Future of our profession?

[StriveForGlory]

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It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

 

[Caverject]

It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

Point?

 

[thedrunkenpharm]

Wow! What an enlightening, thoughtful topic and post! How novel and profound!

Thank you for not including truth, because that would be really boring.

 

[RxWildcat]

It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

yeah, yeah, we know. Don't read these forums too much or they might brainwash you into thinking all pharmacists think the world is ending.

 

[Donkeykiss]

Just go to med school then...I hope everyone realizes these 30 million uninsured aren't dying in the streets as we speak...they are mostly young adults who won't be going to a doc anyway

 

[owlegrad]

Just go to med school then...I hope everyone realizes these 30 million uninsured aren't dying in the streets as we speak...they are mostly young adults who won't be going to a doc anyway

😆

 

[Farcus]

It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

True or not damn I wish more people posted like this... Actually makes me look forward in the future instead of WAAA WAAAA our Profession is going to ****z

 

[Its Z]

Future of our profession is fine.

It's being a pharmacist you should worry about....that is if you're ill prepared.

 

[MountainPharmD]

It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

Spoken like a true pharmacy student. Thats right Nancy.....everything will be just fine. Ride your pink pony over the rosie rainbows and unicorns and keep telling yourself that over and over....everything will be alright.....every thing will be all right......

 

[Humper]

It seems like pharmacy as a profession has been rapidly changing over the last couple of decades. There are definite increases in clinical responsibilities, and it seems obvious that pharmacy is no longer a purely dispensing/compounding career.

Some things to consider:
1. Mandatory Pharm.D - Higher required level of education and increased complexity of course work makes for more knowledgeable and comprehensive pharmacists.
2. Residencies / Fellowships becoming more and more commonplace - More potential for experience and specialization in a specific fields of medicine.
3. VA prescribing and increasing number of collaborative practice opportunities in other settings which give pharmacists greater autonomy as practitioners.
4. Immunization training - Going further from the traditional dispensing role of the pharmacist and becoming more involved in direct patient care.
5. MTM reimbursement - Increased recognition of the money that could be saved through proper drug utilization (not to mention the benefit of reducing unnecessary/improper drug therapy) may offer opportunites for pharmacists to use knowledge of kinetics/dynamics in light of more and more complex medication options.
6. Shortage of physicians and potential for a 30 million spike in number of insured individuals may offer further expansion of the pharmacist scope of practice.

Yeah the job market isnt ideal right now. And yes there could be a potential surplus. But that doesnt mean our field isnt expanding and beginning to offer new and interesting opportunites for the future pharmacists. The amount of drug information that healthcare professionals have to consider is expanding at an exponential rate. And we stand in the best position to teach and utilize this information. So forget all of this doom and glood and lets talk about the future, where things might not be so bad.

Yup, there is an expansion of opportunities for the future pharmacists, but you forgot to mention that the mathematical probability of expansion is very small.

 

[Ava999]

Future of our profession is fine.

It's being a pharmacist you should worry about....that is if you're ill prepared.

Are you being sarcastic?

 

[Its Z]

profession of pharmacy will be fine. being a pharmacist is another story. you need to differntiate the two.

 

[vancouvergeorge]

 

[MountainPharmD]

profession of pharmacy will be fine. being a pharmacist is another story. you need to differntiate the two.

I would say the business of drug distribution will be fine. I think you need to differentiate between that and the profession of pharmacy which may or may not be fine. Can you separate the profession of pharmacy and being a pharmacist? They sort of go hand in hand.

 

[Its Z]

I would say the business of drug distribution will be fine. I think you need to differentiate between that and the profession of pharmacy which may or may not be fine. Can you separate the profession of pharmacy and being a pharmacist? They sort of go hand in hand.

Practice of Jurisprudence is fine. Being a lawyer is another story.

Practice and Profession of Pharmacy will be fine in both distribution and clinical sectors. Being a pharmacist is another story as now pharmacists will have to compete heavily to practice the profession of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy is not going anywhere anytime soon. Oversupply of pharmacist is another story but the oversupply alone will not kill the profession as oversupply of lawyers did not kill the practice of law. Nor will oversupply of nursing kill profession of nursing.

