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The Difference Between Pharmacists and Pharmacies
AMERICAN
PHARMACY ®
OffICIal Journal of the American Pharmaceutical AssocIatIon
November 1989, Vol. NS29, No. 11 ISSN 0160-3450 publisher: The American Pharmaceutical Association, 2215 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037. (202) 628-4410. Fax: 202-783-2351 Executive Vice-President: John A. Gans, PharmD Director of Publications Management: Laura C. Lawson Editor: Marlene Z. Bloom Assistant Editor: Joyce Leinberger Mitchell Contributing Editor: Vicki Meade Continuing Education Editor: Lynn Limon, PharmD Staff Writer: Sara Martin Editorial Assistants: Ken Krehbiel, Kathleen Achor, Nicole S. Crawford Art Director: Jeffrey Ball Production Director: Jim McGinnis Production Coordinator: Susan Campbell Typographer: Tony Santora Cover Illustration: Jeffrey Ball Editorial Advisory Board: SharynR. Batey, PharmD, Martin Beasley, PhD, Timothy R. Covington, PharmD, Joseph L. Fink III, JD, Steve C. Firman, Linda K. Garrelts, Philip P. Gerbino, PharmD, Metta Lou Henderson, PhD, Daniel A . Hussar, PhD, Kenneth W. Kirk, PhD, David A. Knapp, PhD, Katherine K. Knapp, PhD, Barbara H. Korberly, James R. Minor, PharmD, Martha M. Rumore, PharmD, Dorothy L. Smith, PharmD Advertising Representative: Nicholas Minicucci, Jr., Publishing Company, Inc., 45 Whitney Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430 (201) 891-1055, fax: (201) 891-8010 The American Pharmaceutical Association Chairman of the Board: R. David Cobb, PharmD Honorary Chairman of the Board: Ewart A. Swinyard, PhD Chairman-Elect of the Board: Philip P. Gerbino, PharmD Treasurer: August P. Lemberger, PhD Board of Trustees: J. Lyle Bootman, PhD, Robert E. Davis, PharmD, Thomas J. Garrison, Donald R. Gronewold, Lucinda L. Maine, PhD, Robert J. Osterhaus, Raymond W. Roberts, PharmD, Dennis A. Smith, Susan Torrico, Tim L. Vordenbaumen House of Delegates Speaker: Lucinda L. Maine, PhD Articles published herein are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of APhA or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Advertising is prepared by the advertisers in conformity with our published advertising policy; placement does not constitute an endorsement by APhA of the claims, products, or services advertised. Indexing: Articles in American Pharmacy are indexed in Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Current Contents, Life Sciences, Excerpta Medica, FDA Clinical E xperience Abstracts, Hospital Literature Index, Index Medicus,InternationalPharmaceuticalAbstracts, Towa Drug Information Service, and Medical Socio -economic Research Sources . Previous volumes are available on microfilm from University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
Message from Headquarters
The Difference Between Pharmacists and Pharmacies By C. Edwin Webb, PharmD Director of Professional Affairs, APhA
R
emember your days as a pharmacy student? Did you have a professor that had a little quirk that either drove you crazy or just plain broke you up? I can still vividly recall one of mine who in every lecture or discussion would go to extreme lengths to clearly pronounce the words pharmacy and pharmacist. PharmaCEEE!!! PharmaCISSTT!!! It took our class only a few weeks to get to the point of outright giggling every time it happened. Fortunately, he was an excellent teacher and we learned a great deal, but it's still one of the main things I remember about him. But you know what? He was right. The distinction is important, both grammatically and professionally. And it is absolutely crucial that everyone who deals with our profession understands the difference. Recently, APhA responded to a survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) concerning prescription drug costs. AARP had developed materials for senior citizens that urged them to shop around for the pharmacy that offers the best prices. In expressing concern about AARP's materials, APhA Executive Vice-President John Gans wrote, in part, "The materials send a very clear message that the purchase of pharmaceuticals is a commodity decision, rather than a decision about securing a health care service, provided by a health care professional. ... The fact that the materials consistently refer to pharmacies rather than pharmacists conveys all too clearly AARP's perspective that patients are shopping for a commodity, not the services of a health care professional." Other examples of this phenomenon exist. Two of the major chain pharmacies in the Washington metropolitan area are doing extensive radio and television advertising. One is emphasizing the pharmacy's computerized drug interaction screening capabilities. They suggest that the pharmacy will save the patient from the potentially serious consequences of drug interactions. They need to be reminded, as does the public, that it's the pharmacist, not the pharmacy, who interprets the information in the computer, consults with the physician and patient, and participates in the decision to modify the therapy appropriately. Fortunately, the other chain is emphasizing its pharmacists and its availability to discuss medication and health problems with patients, rather than its facilities and systems. It's an interesting and crucial contrast. Even our licensing structure contributes to the perception that pharmacies have a life of their own. Boards of pharmacy issue permits to them. This is unique in the health professional realm. Physicians' and dentists' offices aren't issued permits by the state. That sends a message even those in our own profession need to think about. The bottom line is that each of us has a professional responsibility to make it crystal clear to everyone that there is a big difference between pharmaCEEES and pharmaCISSTTS. That difference goes to the heart of what we are about - health care professionals delivering services to patients. Without pharmacists, there is no pharmacy. ®
