Current topics/issues on Pharmacy

[calipharmacy]

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Hi all

I was wondering if you guys know any current issues and major topics being discussed related to pharmacy? Any good sites to recommend? I know some topics are rising prescription cost, birth control...and of course the popular supply/demand of pharmacists (no need to mention that! 🙂)

In your opinion, what do you think is one of the important issues and concerns of pharmacy?

If this is a dumb question, sorry. 😉

Thanks.

 

[rxlea]

Hi all

I was wondering if you guys know any current issues and major topics being discussed related to pharmacy? Any good sites to recommend? I know some topics are rising prescription cost, birth control...and of course the popular supply/demand of pharmacists (no need to mention that! 🙂)

In your opinion, what do you think is one of the important issues and concerns of pharmacy?

If this is a dumb question, sorry. 😉

Thanks.

Cultural competence and professionalism. 😀

...and the damn isomers to retain patents: Claritin/clarinex, prilosec/nexium, effexor/pristiq, etc.

But, these are just a few of the issues I see. 😎

 

[crazybob]

Hi all

I was wondering if you guys know any current issues and major topics being discussed related to pharmacy? Any good sites to recommend? I know some topics are rising prescription cost, birth control...and of course the popular supply/demand of pharmacists (no need to mention that! 🙂)

In your opinion, what do you think is one of the important issues and concerns of pharmacy?

If this is a dumb question, sorry. 😉

Thanks.

Cultural competence and professionalism. 😀

...and the damn isomers to retain patents: Claritin/clarinex, prilosec/nexium, effexor/pristiq, etc.

But, these are just a few of the issues I see. 😎

What she said. Last semester, one of the things they emphasized in pharmacy practice was cultural competency. Most of us thought it was dumb, because a lot of people don't take it seriously. It's like they just care about dispensing and counseling. I actually talked to one of the deans, and suggested incorporating parts of it into the entire semester, but I couldn't come up with a plan I could talk about right away.

The best way to find out would be to shadow a pharmacist and then ask them while they're working. If you just ask them when you visit a pharmacy, they may not get to tell you everything, but if something comes up at work, they can explain a lot about it.

Another thing that I learned from US Healthcare System for Pharmacists was health disparities in health care, where people of different races, genders, etc were treated differently because of their status. This contributed to an increase in things such as the percentage of african-americans not managing their diabetes well.

 

[rxlea]

What she said. Last semester, one of the things they emphasized in pharmacy practice was cultural competency. Most of us thought it was dumb, because a lot of people don't take it seriously. It's like they just care about dispensing and counseling. I actually talked to one of the deans, and suggested incorporating parts of it into the entire semester, but I couldn't come up with a plan I could talk about right away.

The best way to find out would be to shadow a pharmacist and then ask them while they're working. If you just ask them when you visit a pharmacy, they may not get to tell you everything, but if something comes up at work, they can explain a lot about it.

Another thing that I learned from US Healthcare System for Pharmacists was health disparities in health care, where people of different races, genders, etc were treated differently because of their status. This contributed to an increase in things such as the percentage of african-americans not managing their diabetes well.

I agree. Health disparity is definitely another one. For example, here in Arizona, the Native American population is plagued by alcoholism and diabetes. However, because of their rich cultural and religious beliefs, it is important to know how to interact with these patients who might have varying levels of acculturation. This will allow us to build a relationship with our patients based on trust and understanding that will "help us help them". Ya know what I mean?

 

[crazybob]

I agree. Health disparity is definitely another one. For example, here in Arizona, the Native American population is plagued by alcoholism and diabetes. However, because of their rich cultural and religious beliefs, it is important to know how to interact with these patients who might have varying levels of acculturation. This will allow us to build a relationship with our patients based on trust and understanding that will "help us help them". Ya know what I mean?

Yeah, exactly. Not everyone will take a tablet or capsule just because we give it to them. They might prefer suspensions with extended-release over a whole day. They also might prefer to do that if they can't swallow.

Some people will avoid tablets completely, so you have to suggest alternatives. In my patient counseling sessions at school, I've had to suggest other possibilities when my patients or a relative who was "picking up the prescription" needed some counseling on the medication.

