Pharmacy

Disciplines and Specializations

  • Pharmacy can be divided into three primary disciplines: Pharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics, and Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy.
  • Medicinal chemistry combines pharmacology, organic chemistry, and chemical biology.
  • Specializations in pharmacy practice recognized by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties include cardiovascular, infectious disease, oncology, and more.
  • Certification in geriatric pharmacy practice and applied toxicology is available.

Professionals and Education

  • There are at least 2.6 million pharmacists and other pharmaceutical personnel worldwide.
  • Pharmacists are healthcare professionals with specialized education and training.
  • Pharmacists ensure optimal health outcomes for patients through the quality use of medicines.
  • Education is required to become a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
  • Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are registered with regulatory bodies.
  • Pharmacy technicians have taken on more responsibility in hospital pharmacy.
  • Some states in the US have pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio requirements.

Pharmacy Support Staff

  • Pharmacy technicians support pharmacists and other health professionals.
  • Dispensing assistants perform similar tasks as pharmacy technicians.
  • Healthcare assistants/medicines counter assistants can sell certain medicines over the counter.
  • Legislation requires the supervision of pharmacy technicians by a pharmacist.

History and Practice Areas

  • The earliest known compilation of medicinal substances dates back to the 6th century BC.
  • Pharmacy has a long history in various civilizations, including Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese.
  • Pharmacists practice in a variety of areas including community pharmacies, hospitals, clinical settings, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.
  • In community pharmacies, pharmacists dispense medications, provide counseling to patients, and offer health services.
  • In hospitals, pharmacists collaborate with healthcare teams to ensure safe and effective medication use.
  • In clinical settings, pharmacists work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to optimize medication therapy.
  • Pharmacists in research institutions contribute to the development of new drugs and investigate drug interactions and efficacy.

Role in Healthcare and Practice Settings

  • Pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare by ensuring safe and effective medication use.
  • They collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy and prevent medication errors.
  • Pharmacists provide medication counseling to patients and monitor medication regimens.
  • They contribute to public health initiatives by providing immunizations and promoting medication adherence.
  • Community pharmacies are where most pharmacists practice and provide retail services.
  • Hospital pharmacies have a more complex scope of practice and deal with clinical medication management.
  • Clinical pharmacists provide direct patient care services and create comprehensive drug therapy plans.
  • Ambulatory care pharmacy focuses on managing chronic disease states and providing in-office patient visits.
  • Compounding pharmacies specialize in preparing custom drugs, and consultant pharmacists focus on medication regimen review.

Pharmacy Data Sources

Reference URL
Glossary https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/pharmacy
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacy
Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q614304
Knowledge Graph https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/027k47g