Tag Archives: Pharmacist

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Inter-Professional Appreciation Day

So the votes are in, and with a track record of 39% accuracy, last week the groundhog predicted an early spring. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but the sky looked pretty cloudless here so those of us slogging through a winter funk have reason to be hopeful.

Since it is an unofficial, cute, holiday, I figured it was worth proposing my own. As I attempt to defy convention once again, consider the following question:

Ever give someone a sponge bath?

In my (ahem) younger days, the idea of a sponge bath was how I needled a close friend who was working towards her nursing degree. Naturally it’s completely ignorant and ridiculous to think that nursing, or any direct patient care could be reduced to one task. In fact, what may seem rather menial in nature and by no means glamorous, is of utmost importance for those that can not bathe themselves. I know how much I appreciate feeling clean, so I can only imagine how helpless it must feel to understand the benefits of good hygiene, but be unable to carry through the behaviours on your own.

Although I didn’t become a pharmacist to avoid sponge baths, it certainly didn’t rank on the list of responsibilities I envisioned for a career. Now that I’m well into my chosen occupation, it seems that my view of other health professions has always been colored by their impact on my own. This inherent bias has really prevented me from appreciating the multitude of care considerations outside of medication management.

Physicians and nurses have been so complementary all these years so it’s fair to start with them. From a medication standpoint, it shouldn’t be a surprise that those prescribing and administering don’t always know the chemical names of generic brands, dosage forms strengths or interactions. Even after taking a four-year degree concentrating solely on them, there are so many drug options in the CPS, it’s surprising I remember a small fraction without needing to research. Physicians are the leaders in primary care. They diagnose every ailment through any available means: inspection, manipulation, blood tests combined with subjective and objective measurements. It must be a huge weight to provide answers to those feeling their worst on any given day. Being the one to inform a family that a spot on a lung is terminal cancer, or confirming that protracted mobility issues are due to ALS, would be heartbreaking. Not to mention the hospital visits, the special authorizations, the referral letters all while trying to keep abreast of the newest science in the field. It’s amazing and since it has become an expectation, often underappreciated.

Shifting gears, have you ever seen a relaxed nurse on the job? Most of whom I’ve met have so many balls in the air they could put buskers to shame. Being responsible for the quotidian care of many individuals is not an easy undertaking. Things we take for granted: getting dressed in the morning, toileting, having the dexterity to handle a spoon are significant challenges for folks of all ages whether in an institutional setting or transitional care. It takes compassion to help change hearing aid batteries, or massage a sore shoulder. It takes fortitude to debride open wounds or clean up accidents related to continence.

Other health professions contribute to well-being and are responsible for bettering quality of life. Dietitians instill healthy mealtime discipline but allow for that diabetic to enjoy his/her favorite treat now and then. Occupational therapists adapt environments and modify tasks to help regain or maintain daily productivity. Physiotherapy will intervene after a hip fracture to increase mobility and function.

We all have a part to play, and every professional requires practice and support from the other fields. A truly holistic approach to patient care demands it.

This pharmacist would like to send along a hearty ‘thank-you’ to all of my healthcare allies in whatever capacity you may touch the life of our mutual patient. We all share a passion for the same thing: to help others feel the best they possibly can for as long as they possibly can. Your contribution matters. We promise to work at our craft to ensure that we hold up our end of the bargain.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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The Importance of Messaging and Public Image

Big news recently hit the email inbox. Pharmacists are now able to administer medications, including vaccinations.

I’ll let you read that again to let it sink in…

This puts us on brand-new footing because we are now able to lawfully prescribe, dispense AND administer medication. The possibilities stemming from this announcement have not even begun to be explored, however, we should back up for a second.

HOW do we convey these changes to the public? HOW do we create demand and value for our time? HOW can we leverage this in our dealings with other health professionals?

The actual performing of these new tasks is fairly academic; we receive the proper training or direction, do some repetition to iron out the kinks, and gain confidence with our own clinical styles. It’s the buy-in from other stake-holders that often drive the promotion and uptake of these services. The mere availability of a service means nothing if the consumer doesn’t know to ask for it. If we don’t have support in our practice areas from other sectors of the healthcare system, ultimately patient care may suffer.