I actually really like patient counseling but everyone else at school says it's hard and makes them feel nervous. Sometimes I'll be the only one to hold a different opinion. There was one time in pharmacy practice class when a pharmacist needed a volunteer to help her out when we were learning about communication with patients. Both times, no one else would do it, so I said I would. On the first time I though "ok, maybe no one wants to do this yet" and then the second time I started to wonder if they ever take this class seriously.

 

[Monalyce]

Start keeping up with news...I recommend CNN.com "Health" news. The more you read, the more you'll get an idea of what's going on in the real world. This is also a great question to ask pharmacists (for instance, while shadowing).

 

[medicalCPA]

If you are trying to look this up for an interview, you've got an excellent question to ask your interviewers when they ask you, "Do you have any questions for us?"

 

[Passion4Sci]

I always kind of like discussing DTC advertising. Sure, not exactly all about a pharmacist, but it's certainly relevant and very "now. I'd read up on it... It's one of my biggest "hot" buttons right now.

 

[Argentium]

If you would like to follow the path of industry (the pharmaceutical industry), I would suggest

http://www.fiercepharma.com/
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/pharma_industry/
http://www.firstwordplus.com/home.do
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/

They are all industry standards except wsj healthblog, which i just enjoy reading.

 

[pharm B]

Also looks at the various pharmacy organizations' websites. I believe it was the APhA that was publishing stories recently about PSE sales after a pharmacist got busted by the DEA for selling a large quantity to a known dealer. (the APhA makes it sound like he's a saint, while he's got the highest mark-up on PSE products in the state and was selling to a well-known local dealer).

 

[Passion4Sci]

Also looks at the various pharmacy organizations' websites. I believe it was the APhA that was publishing stories recently about PSE sales after a pharmacist got busted by the DEA for selling a large quantity to a known dealer. (the APhA makes it sound like he's a saint, while he's got the highest mark-up on PSE products in the state and was selling to a well-known local dealer).

Ah, did you read an update for that? Last time I read the story, it was just a "theory" that he was, indeed, selling to a local dealer and knew about it.

 

[pharm B]

I haven't had a chance to follow up on the story much (the Ersland case is much more interesting, IMO) with getting married, going to school, etc. It just seemed like the APhA painted this pharmacy out to be the picture of innocence, while they make a substantial amount on their PSE sales. Personally, we're always "out" of anything more than 12 hour sudafed products on the weekends.

 

[rxlea]

Yeah, exactly. Not everyone will take a tablet or capsule just because we give it to them. They might prefer suspensions with extended-release over a whole day. They also might prefer to do that if they can't swallow.

Some people will avoid tablets completely, so you have to suggest alternatives. In my patient counseling sessions at school, I've had to suggest other possibilities when my patients or a relative who was "picking up the prescription" needed some counseling on the medication.

I actually really like patient counseling but everyone else at school says it's hard and makes them feel nervous. Sometimes I'll be the only one to hold a different opinion. There was one time in pharmacy practice class when a pharmacist needed a volunteer to help her out when we were learning about communication with patients. Both times, no one else would do it, so I said I would. On the first time I though "ok, maybe no one wants to do this yet" and then the second time I started to wonder if they ever take this class seriously.

Yes, I agree. I also think it goes beyond that. For instance, it would be good to know that in Latino families, extended family can be considered just as close as the immediate family and might be a part of big decisions or want visitation. It may also be beneficial to know that in some traditional Indian families, the wife may want to communicate "through" the husband- she tells him something, and he talks to the doctor/pharmacist. In asian culture, there is not a lot of eye contact. It is just knowing that stuff will help you connect and communicate with your patients better.

 

[sUrface]

ifl

 

[evilolive]

The reality of the pharmacist "shortage" and how many new schools are opening up would be a pretty dicey yet ironic topic for interview.

 

[koercive]

Reimbursements for pharmacist consultations (Medicare Part D)

Expansion of the scope of pharmacy (Ambulatory Care, etc.)