Practitioners who are better prepared and willing to work hard will get ahead while the rest will scramble. It follows the food chain pyramid and the natural selection process as intended by nature.

 

[Its Z]

Your point is well taken but you're missing the point. But it's funny nonetheless. The obsolete professions were a result of providing a service for obsolete technology or using obsolete technology. Technology and all aspect encompassing pharmacy are far from obsolete and in fact quite the contrary. It's getting more complicated yet expanding which requires more manpower, not less.

 

[vancouvergeorge]

Your point is well taken but you're missing the point. But it's funny nonetheless. The obsolete professions were a result of providing a service for obsolete technology or using obsolete technology. Technology and all aspect encompassing pharmacy are far from obsolete and in fact quite the contrary. It's getting more complicated yet expanding which requires more manpower, not less.

The point is that those who are nimble enough could survive (typist --> administrative assistant), or good enough to hold on to their little niche (expensive Swiss watch repairer).

But probably a large chunk of the profession will not.

I think the typist analogy is probably the best. Those who manage to expand their scope (like MTM etc, essentially no longer the retail pharmacist as we know it) will continue to do well. Those whose job description is essentially a glorified but busy cashier, probably not so much.

 

[Humper]

Practice of Jurisprudence is fine. Being a lawyer is another story.

Practice and Profession of Pharmacy will be fine in both distribution and clinical sectors. Being a pharmacist is another story as now pharmacists will have to compete heavily to practice the profession of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy is not going anywhere anytime soon. Oversupply of pharmacist is another story but the oversupply alone will not kill the profession as oversupply of lawyers did not kill the practice of law. Nor will oversupply of nursing kill profession of nursing.

Practitioners who are better prepared and willing to work hard will get ahead while the rest will scramble. It follows the food chain pyramid and the natural selection process as intended by nature.

Humm...Profound, but you forgot to notice that "natural selection" has little or no effect on human due to the technology that we possess.

 

[Its Z]

Humm...Profound, but you forgot to notice that "natural selection" has little or no effect on human due to the technology that we possess.

completely disagree. Technology does not shield us from the natural selection process and as a very young specie yet somewhat successful, our arrogance will eventually get the best of us one way or another.

Genetic changes are still occurring in humans and at the same time, negative selection is weeding out genes responsible for different hereditary syndromes not desirable physically desirable to pass on to the next generation.

And perhaps development of technology is a part of the natural selection process.

 

[njac]

I'm still not sure the mandatory Pharm.D. was a good thing...

 

[Farmtastic]

I'm still not sure the mandatory Pharm.D. was a good thing...

why not?

 

[vancouvergeorge]

why not?

More debt, more time, little actual prestige and applicable education.

In the end most are still working at retail, where the old bachelors was more than sufficient. Meanwhile, universities have tasted the jackpot with pharmacy schools, and are opening as many as they can. Whereas before it was just like any other major, there was less monetary pressure to expand schools.

 

[Farmtastic]

More debt, more time, little actual prestige and applicable education.

In the end most are still working at retail, where the old bachelors was more than sufficient. Meanwhile, universities have tasted the jackpot with pharmacy schools, and are opening as many as they can. Whereas before it was just like any other major, there was less monetary pressure to expand schools.

Retail is a changing game to some extent. The average patient is older, on more medications of higher potency with greater potential for contraindications and harmful drug interactions.

There is more prestige in some sectors- I've seen it. That is a poor reason for the PharmD though. Re: Applicable education, the PharmD allows more rotation/clinical experiences which better prepares graduates for residency and specialization. I should note that along with the greater cost of a Pharmacy degree, there has been an increase in salaries which has outpaced inflation.

 

[Farcus]

More debt, more time, little actual prestige and applicable education.

In the end most are still working at retail, where the old bachelors was more than sufficient. Meanwhile, universities have tasted the jackpot with pharmacy schools, and are opening as many as they can. Whereas before it was just like any other major, there was less monetary pressure to expand schools.

