Blog of Choice: Pharmacists Prescribing

     I have always been quite passionate about pharmacists being able to prescribe. After our inter professional case with the third year med students, I feel even more passionate about this. Pharmacists are drug experts with knowledge that goes to the molecular level of drugs and the human body. Pharmacists are trained to recognize drug interactions and know what side effects each drug consists of. For patients on multiple medications with multiple comorbidites, the process of prescribing becomes that much more complex. Pharmacist are trained to be able to complete comprehensive medication reviews on all patients.

    This past semester, we met with med students to discuss a geriatric patient case. It became clear to me and my classmates that they had no idea what type of schooling we go through. They also mentioned that when they look at medication lists they assume the dosing and medications are correct or prescribed by someone else. They were unsure of how eGFR affected the dosing of certain medications as well as how age could change patients absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs. They seemed very familiar with the diagnosis portion of the case, which is what they are extensively trained in. As far as what to do to treat or prescribe, it seemed the pharmacy students contributed more. 

    I feel very confident in what pharmacists are able to do and what educational background they have to support the ability to prescribe. I believe starting small, such as allowing community pharmacists to prescribe insulin will prove to be beneficial to patients around the nation. Once this benefit is seen, progress can be made to allow pharmacists to prescribe at a greater capacity. Continuing my career, I would like to keep advocating for my profession. I will be helping put together Pharmacy Day at the Capital this year and I am incredibly excited to possibly discuss this with our elected officers.