So what is a "PharmD"?

[fairyofsong]

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I will be starting pharmacy school very soon and the whole idea of a "PharmD" still has me dumbfounded. The pharmacists I"ve worked with only had bachelor's so of course they are not referred to as "Doctor" but if you have a PharmD are you referred to this way? Is it equivalent to a Doctorate in another field i.e. Education or Medicine?

Anyone have any straight, true info about this issue? Thank you!

 

[OSURxgirl]

How could doctoral degrees from two entirely different fields EVER be equivalent???

It says in your signature that you are in South's Class of 2008. Is that their Pharmacy class? If you have been accepted to pharmacy school and do not understand what a PharmD is, there are deeper issues here.

 

[fairyofsong]

How could doctoral degrees from two entirely different fields EVER be equivalent???

It says in your signature that you are in South's Class of 2008. Is that their Pharmacy class? If you have been accepted to pharmacy school and do not understand what a PharmD is, there are deeper issues here.

Wow that was very critical. Let's be a little openminded here. Yes, it is for pharmacy school. I doubt I am the ONLY one who is not completely understanding this issue. I appologize if my "ignorance" upset you.

If it's such an ignorant question, would you explain it to me? Thank you.

 

[ZpackSux]

There are Professional Degrees.

MD = Doctor of Medicine
DDS = Doctor of Dental Surgery
PharmD = Doctor of Pharmacy
JD = Jurisprudence Doctor
OD = Doctor of Optometry
DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
DVM = Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
DC = Doctor of Chiropractic

etc..

Then there is the Doctor of Philsophy, a graduate degree, PhD in many different discpline such as Education, Physics, Math, etc etc..

 

[Requiem]

how can you be into a professional program and not even have a clue as to what degree you will be receiving.


that's like studying for a PhD in math and saying "this whole Dr. idea has me dumbfounded, what am I doing?"

PharmD is a doctor of pharmacy. The only equivalent aspect of this degree to a "doctorate in education" is the fact you're called doctor.

 

[RLK]

I will be starting pharmacy school very soon and the whole idea of a "PharmD" still has me dumbfounded. The pharmacists I"ve worked with only had bachelor's so of course they are not referred to as "Doctor" but if you have a PharmD are you referred to this way? Is it equivalent to a Doctorate in another field i.e. Education or Medicine?

Anyone have any straight, true info about this issue? Thank you!

Since the rest of the people are being mean to you, I'll be nice.

Prior to 2000, a pharmacist was not required to earn a PharmD. For example, one of the pharamcists that I work with has a Bachelor's degree only. The other pharmacist has a PharmD. Everyone must get a PharmD now to be a pharmacist. Customers (patients) at the pharmacy where I work do not refer to either pharmacist as 'Doctor'. (Deleting the last part of my msg as it was incorrect.)

 

[ZpackSux]

A PharmD is a doctorate just as any other doctorate is a doctorate

That is not true. There are professional doctorate such as MD, PharmD, JD, DDS.. then there is graduate doctorate PhD.

 

[dana92085]

i can see that there is a lot of confusion among the people that are discussing this. huh, wow... i guess a lot of people don't know exactly what a PharmD really is and i totally think that that is understandable. it isnt nice to say the things that some of yall said--this can be VERY confusing.

 

[yatzek]

That is not true. There are professional doctorate such as MD, PharmD, JD, DDS.. then there is graduate doctorate PhD.

ah, now this i didnt know... whats the dif between the professional and the grad doctorates?
the pharmD is a terminal degree which means you cannot study further in that field, so you can be a professor with a pharmD- thats what my friend told me

 

[Requiem]

"i can see that there is a lot of confusion among the people that are discussing this. huh, wow... i guess a lot of people don't know exactly what a PharmD really is and i totally think that that is understandable. it isnt nice to say the things that some of yall said--this can be VERY confusing."


How can there be this much confusion? I think there's like two people who don't understand what degree they're in school for. Which is kind of interesting, I guess.

A PhD is a doctor of philosphy meaning you have contributed some new research or something original to the field. This is an academic degree.

MD PharmD JD OD are all professional degrees. Research is not required, you practice whatever. A doctorate is the highest degree attainable.

 

[nikkai]

Wait a second!

So does that mean the Black Belt I have in Pharmacy isn't as valuable as I thought?

Not making fun of the OP btw, you have a valid question. Don't mind the haters.

Refer to zpack's posts for the best answer to your question btw.