Pharm.D is relatively new and as such the nature of the degree and its application will change i'm sure. But as of right now you're right.

 

[joetrisman]

Pharm.D is relatively new and as such the nature of the degree and its application will change i'm sure. But as of right now you're right.

circa 1950 at USC. But I guess you mean new compared to Babylon...

 

[tungsten87]

circa 1950 at USC. But I guess you mean new compared to Babylon...

lol, I don't think he meant that the actual pharmD is new but that it has become the standard for pharmacists in the past couple decades.

it really is sad that the position we're in now is due to greed on so many levels. the retail chains rode the bubble and expanded exponentially and created the shortage/raised pharmacist salaries while the hospitals followed suit. next, greedy students saw the pharmd as an quick option to make six figures as a glorified cashier. now that cvs/wags arent' expanding anymore and pharmacy is tanking, it makes things tough not only for the greedy retail seeking people, but also for those who want to advance the profession and make an impact on patients lives. i can only hope the latter can still achieve their career goals but it will definitely be more difficult with mediocre grads saturating the market. this is literally driving me crazy as an incoming P!. i'm constantly vascillating between the notion that hard work and building connections will get me my dream job and that the sky is falling.

 

[njac]

a Pharm.D. used to mean something. Now every clown has one. Look at some of your oldest professors - the ones who did an optional Pharm.D. and then optional residencies on top of that - it's impossible to show that kind of dedication to the profession anymore.

 

[mickfan13]

a Pharm.D. used to mean something. Now every clown has one. Look at some of your oldest professors - the ones who did an optional Pharm.D. and then optional residencies on top of that - it's impossible to show that kind of dedication to the profession anymore.

?

 

[Its Z]

pharmd was a big deal just 10 years ago. it was a coveted degree for mostly BSpharm world. for them, it meant having to enroll in nontraditional program on top of already busy working schedule to earn a pharmd. same with residency.

now pharmd is easy...tho residency is getting tougher

 

[owlegrad]

a Pharm.D. used to mean something. Now every clown has one. Look at some of your oldest professors - the ones who did an optional Pharm.D. and then optional residencies on top of that - it's impossible to show that kind of dedication to the profession anymore.

Silly me. I thought dedication to a profession was shown by one's actions once in the profession, not by the amount of education needed to get in. I would say that mailing your congressmen and being active in the community (BP screenings, Health Fairs, etc.) go much further toward demonstrating commitment to pharmacy than 2 extra years of schooling.

Even now you can get an optional PhD and do an optional residency if you think that "proves" commitment to pharmacy. To me that extra time just proves commitment to academia, not the profession of pharmacy.

 

[SELDANE]

Practice of Jurisprudence is fine. Being a lawyer is another story.

Practice and Profession of Pharmacy will be fine in both distribution and clinical sectors. Being a pharmacist is another story as now pharmacists will have to compete heavily to practice the profession of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy is not going anywhere anytime soon. Oversupply of pharmacist is another story but the oversupply alone will not kill the profession as oversupply of lawyers did not kill the practice of law. Nor will oversupply of nursing kill profession of nursing.

Practitioners who are better prepared and willing to work hard will get ahead while the rest will scramble. It follows the food chain pyramid and the natural selection process as intended by nature.

Your argument regarding natural selection is correct, but if we apply this to the "distribution selection" that means that retail pharmacists that are willing to ring up cat food and Halloween candy are going to be the ones that survive. I just don't see how this translates into the "Practice and Profession of Pharmacy will be fine". In my opinion the original poster is looking at the world from either an ivory tower or through rose colored glasses.

 

[Its Z]

Your argument regarding natural selection is correct, but if we apply this to the "distribution selection" that means that retail pharmacists that are willing to ring up cat food and Halloween candy are going to be the ones that survive. I just don't see how this translates into the "Practice and Profession of Pharmacy will be fine". In my opinion the original poster is looking at the world from either an ivory tower or through rose colored glasses.

