Students,
What are your thoughts? What do you think clinical/staff pharmacists do at an health system setting? Is that what you would like to do?
I think the above post answered it pretty well. Clinical pharmacists have many important functions in a hospital setting. They need to make sure that medication therapy is optimal, they perform medication reconciliation, they make sure there are no interactions or allergies, they counsel patients on the medication (outpatient mostly), they educate medical staff (nurses, residents), they are involved in investigational drug protocols, they have a huge part in the development of hospital formularies, they are an important source for drug information (therapeutics and physical drug questions), and of course they need to process prescriptions and help medical staff to access specialty drugs. They are also important in developing medication safety forms and protocols. Clinical pharmacists may also need to change drug (ie antibiotic) doses in regards to drug levels and/or renal function. Some may be in charge of anti-coagulation protocols.
In outpatient settings, such as specialty clinics, staff pharmacists will assess patients, monitor drug efficacy, and prescribe the appropriate medications (Alberta). I have professors who work in HIV clinics, menopause clinics, diabetes clinics, cardiac clinics, family health clinics where they would need to do such activities.
I'm pretty sure there are other functions but these were some of the main functions I saw during my rotation.
