Why Consultant Pharmacy Is Good Medicine

I’m a consultant pharmacist. That probably conjures an image of the fellow in the white coat down at the local drugstore, dispensing prescriptions and discussing local politics with neighbors. But I’m a different sort of pharmacist: I do advise people about their medications, and I have plenty of neighborly conversations. But consultant pharmacists are also the patient’s personal health care expert.

Once, you found consultant pharmacists strictly in nursing homes, reviewing medications and tailoring drug delivery systems. But now, you’ll find us in retirement communities, assisted living homes, and independent senior living facilities. We work in hospices and long-term care facilities, and even right in your neighborhood. We work closely with doctors, nurses, and family members to evaluate patients. Sometimes a small change in the dose or timing of a medication can make a big difference in its effectiveness and a patient’s quality of life. We help control symptoms better, and we help reduce the disruptive side effects of medicines. Often we find that patients receiving medications do not actually need them and one or more medicines may safely be eliminated from his or her drug regimen.

One of the consultant pharmacist’s most important duties is to prevent medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions. Most importantly, the consultant pharmacist ensures safe, appropriate, effective treatment. The average person over 65 may suffer from many health problems: arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, poor vision, or hearing loss, among others. Most of these conditions are controlled by medications. But time takes its toll on the human body. Advancing age and long-term use of multiple medications put older patients at risk for unpleasant side effects and other medication-related problems. The consultant pharmacist reviews and manages the medicines used to treat health problems common among older people to help prevent those problems.

Since older people take so many medications, and because the dosing schedule can be complicated, nurses in nursing homes and long-term care facilities often spend the bulk of their time organizing and administering drugs. But consultant pharmacists design a pre-packaged system for each patient that is efficient, accurate, and organized. It’s a personalized system that ensures each person gets exactly the right medication at the right time. More importantly, it frees the nursing staff to do what they do best–giving careful attention and comfort to each patient.

What makes consultant pharmacists so valuable is the careful, sensible way in which they serve their patients. The consultant pharmacist is the health care professional who can make life better for you and your family. Whether you are an elderly person in an assisted living facility, or an adult child of senior citizens, the consultant pharmacist is a trusted advisor. We can keep you informed of your elderly mother’s new drug regimen, consult with you about your aged father’s sudden melancholy, and ease your fears about the uncertainties of caring for elderly parents at home.

The consultant pharmacist is an educator, a comforter, a consummate health care professional, and a family friend. We save money, we save lives, and most importantly, we make life better for a lot of people. And in today’s world, that makes sense for all of us.