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What's your favorite part about working?
#pharmacy #medicine
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Krystyna’s Answer
Hi there, I am a pharmacist who has had the pleasure of working in the hospital setting and currently the managed care setting. My favorite part about both settings overall is the teamwork involved to problem solve. In the hospital this would involve working together with the nurses, physicians, other pharmacists, respiratory therapists, etc. to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the best course of treatment for each patient. Rounding with teams was definitely my favorite part of the day and being part of that health care team to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient. In managed care there is a lot of problem solving, this will involve work with different areas of the company as well as with providers and teammates. We will work together to assess individual patients, or more often a larger population and how we may be able to intervene and assist providers/members. In either case, the most satisfying part of my job is coming together with people of different backgrounds, being able to contribute in a meaningful way with a pharmacy perspective, to ensure a comprehensive solution to whatever problem we are solving.
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Tia’s Answer
Hi! I have the opportunity to work in various settings - as a pharmacy intern, I worked in community setting (Walgreens) and truly enjoyed the patients/customers that came into the store. After pharmacy school, I worked in the hospital setting as a clinical pharmacist and also as an ambulatory care pharmacist in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular, and HIV. I think my experience in the community setting solidified my desire to remain engaged with patients. I love ambulatory care and helping patients with their medications as well as their disease state. I worked with a physician organization group after my hospital experience because I really wanted to transition into managed care. With this group, I served as the director of clinical pharmacy making sure the group was reaching the patient goal measures every year. I'm currently in managed care setting (another employer) and its just a different side to help patients get the right drugs - but now I focus on their drug formulary (meds that can get through their health care plan) and working to get the latest and most evidence based medications to them. I enjoy the teamwork and learning about the different areas of managed care. Though I have only been in managed care for 2 years, I continue to volunteer at a free medical clinic just to stay engage with patients and keep up with my clinical skills.
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Max’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
Actually I am no longer working, but before I retired I owned and operated a pharmacy in which we serviced Long Term Care Facilities, including nursing homes, , ICF's, Boarding Homes, County Jails and a State Prison. Visiting these facilities to Consult with them about medications being given, reviewing medical charts and making suggestions to physicians and nurses about medication use and their interactions. This was the part of pharmacy that I really loved and it made up for the time spent working a counter. I would greatly recommend this part of pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy is where you will use what you will have learned by the time you graduate. Contact the ASCP (American Society of Consultant Pharmacy) for further information about this field of Pharmacy Practice. I wish you the best of luck in your career.
Actually I am no longer working, but before I retired I owned and operated a pharmacy in which we serviced Long Term Care Facilities, including nursing homes, , ICF's, Boarding Homes, County Jails and a State Prison. Visiting these facilities to Consult with them about medications being given, reviewing medical charts and making suggestions to physicians and nurses about medication use and their interactions. This was the part of pharmacy that I really loved and it made up for the time spent working a counter. I would greatly recommend this part of pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy is where you will use what you will have learned by the time you graduate. Contact the ASCP (American Society of Consultant Pharmacy) for further information about this field of Pharmacy Practice. I wish you the best of luck in your career.
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Jeff’s Answer
In most practice settings, modern pharmacy practice is really about helping people. Pharmacists are the "medication experts" so our role within the overall healthcare system is to optimize medications for patients. Sometimes this means adding additional meds, removing unnecessary meds, or just adjusting their current meds. How this happens can vary based on your practice setting but this is the part I personally enjoy the most. I've worked in a community/retail setting where these discussions happen on a patient-by-patient basis. I knew many customers by name and over time you get to learn about your customers lives, not just their medicines. I could see who wasn't taking their medications regularly and have a discussion with them about what their barriers are to taking their meds (forgetfulness, money, side effects, etc.) and try to resolve them so they can improve their health.
For the past 10 years I've been working managed care (insurance companies) where I do many of the same things but at a global level, not at a patient level. So instead of talking to one individual about taking their medicine I can run a report on thousands of patients to find all of the patients not taking their medicine regularly and outreach to the patient, their doctor, etc. and see how I can help overcome these barriers.
If you've ever worked in any retail setting, retail pharmacy is no exception. When dealing with the public you will encounter all kinds of people - some happy and some, let’s just say, not so happy. However, with rare exceptions on my drive home I was always able to think of a specific someone I was able to help that day that made it all worthwhile. Working in managed care I don't often talk to patients directly so I have to reconcile that my work is impacting a much broader group of patients and I see the result of my efforts through metrics that are tracked in quality reports. Not everyone will say thank you but if you’re doing the job right you will be making a positive difference in people’s lives and that’s what keeps me motivated to show up “at the door” each day.
For the past 10 years I've been working managed care (insurance companies) where I do many of the same things but at a global level, not at a patient level. So instead of talking to one individual about taking their medicine I can run a report on thousands of patients to find all of the patients not taking their medicine regularly and outreach to the patient, their doctor, etc. and see how I can help overcome these barriers.
If you've ever worked in any retail setting, retail pharmacy is no exception. When dealing with the public you will encounter all kinds of people - some happy and some, let’s just say, not so happy. However, with rare exceptions on my drive home I was always able to think of a specific someone I was able to help that day that made it all worthwhile. Working in managed care I don't often talk to patients directly so I have to reconcile that my work is impacting a much broader group of patients and I see the result of my efforts through metrics that are tracked in quality reports. Not everyone will say thank you but if you’re doing the job right you will be making a positive difference in people’s lives and that’s what keeps me motivated to show up “at the door” each day.
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Dinah’s Answer
I am a pharmacy intern at CVS Pharmacy and I have been with CVS Pharmacy for 3 years. The best part of working at CVS Pharmacy is the relationships I form with my regular patients. My regular patients become like family because I start to know who usually picks up for the patient and who they are to the patient. I have meaningful conversations with my patients and my patients also want to know more about me. It is nice to be able to help patients in need and just a smile makes a whole world a difference. I always make sure that all my patients that come through the pharmacy door are taken care of to the best of my ability and try to resolve any issues that the patient is having.
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Danielle’s Answer
My favorite part is knowing that I'm making a difference in people's lives. Working in the pharmacy can be challenging and sometimes takes a toll on a person because you're dealing with sick people. They're scared and let's face it no one really wants to die. I love the camaraderie and it beats not working. All of us want to feel important in our lives and working fills a large portion by contributing and being part of a team.
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Blake’s Answer
Hey Jessica,
I don't work in the medical field, but in the business field. However, what I like most is the potential for growth. I like working towards goals and developing along the way.
Blake
I don't work in the medical field, but in the business field. However, what I like most is the potential for growth. I like working towards goals and developing along the way.
Blake