I don't see how you can arrive at that unless you believe pharmacy is nothing more than putting tablets from a large bottle into a smaller bottle then stick a label on it and ring up customers. If that's your definition of pharmacy, then you're right.

I happen to think pharmacy as a part of the healthcare team providing expertise in ever increasing complexity of pharmacotherapy at minimum. Then in the distribution side, orchestrating contracts and and providing expertise drug distribution technology to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness are also responsibilities of pharmacy.

Those who are prepared to take on the challenges and provide expertise will survive along with the ever evolving profession of pharmacy.

Unless you're going to own your own independent pharmacy, I do not foresee retail chain pharmacy as the nirvana of 6 figure income and a life of luxury. And this form of modern day corporate slavery will worsen.

Yet, those pharmacists who are going to survive are the ones who adapt and become an integral part of the multidiscplinary healthcare team.

 

[StevePerry]

Unless you're going to own your own independent pharmacy, I do not foresee retail chain pharmacy as the nirvana of 6 figure income and a life of luxury. And this form of modern day corporate slavery will worsen.

I think I alluded to this in another post, but with independent pharmacy, do you (or anyone else seasoned in this game for that matter) foresee any type of doomsday scenario in which the PBM's could completely cut the indies out of the reimbursement loop vs. chains (directly or indirectly via scumbag methods) with subsequent inadequate political pressure to reverse it? And I'm not just referring to sh---- margins, but absolute refusal by the big 3 or 4 PBM's to even contract with indies, period...

I don't know how much market forces keep independents a good deal for the PBM's, and at what point the chains will make it a priority to crush the indies in spite of a reduction in short-term profits if they keep sprouting up like they do.

I know this seems way out there and believe me I don't mean it as fear-mongering, but honestly this isn't even the 1.5 year anniversary of when the general consensus on this board changed from "there will never be a pharmacist surplus" to "oh s---, they're opening new schools and bubbles are fo' real!"

 

[Its Z]

I think I alluded to this in another post, but with independent pharmacy, do you (or anyone else seasoned in this game for that matter) foresee any type of doomsday scenario in which the PBM's could completely cut the indies out of the reimbursement loop vs. chains (directly or indirectly via scumbag methods) with subsequent inadequate political pressure to reverse it? And I'm not just referring to sh---- margins, but absolute refusal by the big 3 or 4 PBM's to even contract with indies, period...

I don't know how much market forces keep independents a good deal for the PBM's, and at what point the chains will make it a priority to crush the indies in spite of a reduction in short-term profits if they keep sprouting up like they do.

I know this seems way out there and believe me I don't mean it as fear-mongering, but honestly this isn't even the 1.5 year anniversary of when the general consensus on this board changed from "there will never be a pharmacist surplus" to "oh s---, they're opening new schools and bubbles are fo' real!"

If it comes to that, then the Indies need to form a "group" and that goup will be larger than any corporate pharmacy entity. Correct me if I'm wrong....

All Indies as One would be a powerful thing.

 

[StevePerry]

If it comes to that, then the Indies need to form a "group" and that goup will be larger than any corporate pharmacy entity. Correct me if I'm wrong....

All Indies as One would be a powerful thing.

Good point, if it comes to that have your people get ahold of my people.

 

[thedrunkenpharm]

Dunno if this article has been posted or discussed elsewhere in the forum. Thought it was interesting.

http://www.pharmacytimes.com/career/pharmacy/2010/PharmacyCareers_Spring2010/JobMarket

 

[SELDANE]

I don't see how you can arrive at that unless you believe pharmacy is nothing more than putting tablets from a large bottle into a smaller bottle then stick a label on it and ring up customers. If that's your definition of pharmacy, then you're right.

I happen to think pharmacy as a part of the healthcare team providing expertise in ever increasing complexity of pharmacotherapy at minimum. Then in the distribution side, orchestrating contracts and and providing expertise drug distribution technology to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness are also responsibilities of pharmacy.

Those who are prepared to take on the challenges and provide expertise will survive along with the ever evolving profession of pharmacy.

