What is clinical pharmacy? Something apart from just dispensing the medicine

Pharmacy
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Clinical Pharmacy focuses on rational and safe use of medicines for patient care. Major aim of this initiative is to optimize drug therapy to achieve the best therapeutic outcome.

Functions & responsibility of clinical pharmacist

  1. Review prescriptions for errors or interactions
  2. Monitor patient drug therapy
  3. Provide drug information to doctors and nurses.
  4. Counsel patients about medicines
  5. Participate in ward rounds and hospital committees.
  6. Report ADRs

Areas of work

  1. Drug therapy monitoring:- it is the duty of a pharmacist to observe a patient response to medication ensuring correct dose, route of administration and ADRs.
  2. Medication Chart Review:- pharmacist needs to check the prescription charts for drug dose and frequency, possible interactions and duplicate therapy to ensure prescription safety.
  3. Medication history and Pharmaceutical care:- listing all the medicines pateint has used either over the counter or herbals. Pharmacist approach should be pateint- centred.
  4. Clinical Review:- it involves the systematic review of all patients data, lab test, history and drug used.
  5. Pharmacist Intervention:-When pharmacist detects and corrects a potential or actual medication problem.Examples:-Correcting wrong dosage, Suggesting alternative drug,and Educating about side effects.
  6. Ward Round participation:- pharmacist joins doctors and nurses during ward Round. Pharmacist are meant to provide real time advice on drug selection, dosing adjustment and adverse effects and interaction.

All in all people needs to be aware of that pharmacist responsibility is not limited to just dispensing it is way more than that it also includes holistic health improvement of the patient.

So tell me where you aware of this concept???

MBH/AB

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Yes, very clearly drafted about the roles of clinical pharmacists. Clinical pharmacists, usually Pharm Dā€™s are undervalued of their profession unaware of their importance in the healthcare system. Clinical pharmacists also work hard to deliver accurate treatment to patients, focusing primely on rational drug therapy and safety.

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I think clinical pharmacists should be respected as much as doctors, especially in India. Where there are very little to no opportunities for them them to showcase their real skills and talents. I just hope that one day, clinical pharmacist will also get their share of respect in the country

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Yes as a Pharmacy student this topic is studied in Pharmacy Pratice

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An insightful read about the depth of scope in clinical pharamacy.