As a couple of examples, I point to minor ailments and flu shots. Both are necessary and in many ways overdue. In the case of the former, it will significantly cut down on waiting room visits and allow for more resources to be allocated to major ailments. In the latter, the hope is that more people will have access to the vaccination causing infection rates to drop among the collective. The issue I personally have is in the messaging or ‘talking points’. I’ll try a multiple choice quiz:

1) A patient is exposed to the media promotion for minor ailments, either through the provincial announcements, print or tv advertisements. He/she seeks out a pharmacist with what expectation?

      a) a review of their medication profile (for free) to see what options they have.

      b) a refill on an expired or finished prescription (with applicable copay).

      c) a prescription of their choosing because they self-diagnosed through one of the internets and know exactly what they need (with applicable copay)

      d) an assessment of their condition and recommendation (assessment fee regardless of referral, OTC, or Rx therapy)

2) A patient hears that pharmacists will be able to give flu shots in the fall through a media release. Which scenario best describes the reaction?

      a) Great news, now I don’t have to wait at a doctor’s office. 

      b) How much will it cost me compared to a doctor’s office or flu clinic?

      c) No thank you, I don’t believe in vaccinations. I’ve heard they cause autism.

      d) Wow, now my pharmacist can screen appropriateness of my medication and give it to me in one visit! If I have questions, the drug expert is able to answer them immediately while I get the shot!

Sadly, I reckon the d) answers are few and far between at this moment but hopefully the tide will turn. The point is, the opportunity is so much broader than simply minor ailments and flu shots. We are now able to assess and take responsibility for patients’ health. Any further services that fall under our scope, be it therapeutic substitution, adaptations, emergency fills, performing lab requisitions, etc, all require ASSESSMENTS as a foundation. Similarly, the ‘flu shot‘ is only one small benefit of the fact that we are now able to ADMINISTER medications. This could grow to include all injectable meds (travel vaccines, biologics) or even oral meds down the road (in institutional settings).

If we are able to promote our expanded scope properly, with long-term potential mixed in with short-term wins, we have a shot to be among the most accessible AND versatile health professionals out there. As a consumer, I want to believe that our value to the healthcare system is more than ever before.

Are we sending the right message?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.
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Inspiration

It comes in many forms…sometimes it can be subtle, sometimes succinct and other times, it bashes you over the head and leaves you in the alleyway wondering what the next step might be.

The pharmacy climate is changing faster than most of us ever thought possible. Legislation has been tabled in many parts of the country allowing pharmacists to make and own drug-related clinical decisions for patients with the intent of allowing quicker access and better-quality healthcare in all practice settings. With these changes also comes a need to adopt a philosophy towards how we approach drug-related problems; we are no longer simply drug experts to be used as a resource or to provide recommendations, we are entering a realm where we are able to assess independently and have final authority on therapy decisions within our scope. Needless to say, many of us are struggling with whether or not we will be comfortable in our new surroundings and/or will we still excel in our roles as consumer expectations change.

The profession of pharmacy has given me plenty over the last 15 years: an education, a lifestyle, growth opportunities, and a perspective on healthcare that alternates between cynicism and excitement. Most importantly, it has provided me the chance to meet and learn from so many fascinating people. Though not an exhaustive list, there are pharmacists, students, doctors, social workers, nurses, NPs, business people, educators, mentors. Those folks are the real reason behind this blog. I truly believe that the answers to every obstacle are already among the group and are waiting to be discovered through engagement and networking.

That said, this site is intended to be a forum where leaders within our profession can provide opinions, commentary, and brainstorm possible solutions to all things known or unknown. There may be debate, and there may be reality checks, but the tone will be constructive and provocative.

Hopefully, we can inspire each other and ASPIRE to become the practitioners we want to be. The tagline captures the attitude: ‘The practice of pharmacy…On your terms…In your terms’.