Pharmacy Automation: Will Pharmacists Be Replaced?

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Would you want a robot dispensing drugs for you and your patients? Odds are, that’s long since been the case, to one extent or another:

Robotics have been used to help dispense medication in some pharmacies since the 1990s and robots for delivering medication have been used in hospitals for a decade.

And even before that, machines have been used for decades to count pills for dispensing – Such technology is now the standard in more than 30,000 pharmacies worldwide.

But will technology ever replace pharmacists completely? Continue reading “Pharmacy Automation: Will Pharmacists Be Replaced?”

10 Pharmacy Fun Facts That You Probably Didn’t Know

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Today, we don’t think twice about walking into a pharmacy to pick up a prescription or some over-the-counter medication, but pharmacies have a long and interesting history that dates as far back as 2100 B.C. Here are 10 pharmacy trivia facts you probably didn’t know.

10 fun facts about the origins of pharmacies you probably didn't know.
Continue reading “10 Pharmacy Fun Facts That You Probably Didn’t Know”
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Hospital Pharmacy vs Retail Pharmacy – What’s the Difference?

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When many people think of pharmacy positions, the first thing that comes to mind is the friendly face who fills their prescriptions at the local drug store. However, retail pharmacy jobs are not the only positions out there for pharmacists and pharmacy techs to take advantage of. There are many jobs available in hospital pharmacies and though you might think they are the same, these jobs can be vastly different. Here is what you can expect in a hospital pharmacy versus a retail pharmacy.

Continue reading “Hospital Pharmacy vs Retail Pharmacy – What’s the Difference?”

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Our Picks for the Top 10 Traits of Highly Effective Pharmacists

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Being a pharmacist can make for a rewarding medical career: The pay-to-hours ratio provides an attractive quality of life. And the duties allow for meaningful interactions with patients. So much so that – time-and-again – pharmacists are cited as one of the professionals Americans trust the most.

Continue reading “Our Picks for the Top 10 Traits of Highly Effective Pharmacists”

4 Organizations for Pharmacists

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The world of pharmaceuticals is constantly evolving as new medications are added to the market. As with any medical profession, it is important for a pharmacist to keep up with the latest information and innovations. This is where trade organizations become invaluable. There are numerous national and state pharmacy organizations. Today, we will discuss four of the most popular in the national arena. Continue reading “4 Organizations for Pharmacists”

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Benefits of Becoming a Per Diem Pharmacist

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Since I began writing on this blog, I’ve found much more to talk about with my local pharmacist. We discuss a variety of pharmacy topics when I go in to refill prescriptions several times a month. Before, it was the usual “how are you doing” kind of conversation, and now I use him as a source of inspiration and information. Recently, I was telling him about some of the blog posts I’d been writing and mentioned temporary nursing positions. I asked him if he knew about them, and he did. Then we started discussing about how the same type of arrangement is also available for pharmacists. He said it had never interested him much, because he likes where he lives, but that he’d known several people who enjoyed the variety. He had similar things to say about becoming a per diem pharmacist, and mentioned that their pharmacy employed them from time to time when someone was sick or was scheduled for vacation.

 

Oddly, I had never noticed if someone different was busily filling my prescriptions, but then again, I hadn’t really started having conversations with my pharmacist every visit until recently. I usually deal with the pharmacy technician or cashier unless I have a specific question about the medications. I must admit I was intrigued. I asked if he could tell me why people were interested in becoming a per diem pharmacist. Some of the answers reminded me of what nurses I know have to say and others seemed more specific to the world of pharmaceuticals. Continue reading “Benefits of Becoming a Per Diem Pharmacist”

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