Pharmacotherapist

[DrgsRmyLife]

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to know what exactely is a board certified pharmacotherapist and what are their duties? What makes them different from normal pharmacists or clinical pharmacists other than having to take another exam? Anyways any info would be great. Thanks

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[lvp0021]

You mean BCPS? Board Certified pharmacotherapy Specialist?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Basically they have to go through a "residency". There are three main types. Community, managed care, and what I call "hospital". Most people think of the hospital type when they think of residency.

Residency is basically another year of rotations and an excuse for hospitals to get cheap labor under the facade of "academia". But, hey, at least you get paid with health benefits. That's "PGY1", post-grad year 1. After that year of residency, you can become board certified in general ass pharmacotherapy by taking an exam. After this you can "actually" specialize by taking a second residency in a motley assortment of crap like infectious disease, oncology, peds, geriatrics, critical care, psychiatry, and on and on. That's PGY2. You take a specialist exam and are the king **** of that area drug wise.

While the idea of the "actual specializing year" sounds cool, the idea of PGY1 sounds so very annoying.

 

[Caverject]

wvu is half correct...it takes a residency to become specialized but it also takes a number of "experiences" to become specialized as well. Doing a two year residency does not grant automatic BCBS status. Certification is available in five specialty areas: nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support, oncology, pharmacotherapy, and psychiatry. To become certified, candidates must have earned an entry level pharmacy degree, have completed a requisite amount of patient care experience (often including residency training), hold a valid license to practice pharmacy in the United States, and pass an examination

 

[DrgsRmyLife]

thanks for the replies. So in general is there any other duties or responsibilities that come along with it or is there a pay increase? Or is basically a few letters after your name saying that you have a crap load of knowledge and were tested on it and now considered an expert?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

wvu is half correct...

Well, gimme 80% at least. Pretty good for something I have absolutely no interest at all in.

 

[Caverject]

Well, gimme 80% at least. Pretty good for something I have absolutely no interest at all in.

I'll give you WVU's 2006 football winning percentage....78.5%

 

[GatorRxGirl]

I'll give you WVU's 2006 football winning percentage....78.5%

you have too much time on your hands.

 

[Caverject]

you have too much time on your hands.

check out my avatar before you make any more comments...

 

[Requiem]

check out my avatar before you make any more comments...

HAHA.

First time i've laughed in this thread.