Speaking out

Abstract

Getting people to ‘think different’All too often, patients are unaware of the intricacies and complexities that come with preparing their medications when they look at the pharmacist who stands behind the counter. Pharmacists must perform important checks for drug-drug interactions, drug allergies, drug duplication reviews, and drug use reviews, to name a few, before any medication leaves the pharmacy and is placed in a patient’s hands. It is only by educating the public on a grand scale that more and more people will realize the importance of this process.Patients must be educated about the value of the patient care that pharmacists provide so they are more likely to participate in active, educational dialogues that can lead to improvement of health care. Pharmacists face significant challenges in helping patients and other health care providers realize the potential benefits that can be reaped from medication therapy management (MTM) programs; if patients did realize the power of MTM services, it would change their assumptions about the practice of pharmacy.It is critical that patients take the time to speak with their pharmacist because pharmacists are the drug experts who can provide great insight into the potential adverse effects, adverse reactions, and any other outcomes that may be related to their medications. There has to be a shift in the get- in and get-out mentality that has been associated with the practice of community pharmacy, and once this shift occurs patients will be more inclined to sit down and engage in counseling sessions with their pharmacist, who is more accessible than their primary care provider in some instances. By bringing MTM to the masses, more and more people will become aware of the knowledge and expertise that pharmacists have to offer their patients and may be more inclined to sit and discuss their medications. Getting people to ‘think different’All too often, patients are unaware of the intricacies and complexities that come with preparing their medications when they look at the pharmacist who stands behind the counter. Pharmacists must perform important checks for drug-drug interactions, drug allergies, drug duplication reviews, and drug use reviews, to name a few, before any medication leaves the pharmacy and is placed in a patient’s hands. It is only by educating the public on a grand scale that more and more people will realize the importance of this process.Patients must be educated about the value of the patient care that pharmacists provide so they are more likely to participate in active, educational dialogues that can lead to improvement of health care. Pharmacists face significant challenges in helping patients and other health care providers realize the potential benefits that can be reaped from medication therapy management (MTM) programs; if patients did realize the power of MTM services, it would change their assumptions about the practice of pharmacy.It is critical that patients take the time to speak with their pharmacist because pharmacists are the drug experts who can provide great insight into the potential adverse effects, adverse reactions, and any other outcomes that may be related to their medications. There has to be a shift in the get- in and get-out mentality that has been associated with the practice of community pharmacy, and once this shift occurs patients will be more inclined to sit down and engage in counseling sessions with their pharmacist, who is more accessible than their primary care provider in some instances. By bringing MTM to the masses, more and more people will become aware of the knowledge and expertise that pharmacists have to offer their patients and may be more inclined to sit and discuss their medications. All too often, patients are unaware of the intricacies and complexities that come with preparing their medications when they look at the pharmacist who stands behind the counter. Pharmacists must perform important checks for drug-drug interactions, drug allergies, drug duplication reviews, and drug use reviews, to name a few, before any medication leaves the pharmacy and is placed in a patient’s hands. It is only by educating the public on a grand scale that more and more people will realize the importance of this process. Patients must be educated about the value of the patient care that pharmacists provide so they are more likely to participate in active, educational dialogues that can lead to improvement of health care. Pharmacists face significant challenges in helping patients and other health care providers realize the potential benefits that can be reaped from medication therapy management (MTM) programs; if patients did realize the power of MTM services, it would change their assumptions about the practice of pharmacy. It is critical that patients take the time to speak with their pharmacist because pharmacists are the drug experts who can provide great insight into the potential adverse effects, adverse reactions, and any other outcomes that may be related to their medications. There has to be a shift in the get- in and get-out mentality that has been associated with the practice of community pharmacy, and once this shift occurs patients will be more inclined to sit down and engage in counseling sessions with their pharmacist, who is more accessible than their primary care provider in some instances. By bringing MTM to the masses, more and more people will become aware of the knowledge and expertise that pharmacists have to offer their patients and may be more inclined to sit and discuss their medications.