E-DRUG: pharmacist v/s physician?
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Dear e-druggers,
Will forum agree to me, if I say that the role of pharmacist v/s physician is interchangeable & inter-dependable (under any given setup) for the benefit of heath system/care.
Trying to define the *roles* in the specific setup will not bring the answers for *responsibilities* we are accountable respectively (as a pharmacist or physician)
*Responsibilities* is what for we are paid for our services by the community & are made accountable.
Where else *role* is what we contribute voluntarily.
Yes, responsibilities have to be well defined in any healthcare setup to get best out of any individual person in specific, which will help to make to make accountable & honor for its responsibilities.
Should the base line of our responsibility be based on: physician responsible for making diagnosis & line of treatment where pharmacist for delivery of pharmaceutical treatment.
Feel free to comment on this
With regards
s.s.kamboj
Pharmacist
Central Medical Center
Amritsar
India
pharmacist_in@yahoo.com
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An interesting point but it ignores the issue of *competence*. It surely doesn't matter what the baseline profession is, rather it is more important to assure that any health professional carrying out differing roles, has demonstrated the *competence* to provide those roles. Most of the activities undertaken by pharmacists are technical roles involved with the supply and distribution functions of a retail pharmacy, which over time have been, and will continue to be provided by people less qualified than pharmacists.
As I see it, pharmacists do not recognise what roles they undertake or could undertake in providing patient care. What is it that pharmacists do - to enhance patient care? How do pharmacists demonstrate that they actually care for the patient?
It seems to me that there is no other group of health professionals better positioned to address the very costly (in terms of both health and money) issue of drug related morbidity and mortality. Sadly most pharmacists are not prepared to do the small extra amount of study that would begin to provide them with the competencies to address this issue and define and develop the roles designed to address this issue.
Governments want to use pharmacists' skills, but the reality is, they have no idea what those skills are. Pharmacy leaders seem hell bent on protecting the economic viability of an unchanging model of retail pharmacy and do not appear interested in promoting the development of new skill sets, or providing the economic opportunities for pharmacists to employ those skills.
When there is agreement on what pharmacists' health care roles actually are, with the practise standards and the health benefits that will accrue to the patient defined, then - and only then - will we be able to fully participate as members of the health care team.
John Dunlop
PGDipPharm, MPharm, FACPP, MCPP, FNZCP, MPS, MRPharmS
john@cpsl.biz
E-DRUG: pharmacist v/s physician? (2)
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Dear colleagues,
I have hesitated to participate in the recent discussion pharmacist vs physician because it elicits emotions and it is a battle which has been raging for more than 30 years. However, I think that the pharmacists miss one crucial point, i.e. that drug treatment is one of many options which are at the physician's disposal, one of the most important options being of NOT prescribing drugs or even deliberately witholding drug treatment even if the patient asks for a prescription. May I remind you that despite all criticisms targeted at GP's my country, Holland, has the lowest consumption of antibiotics per capita in the whole of Europe and AS A RESULT we have (possibly) the lowest incidence of MRSA in the whole world (Listen,
Mr.Michael Howard!).
Drug treatment is only one of many options in general practice and even in hospital medicine, and there are many other means of satisfying the patient's needs. With few exceptions pharmacists rarely or never are confronted with really sick people and with the necessity to take decisions on life or death. If they want to treat patients, alright, but then go back to the university and study medicine, as the British apothecaries did in the 19th century.
Good luck and best wishes,
Leo Offerhaus
The Netherlands
offerhausl@euronet.nl
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Dear all,
The advise by Dr Offerhaus for pharmacists "If they want to treat
patients, alright, but then go back to the university and study medicine,
as the British apothecaries did in the 19th century" is not the answer.
Pharmacists are trained to identify, solve and
prevent drug-related problems, through provision of pharmaceutical care vs.
physicians who are trained mostly to diagnose and treat, thus providing
medical care. The roles are to compliment each other for the patient
benefits. Maybe not in Holland, but in Malaysia the pharmacists are
rounding with the medical team and they do actually see "really sick
people" as mentioned. Pharmacists here are also active in public health
issues, for example treating patients regarding smoking cessation, in both
hospital and community settings. Pharmacists are picking up various roles
and responsibilities where physicians fail to do.
Regards,
Assoc. Prof. M. Haniki Nik M, PharmD
USM, Penang
Malaysia
haniki@usm.my
E-DRUG: pharmacist v/s physician? (cont'd)
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Dear colleagues;
I too have hesitated to participate in this discussion, but I feel now I
must interject. I believe emotions should be left out of this discussion in
favour of a more rationale approach. Healthcare systems around the globe
are being stretched beyond capacity. In many cases, this is due to growing
and aging populations and various other factors. In light of this
situation, would it not be advisable for health professionals to set aside
"turf protection" which accomplishes very little, and focus on the greater
task at hand: maximizing the use of our precious health resources, both
human and financial, for the most effective, efficient use with the goal of
improving patient outcomes?
It is true that drug therapy is only one of the options for treatment at the
physician's disposal (also at the pharmacist's disposal if you think about
it). So why are physicians so reluctant to share decision-making with
respect to drug therapy? It is not inconceivable to believe that
pharmacists and physicians could work together in an equal partnership in
order to facilitate optimal drug therapy and optimal patient management.
I am not sure I agree with the statement that pharmacists are rarely
confronted with very ill patients -and I am certain that my institutionally
based colleagues would also disagree. However, perhaps if we allow a broader
scope to pharmacists in primary care areas where pharmacist care has proven
to improve patient outcomes (dyslipidemia, diabetes, asthma,
gastrointestinal disorders, smoking cessation among others), physicians
would free up some of their precious time to devote to the management of
these very sick patients. And even with these patients, it may be possible
that physicians and patients will see benefit from the contributions of
pharmacists (the drug therapy experts).
I think it is foolhardy for health professionals to participate in this
discussion as enemies in a "battle raging". Perhaps it is time that we set
aside our weapons and focus on more important issues.
Sincerely;
Lisa DeVos
BScPharm, CAE
Alberta, Canada
ldevos@shaw.ca