The Profession of Pharmacy
Just as most health care fields are currently experiencing growth, so is the profession of pharmacy. Now, more than ever, pharmacists are needed nationwide to work in a variety of health care settings. Pharmacists have been practicing almost as long as physicians and the two fields have developed simultaneously. The need for professional collaboration between doctors and pharmacists for optimal patient care will continue and evolve well into the future. Here is some basic information about the profession of pharmacy:
Pharmacy 1 (from the Greek "pharmakon" = drug) is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences, and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of medication. The scope of pharmacy practice includes more traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medications, and it also includes more modern services related to patient care, including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists, therefore, are the experts on drug therapy and are the primary health professionals who optimize medication use to provide patients with positive health outcomes.
Pharmacists 2 are health professionals who practice the art and science of pharmacy. In their traditional role, pharmacists typically take a request for medicines from a prescribing health care provider in the form of a medical prescription and dispense the medication to the patient and counsel them on the proper use and adverse effects of that medication. In this role, pharmacists ensure the safe and effective use of medications. Pharmacists also participate in disease state management, where they optimize and monitor drug therapy or interpret medical laboratory results in collaboration with physicians and/or other health professionals. Pharmacists have many areas of expertise and are a critical source of medical knowledge in clinics, hospitals, medical laboratories, and community pharmacies throughout the world.
Pharmaceuticals (both prescription and non-prescription) are the leading health care intervention for patients of all ages in the United States. Recent data revealed that 82 percent 3 (or 4 out of 5) of adults reported taking a medication within a given week. From 1997 to 2007, the number of prescriptions purchased increased 72 percent (from 2.2 billion to 3.8 billion).4 Or in other words, almost 13 retail prescriptions per person per year in the United States were dispensed by pharmacists. Also, it is estimated that as the population continues to age, the demand for pharmaceuticals and pharmacists to oversee their appropriate use is anticipated to escalate. The percent of the population with a prescription drug expense in 2005 was 91 percent for those 65 and older4 .
Roosevelt University engaged in an extensive study of pharmacy education and the professional practice of pharmacy, which demonstrated a strong need for a college of pharmacy in the Northwest suburban region. Specifically:
* Illinois has a population of almost 13 million residents (fifth most populated state) with the megalopolis of Chicago having over 9 million residents (third largest city in the nation) and only four academic pharmacy programs for the entire state.
* Illinois is one of seven states with the highest demand for pharmacists, according to Pharmacy Today. since pharmacy graduates tend to remain in the state and region, they can help fulfill this demand.
* In 2008, over 1,100 Illinois residents attended academic pharmacy programs outside the state.
* Nationally, there are only 10,000 first-year enrollment spots in pharmacy programs for 95,000 applicants (almost a 10 to 1 ratio of applicants to slots available).
Pharmaceuticals (both prescription and non-prescription) remain one of the most common health care interventions for patients of all ages. The number of traditional pharmaceutical products and biopharmaceuticals used by patients continues to increase, along with the addition of new biomarkers for their appropriate use, which requires all health care practitioners to remain up-to-date on the latest diagnostics and therapies. Several factors are contributing to the current shortage of licensed pharmacists:
* The aging population and increased use of prescription and non-prescription medications
* Expansion among major retail pharmacies
* Growth of pharmacy services in hospitals and health systems
* Enahnced roles in pharmacy care settings and medical offices spurred by reimbursement models
* Inadequate capacity of existing academic pharmacy programs to meet high volume of pharmacy student applicants
* Additional opportunities for licensed pharmacists to work in less traditional roles, which causes a drain on the supply
* Retirement of pharmacists
With an aging population, the increased use of prescription and non-prescription medications, and the advent of home diagnostics and monitoring devices, there is a shortage of qualified pharmacists on a national, state and local level to assist patients and other health care providers in managing medications to achieve optimal outcomes.
Pharmaceuticals (both prescription and non-prescription) remain one of the most common health care interventions for patients of all ages, and pharmacists remain one of the most accessible health care providers to assist patients in managing their medications for optimal outcomes, yet the number of pharmacists remains underrepresented in all sections of practice.
These sources offer you more information about the forecast for pharmacists, professional opportunities in pharmacy practice and the life of pharmacy students.
1 "pharmacy" Wikipedia (accessed May 2009)
2 Slone. 2005. Patterns of Medication Use in the United States 2004. Boston, MA: Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University.
3 Slone, 2005. Patterns of Medication Use in the United States 2004. Boston, MA: Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University.
4 Prescription Drug Trends Fact Sheet - September 2008 Update, Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/rxdrugs/upload/3057_07.pdf