Unless you're going to own your own independent pharmacy, I do not foresee retail chain pharmacy as the nirvana of 6 figure income and a life of luxury. And this form of modern day corporate slavery will worsen.

Yet, those pharmacists who are going to survive are the ones who adapt and become an integral part of the multidiscplinary healthcare team.

My definition of pharmacy has nothing to do with it. The fact of the matter is that chain pharmacists (ie., those working for CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid etc..) will not distinguish themselves by practicing pharmacotherapy, orchestrating contracts or being useful members of the healthcare team. Rather, they will survive by being able to adapt to increasingly difficult situations that are created by their employers (decreased tech help, requiring flu shots, increased verification numbers, decreased wait times, remote verification, etc..). I think if you were to ask a number of retail pharmacists that participate in this forum they will tell you that their performance ratings have little to do with the practice of pharmacy as you describe in your response and more so with how quickly they can transfer tablets from one bottle to another.

 

[Its Z]

My definition of pharmacy has nothing to do with it. The fact of the matter is that chain pharmacists (ie., those working for CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid etc..) will not distinguish themselves by practicing pharmacotherapy, orchestrating contracts or being useful members of the healthcare team. Rather, they will survive by being able to adapt to increasingly difficult situations that are created by their employers (decreased tech help, requiring flu shots, increased verification numbers, decreased wait times, remote verification, etc..). I think if you were to ask a number of retail pharmacists that participate in this forum they will tell you that their performance ratings have little to do with the practice of pharmacy as you describe in your response and more so with how quickly they can transfer tablets from one bottle to another.

Well, that's the sad reality of selling your soul to the devil....so to speak. I would ask what contribution has participants of retail chain pharmacy made for the profession of pharmacy? I understand this is a harsh statement against retail chain pharmacy practitioners...and I also understand pharmacists in such environment work their ass off. You have to live with the decisions you make and the lure of money and sign on bonus has led to many retail druggists wishing they had chosen differently. Of course I'm making a generalization here.

I don't know of very many hospital pharmacists saying "man..I gotta get outta this hell hole and find me a retail pharmacy to work in" but I sure do see a lot of resumes of retail PIC applying for a DOP position at a hospital.. really? You think you're qualified?

If you want to call retail chain pharmacy practice a pharmacy profession, then it will thrive on as before.. it will suck to be a part of it I think.

Healthcare system pharmacy will keep advancing... there will be more emphasis on IT pharmacy...more emphasis and medication use monitoring..and streamlining of therapy... It's going to get a lot more fun...as we have pharmacists working in ED, Critical Care...Oncology...transplant.. heck..stemcell treatment monitoring! 👍 Infectious Disease Pharmacist...Pharmacoecomincs pharmacist... and pharmacy administrators... it's going to get better and the salary won't decrease as more and more hospital administrators are seeing cost values of highly competent hospital pharmacists. And it's my job to show the cost benefits of clinical pharmacy programs. And I can do that quite well..and I'm willing to teach what I know to anyone who's interested.

So I stand by my original statement...Pharmacy Profession will be fine. Being a pharmacist is another story unless properly prepared to take on the challenges.

 

[SELDANE]

Well, that's the sad reality of selling your soul to the devil....so to speak. I would ask what contribution has participants of retail chain pharmacy made for the profession of pharmacy? I understand this is a harsh statement against retail chain pharmacy practitioners...and I also understand pharmacists in such environment work their ass off. You have to live with the decisions you make and the lure of money and sign on bonus has led to many retail druggists wishing they had chosen differently. Of course I'm making a generalization here.

I don't know of very many hospital pharmacists saying "man..I gotta get outta this hell hole and find me a retail pharmacy to work in" but I sure do see a lot of resumes of retail PIC applying for a DOP position at a hospital.. really? You think you're qualified?

If you want to call retail chain pharmacy practice a pharmacy profession, then it will thrive on as before.. it will suck to be a part of it I think.

