My first blog post is about the fact that yes, pharmacists ARE doctors. How? simple. Pharmacists are people that have, what is basically, a PhD in pharmacology. A pharmacist is a DOCTOR OF PHARMACY. They have spent their school career majoring in pharmaceutical therapy .
What does this mean? Pharmacists have a degree in what medications work and how, what are the contraindications and what medication is best suited for you based on medication history, serious medical issues and your medication history.
How does this differ from an MD? well, an MD is actually NOT required to understand pharmacology beyond a basic knowledge. An MD is trained mostly in anatomy and physiology. An MD is there to diagnose you. A pharmacist is trained to understand anatomy and physiology, but their expertise lies in medication which means that often, a pharmacist understands more about meds than your doctor or nurse practitioner, and often, the pharmacist is the reason you don't DIE.
That's not to scare you, the patient. It's the truth. As a pharmacy technician in Maine, I am loathe to say that I spend a large portion of my day chasing down doctors to fix their badly written prescriptions.
I am not exaggerating: I really wish it was hyperbole. Unfortunately, it's not. I am constantly clarifying prescriptions and yes, I have had a prescription for lethal potassium. I have received a prescription for an insulin a patient was NOT on.
The pharmacy catches things most MDs miss because, again, their job is to assess your physical or psychological issue. A pharmacist is trained to assess what medications are the best for you and, in some cases, work the same way but are cheaper.
The next time you head into the pharmacy and become grumpy with the staff, keep in mind that there may be a small error on the prescription that, unfortunately, the pharmacy cannot accept and must clarify, despite knowing, or thinking, what the answer is. Remember our only intent is patient safety. Perhaps the corporation we work for is concerned with money, but us? the pharmacists and technicians? We are working to not only keep you healthy, but make sure your prescriptions are correct and will not negatively impact your health.