharmacists are trained in drug therapy management:
That is, a pharmacist may look at all of the drugs you are taking to determine if you are taking the dosage that is right for you. Perhaps you are taking drugs you no longer need or there is a better drug for you. Many individuals take medications prescribed by several physicians for many medical problems that may lead to duplications. If you have been taking a drug or drugs for some time without a regular review by your physician or pharmacist, this may be the case.
Pharmacists can provide medication review:
If at all possible, use the same pharmacy for all of your medication needs. Ask your pharmacist when you have questions about your drugs or drug costs. Pharmacists may suggest another drug to you and to your physician that may save you money. Pharmacists may suggest another drug option to lessen side effects, or may suggest another drug with more benefits for you.
Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers:
Get to know your pharmacist. Pharmacists are often available when other health care providers are not. Pharmacists work closely with your physicians, and they can and often do help patients in emergencies. Pharmacists, along with physicians and nurses, have provided emergency services during natural disasters. In a medical emergency, pharmacists can administer the first dose of a patient's medication (i.e., insulin for a diabetic). Medical emergencies may include situations such as natural disasters, accidents, epidemics or terrorist attacks.
Pharmacists provide much more than drug dispensing:
Pharmacists are members of your community, your churches, and your local organizations. They care about you, their patients. They are concerned about safety with medications. Pharmacists can provide counsel on a number of health care issues, particularly any questions you have about medications. For more than a decade, the Gallop Poll has found pharmacists to be among the most trusted profession. Talk to your pharmacist about your medications.
Pharmacists can provide many additional health care services:
Pharmacists can monitor your health and progress with medications for several chronic diseases. Among the chronic diseases or conditions that pharmacists regularly monitor are asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight loss, and tobacco use. Some pharmacies provide adult immunizations for flu and other conditions. These services are often referred to as pharmaceutical care services. Some insurance plans do not cover all of these services. Talk to you pharmacist about availability.
Pharmacists collaborate with other health care providers:
Pharmacists may enter into formal collaborative agreements with physicians that allow pharmacists, under a signed, written agreement, to manage the drug therapy for the physician's patients throughout a defined period of time.
For example, a collaborative agreement provides that a patient be directed by their physician to see a pharmacist to monitor and modify their medication therapy. If a physician wanted a patient to take a medication such as warfarin (a blood thinner) for a period of time, the physician could direct the pharmacist to evaluate laboratory tests that the pharmacist could use to adjust the dose of the drug. The pharmacist would be sure that the patient was getting enough of the medication to prevent a "clot" to occur, while avoiding getting too much of the medication that could cause bruising and/or bleeding. The pharmacist would be able to work with the patient and the physician to optimize the medication therapy. Pharmacists can only modify prescriptions as permitted by the written agreement with the physician.
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