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS29, No. 11 November 1989/675
5
PHARMACY ®
OffICIal Journal of the American Pharmaceutical AssocIatIon
November 1989, Vol. NS29, No. 11 ISSN 0160-3450 publisher: The American Pharmaceutical Association, 2215 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037. (202) 628-4410. Fax: 202-783-2351 Executive Vice-President: John A. Gans, PharmD Director of Publications Management: Laura C. Lawson Editor: Marlene Z. Bloom Assistant Editor: Joyce Leinberger Mitchell Contributing Editor: Vicki Meade Continuing Education Editor: Lynn Limon, PharmD Staff Writer: Sara Martin Editorial Assistants: Ken Krehbiel, Kathleen Achor, Nicole S. Crawford Art Director: Jeffrey Ball Production Director: Jim McGinnis Production Coordinator: Susan Campbell Typographer: Tony Santora Cover Illustration: Jeffrey Ball Editorial Advisory Board: SharynR. Batey, PharmD, Martin Beasley, PhD, Timothy R. Covington, PharmD, Joseph L. Fink III, JD, Steve C. Firman, Linda K. Garrelts, Philip P. Gerbino, PharmD, Metta Lou Henderson, PhD, Daniel A . Hussar, PhD, Kenneth W. Kirk, PhD, David A. Knapp, PhD, Katherine K. Knapp, PhD, Barbara H. Korberly, James R. Minor, PharmD, Martha M. Rumore, PharmD, Dorothy L. Smith, PharmD Advertising Representative: Nicholas Minicucci, Jr., Publishing Company, Inc., 45 Whitney Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430 (201) 891-1055, fax: (201) 891-8010 The American Pharmaceutical Association Chairman of the Board: R. David Cobb, PharmD Honorary Chairman of the Board: Ewart A. Swinyard, PhD Chairman-Elect of the Board: Philip P. Gerbino, PharmD Treasurer: August P. Lemberger, PhD Board of Trustees: J. Lyle Bootman, PhD, Robert E. Davis, PharmD, Thomas J. Garrison, Donald R. Gronewold, Lucinda L. Maine, PhD, Robert J. Osterhaus, Raymond W. Roberts, PharmD, Dennis A. Smith, Susan Torrico, Tim L. Vordenbaumen House of Delegates Speaker: Lucinda L. Maine, PhD Articles published herein are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of APhA or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Advertising is prepared by the advertisers in conformity with our published advertising policy; placement does not constitute an endorsement by APhA of the claims, products, or services advertised. Indexing: Articles in American Pharmacy are indexed in Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Current Contents, Life Sciences, Excerpta Medica, FDA Clinical E xperience Abstracts, Hospital Literature Index, Index Medicus,InternationalPharmaceuticalAbstracts, Towa Drug Information Service, and Medical Socio -economic Research Sources . Previous volumes are available on microfilm from University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
Message from Headquarters
The Difference Between Pharmacists and Pharmacies By C. Edwin Webb, PharmD Director of Professional Affairs, APhA
R
emember your days as a pharmacy student? Did you have a professor that had a little quirk that either drove you crazy or just plain broke you up? I can still vividly recall one of mine who in every lecture or discussion would go to extreme lengths to clearly pronounce the words pharmacy and pharmacist. PharmaCEEE!!! PharmaCISSTT!!! It took our class only a few weeks to get to the point of outright giggling every time it happened. Fortunately, he was an excellent teacher and we learned a great deal, but it's still one of the main things I remember about him. But you know what? He was right. The distinction is important, both grammatically and professionally. And it is absolutely crucial that everyone who deals with our profession understands the difference. Recently, APhA responded to a survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) concerning prescription drug costs. AARP had developed materials for senior citizens that urged them to shop around for the pharmacy that offers the best prices. In expressing concern about AARP's materials, APhA Executive Vice-President John Gans wrote, in part, "The materials send a very clear message that the purchase of pharmaceuticals is a commodity decision, rather than a decision about securing a health care service, provided by a health care professional. ... The fact that the materials consistently refer to pharmacies rather than pharmacists conveys all too clearly AARP's perspective that patients are shopping for a commodity, not the services of a health care professional." Other examples of this phenomenon exist. Two of the major chain pharmacies in the Washington metropolitan area are doing extensive radio and television advertising. One is emphasizing the pharmacy's computerized drug interaction screening capabilities. They suggest that the pharmacy will save the patient from the potentially serious consequences of drug interactions. They need to be reminded, as does the public, that it's the pharmacist, not the pharmacy, who interprets the information in the computer, consults with the physician and patient, and participates in the decision to modify the therapy appropriately. Fortunately, the other chain is emphasizing its pharmacists and its availability to discuss medication and health problems with patients, rather than its facilities and systems. It's an interesting and crucial contrast. Even our licensing structure contributes to the perception that pharmacies have a life of their own. Boards of pharmacy issue permits to them. This is unique in the health professional realm. Physicians' and dentists' offices aren't issued permits by the state. That sends a message even those in our own profession need to think about. The bottom line is that each of us has a professional responsibility to make it crystal clear to everyone that there is a big difference between pharmaCEEES and pharmaCISSTTS. That difference goes to the heart of what we are about - health care professionals delivering services to patients. Without pharmacists, there is no pharmacy. ®
American Pharmacy, Vol. NS29, No. 11 November 1989/675
5