Pharmacist
What is a pharmacist?
A pharmacist is a medication expert specifically trained to handle, store, prepare, and dispense medications.
Some locations in which a pharmacist may be employed include:
- Hospitals
- Addiction treatment centers
- Community pharmacies
- Nursing homes
- Medication distribution centers
- Oncology centers
- Mental health facilities
Duties that a pharmacist is responsible for can include:
- Preparing prescriptions
- Verifying the medication dosage prescribed by physicians
- Administering various vaccinations
- Educating patients about taking their prescription
- Checking for drug interactions
- Verifying that a patient is not at risk of adverse reactions due to the prescription
Why is a pharmacist important in healthcare?
While a physician writes a script for the medication, the pharmacist serves as the final check to ensure that the correct dose is ordered and that the patient will not experience adverse drug interactions.
It is the pharmacist’s responsibility to ensure that patients are given medication that is safe for them to take in an effective dose. Their role also lies in educating the patient about the correct way to take the medicine and what side effects they may experience.