Page 9 - Leisure Living Magazine May 2017

What Can Your
Pharmacist Do For You?
By Marilee D. Clemons, Pharm. D., RPh, clemons.99@osu.edu
Friends, family members, and patients often ask me about my role as a pharmacist in the com- munity setting. My patient care role has many facets to it, and what I do is quite different from what the average person may have in mind. His- torically, pharmacists’ primary role has centered on safely and accurately dispensing medications. Many people think of a pharmacist as the person standing behind the counter at their local large- chain or grocery store pharmacy putting pills into a bottle and placing a label on it. Today’s phar- macists are drug information experts, but their value does not end there. Pharmacists collaborate as part of a highly trained healthcare team to treat and counsel patients.
Education requirements for pharmacists have gone from a 5-year bachelors degree (B.S. Pharm) to a doctorate of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree that takes 6 to 8 years to complete. Pharmacists also have the opportunity to complete residen- cies or post-graduate training after graduating pharmacy school. Post-graduate training is not required, but allows pharmacists to practice as a licensed pharmacist under the supervision of an experienced preceptor to specialize and gain experiences in patient care and practice manage- ment.
In addition to developing practice experience and clinical drug and disease state knowledge, pharmacists receive training in preventative care, health and wellness, and patient education. Phar- macists’ roles have expanded to include direct patient care, such as primary care or disease state management services, and are continuing to evolve today.
The most important duty of a community pharmacist is to ensure the medications you are taking are safe, effective, and appropriate. We evaluate medication regimens by assessing for appropriate dosage, drug interactions, and ensuring drugs are being used correctly. Medica- tions may not only interact with other prescrip- tion medications, but can interact with over the
counter products, vitamins, herbal supplements, or foods. We provide medication counseling and education to our patients and are vital in teach- ing patients about the medication they are tak- ing, how to manage side effects, and how to use the medication appropriately to achieve the best outcomes. Additionally, we can complete com- prehensive medication reviews to identify med- ication-related problem(s) and collaborate with your healthcare provider to resolve the identified problem(s).
Community pharmacists administer vaccina- tions and as one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, we are instrumental in providing our patients with pertinent information when it comes to immunizations. We can also help iden- tify those patients who are in target groups for certain vaccinations.
Pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team, and are among the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals. Although this is just a brief overview of what a community pharmacist can do for you, I hope it highlights the many ways we can help you to get healthy and stay healthy. In collaboration with physicians and other healthcare providers, pharmacists are always striving to improve patient lives.
Marilee is currently a PGY1 Community Care Pharmacy Resident at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio. She can be contacted at clemons.99@osu.edu.
Your one-stop resource for buyers, sellers, Realtors & lenders!
American Patriot Title Agency
Our full-service agency offers all
of these consumer products:
Title examinations • Owners’ and Lenders’ Coverage • Full Escrow • Preliminary Judicials
Sheriff Sale Purchases • For Sale By Owner Assist Deeds • Free Courier • Outside Closings
Sharon Sweda - Owner 419.433.1003 Sharon@AmericanPatriotTitle.com www.americanpatriottitle.com
LeisureLiving May 2017
www.LeisureLivingMagazine.com |9