It is believed that since the beginning of civilization, humans have used plants and other natural materials for medicinal purposes, with evidence of prescriptions dating back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The role of a pharmacist first emerged in ancient Greece, and has steadily evolved since that time, with Louis Dufilho Jr. becoming the first licensed pharmacist in the United States in the early 1800s. With the current global pharmaceutical market having an estimated $1.6 trillion value, pharmacists are quietly performing one of the most important roles in healthcare.
Sept. 25 marks World Pharmacist Day—and to mark the occasion, we spoke with Lisa Snider, a Doctor of Pharmacy in Oklahoma City with 19 years of experience.
“Oklahoma has two schools of pharmacy,” Snider said. “One is at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the other is at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.” These programs are highly competitive and require two to four years of prerequisites followed by a four-year doctoral program. “The program involves three years of coursework and one year of practical experience in various pharmacy settings,” Snider explained. Following the program, there are two licensure exams that must be passed in order to become a licensed pharmacist: the national examination NAPLEX and the MPJE, which is state-specific. A pharmacist must pass the state exam in any state where they wish to practice.
Pharmacists are a vital part of healthcare and are critical to have on staff at hospitals, dispersed throughout various units to ensure that every patient is receiving the medicine they need. They monitor dosing, perform inspections and delegate tasks to pharmacy technicians so that medication is delivered safely. But the most common place to find a pharmacist is where you get your own medication filled: your local pharmacy.
“There is a misconception that pharmacists just pour pills from a big bottle into a little bottle and put a label on it,” Snider said. “But we are making sure the prescription was written correctly and that you are getting the right medication with the right dosage and frequency for your specific diagnosis. We review every prescription for drug interactions and when you pick it up, we have the opportunity to tell you about the medication, like explaining possible side effects and how to take it.” Should a medication be expensive, or not covered by your insurance, a pharmacist will also step in to act as a liaison between your doctor and insurance company, even suggesting alternatives that may be more affordable.
Pharmacists are often under-utilized, and Snider encouraged patients to view them as a convenient resource. “We are the most accessible healthcare provider,” she said. “You typically can’t walk into your doctor’s office and start asking questions, but pharmacists are always available to help.”
Patients may not realize that even adding a common over-the-counter medication like Sudafed or Tylenol could create a dangerous drug interaction with their prescription medication, so Snider suggests speaking with your pharmacist before taking anything new.
“The most rewarding thing for me as a pharmacist is the patient interaction and the opportunity to develop relationships with everyone who walks through the door,” Snider concluded.
