PharmD/PA Jointed Program?

[hereticmnk]

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I have heard of them but never figured out the benefit in doing that. Its similar to PharmD/MD route where you really do not have a benefit of getting a PharmD. It might make you look competitive when you look for jobs I guess. PA works directly under an MD, PharmD works with an MD (supposedly). I have a couple of pharmacist friends interested in being a PA but when I ask them why, they say its because they think that pharmacy jobs are getting harder to find (plz do not start that topic ).

 

[Potential123]

Haha I won't. But I was curious what jobs would make having a PharmD/PA look more attractive?

 

[hereticmnk]

This is the college one of my friends was interested in, you could also try emailing the college to see what they have to say regarding the benefits of a dual degree

 

[Parklife]

I think it would be a good thing to have. Once the blush is off pharmacy, start your PA career. Win, win.

 

[owlegrad]

Good prepharmacy topic. 👍

 

[Reduc]

The benefit to employers are that you are able to bill for more services. Currently a tech in a Primary Care Medical Home and doing pre-pharm with an interest in a PharmD/PA route. A whole team of RPH, PA, MD, ARNP and the whole load working very close together. The key to making it function economically for pharmacists at the moment is billing providers and working out a schedule for reimbursement for pharmacy services and expertise through the clinic. A PharmD/PA will have more options to bill insurances for the same services already offered. The benefit is mainly to employers, however, I see myself using my duel degree and knowledge proactively shaping a unique position whether inside another PCMH or clinical setting for myself.

Look into "medical home models" and try to think how it could benefit from a PharmD/PA being involved.

The unattractive points to a PharmD/PA for me has been a fear that "a jack of all trades is a master of none" and if having the duel degree actually hinders the advancement of functional and billable clinical duties for pharmacists. If health care legislation changes the roles of pharmacists the extra benefit from the duel degree might not be worth the extra time for some.