Prescribing Pharmacist vs. Regular Pharmacist: What’s the Difference?

The roles that healthcare professionals play in the constantly changing healthcare industry are also changing to fulfil the different demands of patients. A recent example is the rise of prescribing pharmacists, whose duties go beyond those of a typical pharmacist. The main differences between a typical pharmacist and a prescribing pharmacist will be discussed in this blog article, along with how they affect patient care and the healthcare system.

Understanding the roles

• Regular Pharmacists: These are well-known individuals who provide basic drug information, check prescriptions for accuracy, and hand out medications. They are skilled in both ensuring safe pharmaceutical use and dispensing.
• Prescribing Pharmacist: Having fulfilled further education requirements, they are qualified to diagnose and treat some minor illnesses independently. For such diseases, they can prescribe particular drugs, which frequently avoids the need for a trip to the doctor.

The overview is as follows:

Scope of Practice:

• A regular pharmacist’s main responsibilities include monitoring for possible drug interactions, educating patients, and distributing prescription drugs.
• A prescribing pharmacist is qualified to identify and treat frequently occurring diseases such as allergies, skin disorders, and UTIs. They can also manage some chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma.

Level of Independence:

• Regular Pharmacists depend on prescriptions from doctors; unable to make independent diagnoses or drug recommendations.
• Prescribing pharmacist: Within the parameters of their authorization, prescribers are capable of independently evaluating patients, making minor diagnoses, and providing the right drugs.

Benefits for Patients:

• Regular Pharmacist: Provides easy access to prescription drugs, drug details, and assistance for medication reconciliation.
• Prescribing pharmacist: Offers individualized drug management, simplifies the workload for physicians, and speeds up access to treatment for mild illnesses.

Choosing the Right Pharmacist:

A typical pharmacist will do this if you require general drug advice or have a regular prescription. On the other hand, visiting a prescribing pharmacist can save you time and offer prompt care if you have a mild illness that has to be diagnosed and treated.

Before receiving treatment, always find out about the pharmacist’s training and experience.

In summary, knowing the difference between a prescribing and a general pharmacist gives you the power to choose wisely when it comes to your health. Both are essential to guaranteeing patients’ well-being and the best possible usage of medications. The next time you visit the pharmacy, select the appropriate specialist according to your needs and benefit from their experience and ease.

We hope this blog helps to explain how these two kinds of pharmacists differ from one another! Please feel free to contact Calgary Drug Mart for more discussion.