Debunking common pharmacy misconceptions
The independent practice of pharmaceuticals arose in the early 19th century, but the philosophy and study of using medicinal remedies spans farther back.
Before the adoption of the term pharmacist, individuals who studied, formulated, and dispensed medicine were referred to as apothecaries, which traces back to 2600 BC.
Since then, the practice of medicine and pharmacy has drastically advanced but common misconceptions about pharmacy remain.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about pharmacy is that we only count and dispense medications,” Dr. Kristina Gill, Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy and Education at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System said. “Our Pharmacy team is present in outpatient and inpatient settings to provide direct patient care as well as support the organization on various initiatives and goals.”
The pharmacy team at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) consists of more than 200 employees, and the main roles within the team are pharmacy technicians, clinical pharmacists, and clinical pharmacy practitioners.
Technicians play an integral role in maintaining pharmacy operations. Their responsibilities range from preparation and dispensing of prescription items, technical management of patient questions, maintaining drug inventory and more.
Clinical pharmacists at TVHS are often found in clinical settings, especially in medical-surgical and specialty inpatient units. Clinical pharmacy practitioners are specialized in a particular area of practice and perform comprehensive medication management. Clinical pharmacists work closely with providers making pharmacotherapy recommendations, performing medication counseling, and medication reconciliation.
Clinical Pharmacists are the medication experts that are relied upon to provide top-notch pharmacotherapy for Veterans.
“Our clinical pharmacy practitioners operate under a specialized scope of practice and have prescriptive authority under their scope,” Dr. Kyle Phillips, TVHS Chief of Pharmacy said. “Having a clinical pharmacy practitioner in various clinical settings improves access to care for Veterans and it ensures Veterans are meeting their health care goals.”
The TVHS Pharmacy Team provides specialized pharmaceutical care in the following areas:
- Anticoagulation
- Bone marrow transplant
- Cardiology
- Critical care
- Emergency medicine
- Geriatrics and hospice care
- Infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship
- Mental health
- Nutrition
- Oncology
- Pain management
- Primary care
- Substance use disorder
- Women’s health
In the past year, pharmacists processed more than 2 million prescriptions servicing over a 100,000 Veterans in the Tennessee and Kentucky area. Take the time to celebrate and recognize the pharmacy team during National Pharmacy Week.
Learn more about pharmacy careers and our award-winning residency program at Pharmacy Residency Program | VA Tennessee Valley Health Care | Veterans Affairs.