Happy National Pharmacy Week!

How did I get interested in pharmacy? I didn't know I was going to be a pharmacist until I attended a college fair in Chinatown and went to the first booth listed alphabetically. There, a tall, friendly Dean and an Asian upperclassman (who actually finished pharmacy school and went to medical school) told me fascinating things about the profession of pharmacy. I applied to Albany College of Pharmacy right away and got accepted within weeks during rolling admissions. Yes, I applied to 5 other colleges, too, including Buffalo for the pharmacy program. Before I heard from them, I decided 3 hours from home was far enough and I accepted. Senior year flew by and then I was off to college, excited to learn more science and math. Seventeen years later, I am still glad fate took me down that route. Here is a description of a pediatric pharmacist.

Oftentimes I get asked, why pediatric pharmacy, it's so sad? Kids have always been naturally drawn to me. I have been called the "baby whisperer." I wanted to use this "ability" to help sick kids feel better. The most memorable question I got asked, though, popped up during a residency interview, "Did you ever watch a child die?" I was stunned and speechless for a few long seconds, and I answered, "No." Thankfully, to this day, I still haven't. I have helped take care of two sets of Siamese twins, watched an autopsy on an adult who had widespread aspergillosis, taught multiple families about asthma, excited many students and residents about pediatric pharmacy, advocated for many parents, shared experiences with my colleagues, and now I have my own kids to keep healthy and safe from medication errors.

It's the tail end of National Pharmacy Week 2009. Normally, I would rally up the students and set up a table in the lobby of the hospital to talk about the services pharmacists can offer. Brown bag sessions at the senior centers and pediatric asthma clinics were also on the schedule. Although I'm taking a hiatus from the daily grind of a pediatric pharmacist in a health-system, I am remaining active in the profession through blogging, tweeting, and contributing to the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, my beloved association. With a daughter in preschool, you can bet that I'll be giving some talks in the near future.

Don't be shy

I was disappointed to learn that my own mother thinks that pharmacists do not have to make any decisions as part of their job. That pharmacists would not take the time to ask a patient why they are taking a particular medication. That doctors would never call a pharmacist to ask about a particular drug. In essence, they just read the prescription, fill it, and dispense it.

After a long and heated discussion, I realized that it's not her fault for having these misconceptions. I thought back to the times when I helped her bring and pick up prescriptions at the local pharmacy that she uses. When you walk in you see a row of chairs facing the counter. There are at least 3 people behind the wall of shelves (you can barely see the tops of their heads) and 3 people in the front behind the register. When you drop off the prescription, they give you a number. You can sit and wait 20+ minutes, or go back. Picking up the prescription involves handing them the number, the cashier reaching for the tray with your number, then handing you the goods. Sometimes you are advised about the medications, but by the clerk, not the pharmacist. When does the pharmacist step down from his workspace? If you have a question about why the drug isn't covered by your insurance or if you have a specific question that the clerk cannot answer.

True, this is not that different from other pharmacies, but patients have the right to ask questions. The pharmacy experience shouldn't feel like being in a factory. Do not feel that you are bothering the pharmacist. The role of a pharmacist has been much expanded to include more direct interaction with patients (face-to-face counseling) and more involvement in the design and execution of drug therapy plans for chronic disease states, like asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. There are pharmacists who specialize in certain areas, like pediatrics. In fact, most states allow trained pharmacists to immunize adult patients. And yes, pharmacists can be interactive with patients in the hospital setting, too.

Your pharmacist is really a great source of information and is willing to talk to you. If you sense differently, seek better care elsewhere from another pharmacist. Don't be shy about your child's, or your own, health care.