Career opportunities clinical pharmacy careers

If you are contemplating a pharmacy practice career in academia, this may stem from the intellectual and cultural stimulation and the variety of interesting and eager people that you encountered while in college. However, there are many aspects of this career path that are not readily apparent. The goal of this article is to expand your perspectives about clinical pharmacy academia so that you are more informed about it as a career opportunity. Specifically, this article provides an overview of the clinical pharmacy careers in academia, insight into important issues in academia, and recommendations for making informed decisions about career options. 

Managed care has penetrated most geographic areas within the United States and essentially all health care settings. As a result, career opportunities for clinical pharmacists are vast and diverse. While previously pharmacists interested in managed care positions were limited to settings such as pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies or insurance companies, career opportunities in managed care have expanded and are available in hospitals, clinics, and private practices in both urban and rural areas. 

Based on the descriptions of independent community pharmacy practice and the characteristics of the individuals who pursue this career path, several points must be made. First, independent pharmacists are placed in a difficult situation because of their need to possess expertise in pharmacy practice and business. All pharmacy organizations must stay in business so that they may provide goods, services, and care to patients. Second, independent community pharmacy practice represents one of the most accessible health care venues for patients. Because of this, there exist numerous clinical opportunities for pharmacists in the provision of quality patient care and positive patient outcomes. Third, independent community pharmacists contribute to the overall health of any community not only in the care provided but also in contributions to the economic and civic health of the community. As a health care provider, the pharmacy adds a stable business to any town s economic structure. Additionally, through involvement of the owner and other staff members in civic organizations, these individuals serve as volunteer leaders in activities ranging from school and hospital boards to elected offices. 

Practice standards. Practice standards are needed to ensure consistent, comprehensive pharmacy services for each patient. According to the mission statement, the goal is for each patient to be free of drug-related problems. And drug products must be procured, prepared, and distributed cost-effectively, efficiently, and safely. The standards must be designed so that the pharmacist is reasonably able to maintain them. Career advancement opportunities should be made available within clinical practice and not be confined to a managerial track. Career ladders should be constructed to institutionalize and formalize department expectations for the development of clinical practice skills. 

Psychiatric pharmacy practice is a rewarding specialty with diverse opportunities to have an impact on the care of patients directly through innovative practice models, quality assurance, and patient education, and indirectly through professional education, the development of treatment guidelines, clinical research, and careers in the pharmaceutical industryj ... 

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