 

[RLK]

I don't think it's very nice to be a jerk to someone when they ask a question no matter how dumb you think the question is. If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all. She wasn't looking for a sarcastic comment and doesn't care that you can't believe that she doesn't know what a PharmD is.

 

[Brock1385]

Since the rest of the people are being mean to you, I'll be nice.

Prior to 2000, a pharmacist was not required to earn a PharmD. For example, one of the pharamcists that I work with has a Bachelor's degree only. The other pharmacist has a PharmD. Everyone must get a PharmD now to be a pharmacist. Customers (patients) at the pharmacy where I work do not refer to either pharmacist as 'Doctor'. (Deleting the last part of my msg as it was incorrect.)

yep.

Rph = Registered Pharmacist = people that went 5 years and not the 6 required to be a PharmD

 

[ZpackSux]

yep.

Rph = Registered Pharmacist = people that went 5 years and not the 6 required to be a PharmD

That's not true either. Rph = Registered Pharmacist which is correct. But Rph means just that, Registered Pharmacist who is licensed in a state regardless of BS pharm or PharmD.

I have a pharmD and I'm also a Registered pharmacist.

 

[RLK]

That's not true either. Rph = Registered Pharmacist which is correct. But Rph means just that, Registered Pharmacist who is licensed in a state regardless of BS pharm or PharmD.

I have a pharmD and I'm also a Registered pharmacist.

What type of pharmacy do you work in? Retail, Hospital, or ?

 

[ZpackSux]

What type of pharmacy do you work in? Retail, Hospital, or ?

Hospital.

Then I work at my DME business once in a while. Being a pharmacist gave me time, resource and knowledge into starting a Durable Medical Equipment business.

 

[fairyofsong]

First of all, I do not feel as if I need to justify my question and I believe, as some of the other posters do, that it is very immature to be so critical of a question. I mean, what if I thought as question you asked was competely dumb and cannot believe you are in pharmacy and don't know the answer. The way I would handle the issue would be to simply give you the answer. It is not my place to judge what a dumb question is. A question would not be asked if someone wasn't looking for an answer. I find it extremely discouraging to think that a board for "Questions and Answers" is only limited to those questions thought by certain people to be sensible ones.

Secondly, I thank the people who gave knowledgeable answers. I UNDERSTAND what I am going to school to be and WHAT title I will be given after it, I was just wondering what the degree was in the same categorization with. Like I asked, WHAT it compared to. See, I have not studied the various degree titles further than associates and bachelors, therefore, I was simply asking for some information. Thank you to the helpful people who answered professionally.

 

[ZpackSux]

First of all, I do not feel as if I need to justify my question and I believe, as some of the other posters do, that it is very immature to be so critical of a question. I mean, what if I thought as question you asked was competely dumb and cannot believe you are in pharmacy and don't know the answer. The way I would handle the issue would be to simply give you the answer. It is not my place to judge what a dumb question is. A question would not be asked if someone wasn't looking for an answer. I find it extremely discouraging to think that a board for "Questions and Answers" is only limited to those questions thought by certain people to be sensible ones.

Secondly, I thank the people who gave knowledgeable answers. I UNDERSTAND what I am going to school to be and WHAT title I will be given after it, I was just wondering what the degree was in the same categorization with. Like I asked, WHAT it compared to. See, I have not studied the various degree titles further than associates and bachelors, therefore, I was simply asking for some information. Thank you to the helpful people who answered professionally.

Did I answer professionally?

 

[71263]

Hey guys. This is totally random, but im not a pharmacy person, and i figured at least one of you guys would know the answer. I always wondered what that little Rx stood for on a prescription slip. Anyone know about that?

 

[ZpackSux]

Hey guys. This is totally random, but im not a pharmacy person, and i figured at least one of you guys would know the answer. I always wondered what that little Rx stood for on a prescription slip. Anyone know about that?

Rx is derived from Latin.. stands for Recipe.

 

[yatzek]

rx is prescription (recipe, take thou or you take), they taught us that in pharm calculations... wait till they teach you how to read them ex. "gtt. ii o.d q.d a.m" means instill 2 drops in the right eye every day in the morning... they use latin abbreviations cos in the old days, the pharmacist didnt want the pt to know what they were taking, so it was like a secret code thing... and why they still use it? beats me... 😕

 

[ZpackSux]

rx is prescription (recipe, take thou or you take), they taught us that in pharm calculations... wait till they teach you how to read them ex. "gtt. ii o.d q.d a.m" means instill 2 drops in the right eye every day in the morning... they use latin abbreviations cos in the old days, the pharmacist didnt want the pt to know what they were taking, so it was like a secret code thing... and why they still use it? beats me... 😕

We are starting to do away with many different sigs such as QD QOD.. rather it has to be spelled out.. once daily and every other day.

