Take the time this year to thank your pharmacist and recognize the hard work they do to improve your health and ensure you have access to the medications you need.
Pharmacists play a vital role in patient care in a variety of health care settings. Pharmacists can work in the community setting at a local or chain drug store, in a hospital or clinic, as a consultant, in the pharmaceutical industry designing and conducting clinical trials, in academia and much more. Regardless of the setting, the work pharmacists do is key to improving patients’ lives.
A pharmacist must earn their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) which can take up to eight years including undergraduate education. Some pharmacists may choose to complete post-graduate training with a residency program or fellowships to receive additional training in specialty areas.
Your pharmacist is responsible for verifying you are receiving the most appropriate medications for your health conditions.
In addition to medication management, a pharmacist can help you in many ways, such as:
- Consulting with your health care providers to optimize your health outcomes and well-being
- Ensuring the proper dose, route, frequency and duration of your medication is appropriate for you
- Confirming your medications do not interact with any other medications, including prescription and over-the-counter, supplements or health conditions you may have
- Providing education on lifestyle changes that could improve your health
- Ensuring you know how to take and store your medication safely
- Recommending over-the-counter medications that may help in addition to your prescriptions
- Working with insurance providers to ensure you have access to the medications you need in a timely manner
- Administering routine and travel immunizations and long-acting injectable medications
Your pharmacist is a vital member of your health care team. Take the time to thank your pharmacist for helping you reach your health care goals!
If you need a reliable local pharmacy, UofL Health has the following pharmacy locations for your medication needs:
