Community pharmacy
A community pharmacy is a healthcare facility that emphasizes providing pharmaceutical services to a specific community.[1] It dispenses medicine and typically involves a registered pharmacist.
Duties
The International Pharmaceutical Federation has declared their vision of a community-based pharmacist:[2]
- An expert in pharmaceutical care, pharmacotherapy and health promotion
- A professional communicator with patients, other healthcare providers and decision makers
- Deliver high quality products, services and communication
- Document their work and communicate the outcome to professional colleagues.
Responsibilities
Community-based pharmacists' responsibilities include: checking and dispensing of prescription drugs, providing advice on drug selection and usage to doctors and other health professionals and counseling patients in health promotion, disease prevention and the proper use of medicines.[3]
In most countries regulations govern how dispensaries may operate, with specific requirements for storage conditions, equipment and record keeping.
Clinical roles
It is becoming more common for pharmacists to take on extended roles that provide more clinical care directly to patients as part of a primary care team.[4][5]
Support staff
To help pharmacists be able to take on extended roles, it is common for them to work as part of a team that can include pharmacy technicians, dispensing assistants and counter assistants.[1]
Ownership
In parts of mainland Europe, the pharmacist is required to own the pharmacy of which she or he is the licensee. Under this arrangement, a pharmacist can be the operator of only a single outlet.[6] In the UK, 60% of all community pharmacies are owned by companies that own multiple pharmacies.[7]
In the United States, more than 25% of independent owners have ownership in two or more pharmacies.[8]
Most of New Zealand's community pharmacies are owner-operated.[9] In Australia, pharmacists recognise the need to integrate professional pharmacy services into the health system to meet the changing health care needs of the population.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About Community Pharmacy". Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Community Pharmacy Section". International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "What pharmacists do and where they work". Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Pharmacy". Scottish Government. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Careers in pharmacy: Pharmacy roles: Community pharmacy". Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Pharmacy in Europe: France". Employed community Pharmacists in Europe (EPhEU). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "News from UK". Employed community Pharmacists in Europe (EPhEU). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Independent Pharmacy Today". National Community Pharmacists Association. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ Gauld, Natalie (8 December 2010). "Sun, surf, snow and pharmacy- pharmacy practice in New Zealand". PJ online. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ↑ "Principles for Community Pharmacy Agreements". Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2014.