Practical advice for getting the most from your pharmacy.

***This series of hubs will no longer be updated. I will continue to create high-quality, informative hubs, but each will be a stand-alone, not part of a series. If you have particular questions you would like me to answer, please message me directly or leave a comment on any of my hubs. Please visit my profile for a full listing of all my hubs***

Thank you!

On this page you will find general information about pharmacy, learn about this series, and find links to my various hubs. You can also read a little about me.

Follow the links to learn more about a particular topic. And be sure to use the comments to let me know if you have any questions or want information on a particular subject.

And if you're interested, check out my other hub series "Ask a pharmacist" where I highlight and answer some of the most frequent questions I hear in my practice.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Brandon Y, Pharm.D.

Without exception, everyone has utilized the products and services available at a pharmacy. But are you getting the most from your pharmacist?

There are two reasons (see below) that I think it's important for people to lean about their pharmacy and what services a great pharmacist can offer them.

Through my hubs you can discover the myriad of ways that you can improve your families health, reduce your healthcare costs, and enjoy a better experience at your pharmacy.

Pharmacists are highly trained and experienced healthcare professionals. Most have completed 8 years of intense education, including a year of clinical rotations. Some have done post-graduate training to specialize in a particular area.

A pharmacist who has graduated since the mid-90's has earned their Pharm.D. degree, or Doctor of Pharmacy. Click here to learn about the focused education your pharmacist has completed. Many older pharmacists have gone back to school to earn their Pharm.D. degree as well.

Because pharmacists are state licensed professionals, you can expect certain things from them. You can expect expertise, professionalism, respect, partnership in your health, and an interest in helping you meet your healthcare goals. Click here to find out the roles and responsibilities a pharmacist's license gives them.

It's no secret that healthcare in America is undergoing significant change.

Your interaction with all healthcare professionals will be changing, and that includes your pharmacist. Your pharmacist may partner more closely with you and with your other healthcare providers to get you the best healthcare possible. You may be caring for elderly parents that need help navigating the healthcare system. Learning the role your pharmacist plays in your healthcare will allow you to use your pharmacist the best you can and get the most out of your pharmacy.

And don't forget the huge strain America's healthcare system is about to feel.

• Many people will gain access to healthcare because they will have government-mandated insurance.
• The biggest demographic, the Baby Boomers, are getting older and use more healthcare.
• More health conditions are being identified and being treated with medication.

This all adds up to unavoidable changes in how you interact with your pharmacist. The better prepared you are, the better your experience will be.

My goal is not simply to provide information about pharmacy, but to help people in a very real way. I want all people to enjoy the benefits possible from their pharmacy, such as lower healthcare costs and improved health.

To do that, I need to know what you want to know. What questions do you have? What frustrates you about your pharmacy? What would you change if you could?

Always feel free to speculate and ask questions in the comments of any of my hubs. Also, check back here often for a new poll to help determine future topics.

For examples of some of the questions pharmacists are asked, and my answers to those questions, check out my other hub series.

Here's a list of hubs in this series, "Practical advice for getting the most from your pharmacy."

• How does a pharmacy work?
• What's the difference between brand and generic medicine?
• What kind of education did my pharmacist receive?
• How does a pharmacist think?
• What's the career path for a community pharmacist?
• Can my pharmacist help me choose OTC medicine?
• How can my pharmacist help me reduce drug costs?
• How can my pharmacist help me avoid side effects of my medicine?
• What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?
• What kind of questions should I ask my pharmacist about my medicine?
• I've heard of MTM, what is it?
• A "Prior Authorization" won't let me get my medicine! What do I do?
• What is adherence and why does my pharmacist care?
• Have an idea for a topic? Have a question? Let me know in the comments!

If you like this hub, please take a moment to comment, give it a rating, like it on facebook, tweet it, pin it, or follow me.

Your feedback helps me develop new hubs and make them great!

Thank you for reading!

Brandon Y is a community pharmacist working in Minnesota with over 10 years of experience in pharmacy. He welcomes comments and questions. Find more great pharmacy tips here.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this page is intended for general educational and informational use only. It is not specific, personalized healthcare advice for you. For healthcare advice regarding your particular situation, talk to members of your healthcare team. Contact this hubs author for more information.

Copyright BYPharm.D. (author) 2013. All rights reserved