consulting with a pharm.d?
- Thread starter jky007
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jky007 said:
There are lots of options in consulting; however, it really depends on networking and what type of consulting you are talking about. For instance consulting in long term care/home infusion is very common and simply just requires getting a job within one of the various companies (i.e. OmniCare, Apria, NeighborCare (now owned by OmniCare), etc.). Many states also allow you to become certified as an independent consultant and work out your own "deal" with the nursing homes (i.e. New Jersey I think may still have this option). Outside of this more traditional sense pharmacists can consult their services to various types of sectors (assisted living facilities, group homes, chronic hospitals, etc) some of which may or may not have previous relationships w/ larger pharmacy companies. Check out American Society of Consultant Pharmacist (www.ascp.com).
Another option would be the more novel approach of actually obtaining federal/local funding to establish consultant resources in a unique setting (i.e. Geriatric Assessment clinics, HIV medication management clinics, etc). Department of Health & Human Services may be a common source of funding in addition to any other potential sources w/i the public health arena.
Other types of consulting...expert testimony regarding your pharmacology knowledge in a court of law. Folks that do this honestly just have the connections and it will typically evolve out of some type of professional relationship (i.e. a friend/colleague in law asking for your opinion or expert testimony). It helps to already have some objective means of classifying yourself as an expert such as publications, board certification, yrs of experience, good reputation; however, the networking part is probabaly the most impt part if this is something that really interests you. The American Board/College of Forensic Examiners (www.acfei.com) is one possible avenue as would be any of the pharmacology associations and/or clinical toxicology via the American Board of Applied Toxicology (www.clintox.org) to potentially network in this arena. FYI...it really depends on the specifics of the case and how you validate your expertise more than what organization you belong to. The theory is that it convinces the jury that you are an "expert" when your credentials take up a couple seconds/minutes of speech when you are introduced and potentially less rebuttalls by opposing litigators when cross-examined.
Other types of consutling...Industry/research type stuff typically for those in the clinical/research arena and is somewhat dependent on your CV (publications, research experience, clinical practice, board certificaion); however, connections really help a whole lot more than anything else. You can consult part time via speakers bureau or expert committees reviewing new drugs on the market, postmarketing issues, new approvals/marketing strategies, clinical trials, etc. It just depends. Other types of examples would be those good in computers and consult services for drug database management, developing new software, automation devices, or clinical people developing new clinical settings in various areas (i.e. med management and/or anticoag clinics).
Honestly after saying all of this if you find yourself enjoying any part of your profession and can find a way to market it then you can consult your services for just about anything. The limiting factor ends up being how much time and effort you're willing to invest in selling yourself and/or your ideas.
Hope this helps.
jky007 said:
What do you want to consult on? There are Nursing home Consultatant pharmacists who review charts.. but it's a rigorous job. Pharmerica hires consultant pharmacists for Nursing Homes.
Then again, pharmacy industry consulting requires special knowledge and experience which most new grads won't be familiar with such as pharmacy information system technology such as eMar and or automated distribution system interface with HBOC or Meditec etc.. and/or pharmacy GPO contract program and management expertise etc.
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As kwizard & zpack pointed out, these are specialized pharmacists. Years ago, pharmacists used to consult with nursing homes in addition to their regular jobs, but there are soooo many regulations now, you need to be completely familiar with chemical restraints, sedation & analgesia restrictions, etc....
As for legal testimony, you really have to be careful with this IMO. I was once asked to be a legal consultant, but I opted out. You need to be ABSOLUTELY up on whatever speciality of pharmacy you are being consulted on, otherwise your credibilty is always suspect. I'd hesitate to be a general consultant - pharmacy has become too specialized, IMO.
As for legal testimony, you really have to be careful with this IMO. I was once asked to be a legal consultant, but I opted out. You need to be ABSOLUTELY up on whatever speciality of pharmacy you are being consulted on, otherwise your credibilty is always suspect. I'd hesitate to be a general consultant - pharmacy has become too specialized, IMO.
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