It's all in the effort by the JCAHO to promote electronic patient record keeping.

 

[kellia]

Isn't the use of the word "once" being phased out as well, as "once" is spanish for eleven? i thought i read that somewhere... I guess it can't hurt to be as clear as possible!!

 

[bananaface]

We are starting to do away with many different sigs such as QD QOD.. rather it has to be spelled out.. once daily and every other day.

It's all in the effort by the JCAHO to promote electronic patient record keeping.

I think sig shortcuts = fewer keystrokes = fewer tech errors.

 

[ZpackSux]

I think sig shortcuts = fewer keystrokes = fewer tech errors.

Healthcare does not evolve around pharmacy and tech errors dear..

JCAHO doesn't mingle with retail pharmacy..but they look at the whole healthcare system.

Shortcut is great.. but physician orders doesn't begin or end with drug orders.

It encompasses diet, lab orders, discharge orders, bed recommendations etc etc..

When orders are written.. and faxed, QD could look like OD and QOD could look like QID.. MgSO4 could look like MSO4..

These are the issues of unapproved abbreviations.

 

[fairyofsong]

I think sig shortcuts = fewer keystrokes = fewer tech errors.

Not necessarily true it a tech misinterprets qod for qd, etc.. this makes for just as much chance for error as if they were typing out "once a day". Honestly, I think it is less likely to have a mistake when typing that much out, I mean, what could happen, you could leave out a letter and end up with "once a day."

Or even if the doctors will begin spelling things out, techs and pharmacies can still use shortcuts in their computer. They will just read the spelled out version like "once a day" and convert it to just type "qd". I think the whole "converting" the Dr.'s over is an excellent idea.

How off topic the post has gotten! Oh yeah, ZPack, you did well answering! 🙂

 

[ZpackSux]

poor Megs..

you'll be going to school with Caver.. Lord help you..

 

[imperial frog]

If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all.

What if you have something neutral or technical to say though?

 

[bananaface]

Not necessarily true it a tech misinterprets qod for qd, etc.. this makes for just as much chance for error as if they were typing out "once a day". Honestly, I think it is less likely to have a mistake when typing that much out, I mean, what could happen, you could leave out a letter and end up with "once a day."

Or even if the doctors will begin spelling things out, techs and pharmacies can still use shortcuts in their computer. They will just read the spelled out version like "once a day" and convert it to just type "qd". I think the whole "converting" the Dr.'s over is an excellent idea.

How off topic the post has gotten! Oh yeah, ZPack, you did well answering! 🙂

I was referring to errors made when techs are required to freeform labels instead of using sig codes - they are rampant.

As much as some people would like to eliminate sig, you just can't get some physicians to write things longhand. Alot of them will just say "screw that" when you ask them to change their habits.

 

[ZpackSux]

I was referring to errors made when techs are required to freeform labels instead of using sig codes - they are rampant.

As much as some people would like to eliminate sig, you just can't get some physicians to write things longhand. Alot of them will just say "screw that" when you ask them to change their habits.

And lose Hospital privilege. Hospitals aren't horsing around when it comes to Joint Commission and their mandates. Docs are complying with the mandates.
They don't have a choice. Docs need the hospital and the hospitals need docs.

 

[bananaface]

And lose Hospital privilege. Hospitals aren't horsing around when it comes to Joint Commission and their mandates. Docs are complying with the mandates.
They don't have a choice. Docs need the hospital and the hospitals need docs.

Yeah. And in private practice they will continue to do as they please.

 

[ZpackSux]

Yeah. And in private practice they will continue to do as they please.

Habit is a strange thing. Once you get used to it.. you stick with it. Physicians can do whatever they want in their office. So if they want to write orders one way at the hospital..and differently at the office, more power to their inefficiency. But eventually, the new habit will sink in. Matter of time.

 

[bananaface]

Habit is a strange thing. Once you get used to it.. you stick with it. Physicians can do whatever they want in their office. So if they want to write orders one way at the hospital..and differently at the office, more power to their inefficiency. But eventually, the new habit will sink in. Matter of time.

LOL. I think of it as something that will have to be achieved via attrition. I really don't think people will change unless forced to do by the widespread use of an electronic prescribing system or something.

