3 Reasons Pharmacists are Critical to our Health and Wellness

It’s normal to make an appointment with a doctor or nurse practitioner when you don’t feel well, and it’s common to call or visit a pharmacy with questions on whether a new drug will cause drowsiness or if it’s OK to take with food. However, did you know a trusted neighborhood pharmacist is able to provide more than just sound advice on drug interactions and side effects?

A 20191 Gallop poll ranks pharmacists as the third most trusted profession in the U.S. for ethical standards and honesty. Here are a few reasons we 100 percent stand behind pharmacists, and why you should consider them for more than just medication-related questions.

1. Pharmacists provide excellent health advice and care.

Pharmacists spend years studying, training and practicing their field to understand and communicate the best possible drug treatment options, how to take them, and how they will react in our bodies; however, their role does not end there.

Did you know most pharmacists can administer vaccines? Influenza, shingles, MMR, and HPV are a few examples of immunizations you can schedule with your pharmacist. Laws vary by state, but all 502 U.S. states permit pharmacists to provide various vaccination services.

Additionally, many states are starting to recognize the expanding roles of pharmacists through various legislation. In Ohio, Senate Bill 265 officially3 designated pharmacists as healthcare providers, with the ability to offer expanded care options for their patients.

2. They are committed to implementing products and processes that help their technicians and the patients they serve.

Pharmacists prioritize what’s best for the patient and that also means the tools they’re utilizing in the pharmacy to help staff remain efficient.

Dispensation software, workflow tools, and integrated prescription delivery software are just a few examples that can help technicians and pharmacists save time, improve processes, and give more value to patients through consultations and other services.

3. They take part in impactful innovations in medication therapy and put them to use.

Who better to provide insights into pharmacogenomics (the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs4 ) and pharmaceutical research than individuals who study and stay up to date on medicine for a living?

In one study, 1.3 drug therapy5 problems directly related to pharmacogenomic testing were found per each patient tested. Pharmacists understand how various drugs work in our bodies and can use the information provided to treat patients by recommending different therapies and providing personalized medication services.

With the knowledge of new drugs hitting the market they can even recommend more appropriate therapies than what was originally prescribed.

At ScriptDrop, we’re proud to work closely with pharmacists across the nation to provide the best possible options for medication adherence and patient care.

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