A pharmacist can be an excellent health advocate for you. Many pharmacists are changing thier roles to include more patient counselling and education, as well as offering extended services such as nutritional counselling right in their pharmacies.
YOUR PHARMACIST
Your pharmacist is an important member of your health care team. In addition to performing traditional services, such as dispensing medications, your pharmacist can help you understand your pharmaceutical treatment and how to make sure it is as effective and safe as possible.
By keeping accurate and up-to-date records and monitoring your use of medications, your pharmacist can help to protect you from improper medication therapy, unwanted side effects, and dangerous drug interactions.
Because your pharmacist can play a vital role in protecting and improving your health, you should seek a pharmacist who will provide these services.
To provide you with the best possible care, your pharmacist should be informed about your current condition and medication history. Your pharmacist should also be aware of any special packaging needs that you may have (such as child-resistant or easy-to-open containers).
Your pharmacist should keep accurate and up-to-date records that contain this information. If you visit a new pharmacy that does not have access to your medication records, it is important that you inform that pharmacist as fully as possible about your medical history or provide him or her with a copy of your medication records from your previous pharmacy.
In general, in order to get the most out of your pharmacy services, it is best to get all of your medications (including OTCs) from the same pharmacy.
Your pharmacist should be a knowledgeable and approachable source of information about your medications.
Ideally, this information should also be provided in written form, so that you may refer to it later if you have any questions or problems.
The pharmacist should always be willing to answer any questions that you have regarding your medications, and should also be willing to contact your physician or other health care professionals (dentist, nurses, etc.) on your behalf if necessary.
Your pharmacist can also help you with information on the costs of your medicines. Many medicines are available from more than one company. They may have equal effects but different costs.
Your insurance company, or other third-party payment group may reimburse you for only some of these medications or only for part of their costs. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you which of these medications are covered by your payment plan or which cost less.
In selecting a pharmacist, it is important that you understand the role of the pharmacist as a member of your health care team and the extent of information that he or she should be asking for and providing.
Because pharmacies can offer different types of services and have different policies regarding patient information, some of the issues that you should consider in selecting a pharmacist also relate to the pharmacy where that person practices.
There are several issues regarding the pharmacist and pharmacy that you should consider, such as:
- Does the pharmacy offer written information that you can take home? Home delivery?
- Are you able to talk to your pharmacist without other people hearing you?
- Can the pharmacist be reached easily by phone? In an emergency, is a pharmacist available twenty-four hours (including weekends and holidays) by phone?
- What types of payment are accepted in the pharmacy?
- Does the pharmacy accept your third-party payment plan?
- Does the pharmacy offer any specialized services, such as diabetes education, counseling, dietitian services?
You should select your pharmacist and pharmacy as carefully as you select your physician. This will allow you to develop a beneficial relationship with your pharmacist.