 

[ultracet]

And lose Hospital privilege. Hospitals aren't horsing around when it comes to Joint Commission and their mandates. Docs are complying with the mandates.
They don't have a choice. Docs need the hospital and the hospitals need docs.

one thing that i have noticed on the abbrevs....

a lot of nurses go behind the MDs who refuse to comply and put "ay" so they end up with QDay

it really is a huge deal.... are rphs still the ones responsible for it or did they change that?

 

[bananaface]

one thing that i have noticed on the abbrevs....

a lot of nurses go behind the MDs who refuse to comply and put "ay" so they end up with QDay

it really is a huge deal.... are rphs still the ones responsible for it or did they change that?

I have NEVER seen that.

 

[ZpackSux]

one thing that i have noticed on the abbrevs....

a lot of nurses go behind the MDs who refuse to comply and put "ay" so they end up with QDay

it really is a huge deal.... are rphs still the ones responsible for it or did they change that?

At our institution, it's a nursing responsibility because nurses are there as physicians are writing the orders. We have converted over 90% of physicians to comply. Non-compliant physicians are then dealt with through our Med-Executive committee. Because physicians practice at many different hospitals throughout my area, and because every hospital is JCAHO, physicians have no choice but to comply. And we have been very successful with the 'Unapproved abbreviation' program.

 

[ZpackSux]

LOL. I think of it as something that will have to be achieved via attrition. I really don't think people will change unless forced to do by the widespread use of an electronic prescribing system or something.

Nah..

Though JCAHO has eased the abbreviation issue a bit, the damage is done. More physicians have changed the way the write sigs than you see think. That may not be the case in retail prescriptions but it's wide spread in healthcare institutions.

If I believed that people (physicians) will not change, then my work and my job is in vain. My job is to change the way physicians prescribe from less cost effective to more cost effective. We(clinical pharmacy programs) have done it sucessfully for the past 30 years.. through formulary sub, P&T protocols.. etc.

Change is a good thing.

 

[ZpackSux]

I have NEVER seen that.

I see it daily.

 

[bananaface]

I see it daily.

That's because you work in a hospital and I don't. Two separate worlds, man.

 

[ZpackSux]

That's because you work in a hospital and I don't. Two separate worlds, man.

Well, I know that..

And you know that..

And we're talking about a program you're not very familiar with..

So I'm trying to learn you about it before you form a strong opinion..

 

[bananaface]

Well, I know that..

And you know that..

And we're talking about a program you're not very familiar with..

So I'm trying to learn you about it before you form a strong opinion..

Or, are you trying to form a strong opinion in me before I learn?

 

[ZpackSux]

Or, are you trying to form a strong opinion in me before I learn?

As long as you'll give me credit where it's due by saying.."I learnt it from Zpacksux.."

 

[bananaface]

As long as you'll give me credit where it's due by saying.."I learnt it from Zpacksux.."

Shouldn't you spell out Zithromax to satisfy JCAHO?

 

[ZpackSux]

Shouldn't you spell out Zithromax to satisfy JCAHO?

No, Zpack is not on the list.

 

[bananaface]

No, Zpack is not on the list.

You're on MY list.

 

[LVPharm]

You're on MY list.

THE BOTH OF YOU OUGHTA JUST GET A ROOM!

I swear, every thread the both of you are in turns into some abusive mutual lovefest! If this were the real world, there would be much scratching and spanking between you two... 😉

 

[ZpackSux]

THE BOTH OF YOU OUGHTA JUST GET A ROOM!

I swear, every thread the both of you are in turns into some abusive mutual lovefest! If this were the real world, there would be much scratching and spanking between you two... 😉

LV, why don't u join, more the merrier..

 

[LVPharm]

LV, why don't u join, more the merrier..

No thanks! I bruise easily. 😀

 

[ZpackSux]

No thanks! I bruise easily. 😀

did u start your residency?

 

[LVPharm]

did u start your residency?

Yes, I'm about 3 weeks in. Since my residency director has been out of town on official business, I've been mainly learning how to staff in the inpatient pharmacy. I have another week here, then will spend 4 weeks in outpatient. Then it's up on the floors for the rest of my residency. No staffing on weekends and no on-calls (this is why I ranked this program highly 😉 ), I will have to staff about 3 or 4 hours in the outpatient pharmacy every Thursday beginning in late September. I will also have to run a continuity of care clinic (part of my ambulatory care longitudinal experience) on Tuesdays for about 3.5 hours starting in late October. Amongst all of that are the usual journal clubs, presentations, and ASHP required research project. So far it's been good, everybody's been real patient with me and my many questions 😉