Why is building a relationship with a pharmacist so important?
-
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Your pharmacist is the least expensive and most accessible health resource you have. You can drop in to see him or her anytime you want, without an appointment. All consultations are free. In medicine, that's something extraordinary.
Your pharmacist has an amazing wealth of knowledge at her fingertips, which can mean at your fingertips. Many also have access to new technology that can answer questions (such as, is it safe to take this brand new medication with this even newer medication?) in a blink.What's more, they see patients with similar conditions using different medications every single day. They see patients with side effects, and they know which side effects could mean serious trouble, rather than just more time in the bathroom.
To put it simply, pharmacists know many things that you—and your doctor--don't know. Most physicians take only one or two courses on pharmacology in medical school. The rest we learn from journals, from experience with patients, and from daily visits by pharmaceutical salespeople (thanks for the coffee mugs).
You should be on a first name basis with a good pharmacist. At some point two years from now, he may mutter to himself, "Hmmmm…Jane's doctor has never prescribed this before, and it doesn't seem right, so I'd better shoot that doctor a call."
Find out more about this book: YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatmen...
Your pharmacist is the least expensive and most accessible health resource you have. You can drop in to see him or her anytime you want, without an appointment. All consultations are free. In medicine, that's something extraordinary. Your... More -
Stacy Wiegman answered:Medical care and medication therapy is complex today. We all have many doctors, a dentist, an optometrist and several specialists who do not necessarily talk together about your care. However, if you fill all or at least most of your prescriptions at one pharmacy, the pharmacist can get to know you and offer the best advice about your medications. When the prescribers are not able to talk to each other about your care, the pharmacist can talk to each of them. For example, the pharmacist will contact one prescriber about an interacting medication from a different prescriber. In this way better drug therapy can be achieved.
A pharmacist who knows you can help you select appropriate over-the-counter medications that will not interact with your prescriptions or your medical conditions.
Like any relationship, it is what the two parties make of it. The pharmacist is the only medical professional with whom you can talk anytime without an appointment. While the pharmacist often looks, and is, really busy, questions about medications are always welcome. Never hesitate to ask to speak to the pharmacist.
Medical care and medication therapy is complex today. We all have many doctors, a dentist, an optometrist and several specialists who do not necessarily talk together about your care. However, if you fill all or at least most of your... More -
Dr. Goldina Erowele answered:Medications, drugs, medicines - are known and have shown to improve the quality of people's lives, but they can also pose serious risks, particularly if not taken correctly. Pharmacist regardless of setting - retail, drug stores, hospital, ambulatory care, long term care, consulting, academia, government, etc., as a member of your health care team, is extensively trained to help you get the benefits of medicine while reducing drug related problems & risks as much as possible.
By partnering with a local pharmacist whom you trust, just as you would choose a doctor or nurse practitioner you can build a long-term relationship. The role of pharmacists has grown and changed to help patients cope with a complicated health care system.
Pharmacists are medication experts; they have undergone extensive education in the science of how the human body uses and responds to medicines, and have also built up years of experience in real-life counseling on how to take medicines safely.
Pharmacists checking each prescription to help ensure that:
- The information provided by the prescriber is complete.
- The new medication will not interact with anything else they know you are taking.
- The medication and dosage are safe with any medical conditions that they are aware you may have.
- You understand how to take and store the medication properly.
In addition, pharmacists can play a valuable role in helping to manage your overall health care by addressing drug related problems and saving healthcare dollars in the process. To find out how your pharmacists can save you, refer to these 5 tips - given by a clinical pharmacist.
http://www.learnvest.com/2012/03/save-money-on-prescription-medications-with-these-5-tips/
Finally, your pharmacist is a resource and an educator for you and your family. He or she can answer many of your questions about your health and medicines. By getting to know you and your medication profile, your pharmacist can:
- Warn you of possible harmful drug interactions or allergies.
- Tell you about potential side effects.
- Advise you on drug-foods, drug-drug, drug-drinks, drug-herb, drug-OTC interactions, or activities to avoid while taking a certain medication, or on what to do if you miss a dose.
- Tell you when a concern you’ve raised requires a call to your doctor.
Medications, drugs, medicines - are known and have shown to improve the quality of people's lives, but they can also pose serious risks, particularly if not taken correctly. Pharmacist regardless of setting - retail, drug stores, hospital,... More