Healthcare system pharmacy will keep advancing... there will be more emphasis on IT pharmacy...more emphasis and medication use monitoring..and streamlining of therapy... It's going to get a lot more fun...as we have pharmacists working in ED, Critical Care...Oncology...transplant.. heck..stemcell treatment monitoring! 👍 Infectious Disease Pharmacist...Pharmacoecomincs pharmacist... and pharmacy administrators... it's going to get better and the salary won't decrease as more and more hospital administrators are seeing cost values of highly competent hospital pharmacists. And it's my job to show the cost benefits of clinical pharmacy programs. And I can do that quite well..and I'm willing to teach what I know to anyone who's interested.

So I stand by my original statement...Pharmacy Profession will be fine. Being a pharmacist is another story unless properly prepared to take on the challenges.

I understand and appreciate your original statement. However, you must clarify that your definition of the Profession of Pharmacy does not include "chain/retail" pharmacy. That being the case, your view of the Profession of Pharmacy seems to exclude a large population of pharmacists.

 

[MountainPharmD]

I understand and appreciate your original statement. However, you must clarify that your definition of the Profession of Pharmacy does not include "chain/retail" pharmacy. That being the case, your view of the Profession of Pharmacy seems to exclude a large population of pharmacists.

No kidding....about 70%.

 

[Its Z]

I understand and appreciate your original statement. However, you must clarify that your definition of the Profession of Pharmacy does not include "chain/retail" pharmacy.

Not true. In earlier post, I specify as long as pharmacy is a part of the multidiscplinary healthcare team, profession will be fine. And retail pharmacy does and will certainly play a role. You seem to think retail pharmacy is count and pour and do it faster profession, or at least headed that way. I tend to think retail will change significantly with MTM when $ is presented when pharmacist becomes a healthcare "provider."

That being the case, your view of the Profession of Pharmacy seems to exclude a large population of pharmacists.

Your view of my view on pharmacy is completely incorrect. The profession of pharmacy will be fine. It's the oversupply of pharmacist that's going to affect new grads and incompetent practicing pharmacists who will be affected. Hence I keep saying being a pharmacist may not be ok.

 

[Its Z]

No kidding....about 70%.

Shut up. You don't know.

 

[Farmtastic]

Well, that's the sad reality of selling your soul to the devil....so to speak. I would ask what contribution has participants of retail chain pharmacy made for the profession of pharmacy? I understand this is a harsh statement against retail chain pharmacy practitioners...and I also understand pharmacists in such environment work their ass off. You have to live with the decisions you make and the lure of money and sign on bonus has led to many retail druggists wishing they had chosen differently. Of course I'm making a generalization here.

I don't know of very many hospital pharmacists saying "man..I gotta get outta this hell hole and find me a retail pharmacy to work in" but I sure do see a lot of resumes of retail PIC applying for a DOP position at a hospital.. really? You think you're qualified?

If you want to call retail chain pharmacy practice a pharmacy profession, then it will thrive on as before.. it will suck to be a part of it I think.

Healthcare system pharmacy will keep advancing... there will be more emphasis on IT pharmacy...more emphasis and medication use monitoring..and streamlining of therapy... It's going to get a lot more fun...as we have pharmacists working in ED, Critical Care...Oncology...transplant.. heck..stemcell treatment monitoring! 👍 Infectious Disease Pharmacist...Pharmacoecomincs pharmacist... and pharmacy administrators... it's going to get better and the salary won't decrease as more and more hospital administrators are seeing cost values of highly competent hospital pharmacists. And it's my job to show the cost benefits of clinical pharmacy programs. And I can do that quite well..and I'm willing to teach what I know to anyone who's interested.

So I stand by my original statement...Pharmacy Profession will be fine. Being a pharmacist is another story unless properly prepared to take on the challenges.

Teach me!!
It seems like much of the justification for pharmacist salaries in a hospital setting is based on the fact that their interventions offset downstream medical and drug-related issue expenses which can be substantial. Pharmacy costs pale in comparison to inpatient medical costs. Sometimes, if a pharmacist can come up with one instance where a potentially expensive procedure has been avoided, they can justify their salary for the entire year.

What is an IT pharmacist..haven't heard much about it?

 

[genesis09]

In my market, they are starting to push us to do MTM. We use a special program which allows us to bill for it. Right now, it is in its infancy, but every store in the district has done at least one billing for it.

 

[EthioRx]

I'd say... "Retail Pharmacy" profession is in danger, but the Pharmacy profession is fine and expanding with good pay and reward.

 

[Trankuil]

So this may be a naive question from an incoming pharmacy student, but to what extent are you saying all of retail is in trouble? Are we talking about just the major wags/cvs/rite-aid stores, including the walmarts and krogers? What about the smaller chain pharmacies (in comparison) like associated foods or smaller chain stores? Also, just from reading the forums and a little on the web, these concerns are pretty common knowledge to those in the profession or heading in, but to the general public? Most people just go fill their scripts at retail stores because of convenience, how will that go away? These are just honest questions, try not to flame.

 

[vancouvergeorge]

So this may be a naive question from an incoming pharmacy student, but to what extent are you saying all of retail is in trouble? Are we talking about just the major wags/cvs/rite-aid stores, including the walmarts and krogers? What about the smaller chain pharmacies (in comparison) like associated foods or smaller chain stores? Also, just from reading the forums and a little on the web, these concerns are pretty common knowledge to those in the profession or heading in, but to the general public? Most people just go fill their scripts at retail stores because of convenience, how will that go away? These are just honest questions, try not to flame.

The jobs may not go away, but the supply of pharmacists looking for those jobs might increase significantly.

 

[GamecockPharmD]

What is an IT pharmacist..haven't heard much about it?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629926

 

[TonyRx]

SDN...the Doom and Gloom Forum.

Let's all quit our jobs, put aside our dreams and aspirations, stock up on; guns, water, food and gasoline and move to Montana to join the Militia's. Heck, December 21, 2012 is coming!!

...Now this is where people chime in and say that I am an "ignorant and wide-eyed pharmacy student that should drop-out and pursue some other profession"... that will likely face oversupply one day and increased competition, for half the starting salary.

That is the standard response to anyone who doesn't go along with the Doom and Gloom mentality right??

Anyhow, yes there is a very good possibility that the future for Pharmacists will not be all roses and butterflies. But such is life. I fully understand that, and I think most Pharmacy Students understand that too. But constantly focusing on the negative aspects of becoming a Pharmacist will not benefit anyone. Instead, we should be focusing on the positive aspects of our profession and how Pharmacists can become more involved and needed in our ever-changing Health Care system. Positive thinking yields positive results, our thoughts and behaviors are more powerful than we give them credit for.

I think we should cut the OP a break, he was merely trying to be a glimmer of light in the darkness of Doom and Gloom that all too often engulfs SDN.

 

[owlegrad]

SDN...the Doom and Gloom Forum.

Let's all quit our jobs, put aside our dreams and aspirations, stock up on; guns, water, food and gasoline and move to Montana to join the Militia's. Heck, December 21, 2012 is coming!!

...Now this is where people chime in and say that I am an "ignorant and wide-eyed pharmacy student that should drop-out and pursue some other profession"... that will likely face oversupply one day and increased competition, for half the starting salary.

That is the standard response to anyone who doesn't go along with the Doom and Gloom mentality right??

Anyhow, yes there is a very good possibility that the future for Pharmacists will not be all roses and butterflies. But such is life. I fully understand that, and I think most Pharmacy Students understand that too. But constantly focusing on the negative aspects of becoming a Pharmacist will not benefit anyone. Instead, we should be focusing on the positive aspects of our profession and how Pharmacists can become more involved and needed in our ever-changing Health Care system. Positive thinking yields positive results, our thoughts and behaviors are more powerful than we give them credit for.

I think we should cut the OP a break, he was merely trying to be a glimmer of light in the darkness of Doom and Gloom that all too often engulfs SDN.

I am not a "power of positive thinking" person (see Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World ...) but other than that I give your post a big: 👍