Comments on: Pharmacists want to prescribe medications in Alberta http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-112614 Anonymous Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:05:19 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-112614 It sounds like pharmacists would be good prescribers. It also sounds like doctors are afraid of how good pharmacists would be at prescribing if given the authority. It sounds like pharmacists would be good prescribers. It also sounds like doctors are afraid of how good pharmacists would be at prescribing if given the authority.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-90689 Anonymous Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-90689 MDs and Pharmacists (and even pharmacy techs) are waaaay different things. <br/><br/>Lets say there are 3 different drugs to cure a patient with an illness who also happen to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. The pharm tech knows any of the drugs would cure the patient. Why? He has no idea other than the fact he has seen the Pharmacist dispense those in the past. For the Pharmacist, he knows because he understants the active components of those drugs and knows that any of the 3 drugs would work. While on the other hand, the MD knows that drug#1 could cure the patient's illness while aggrevating his BP & diabetes; drug#2 could cure illness and as well lower BP and aggrevate diabetes. You get the idea. Each of the jobs/professions completely have their own place in the food chain.<br/><br/>How do I know these? I used to be a pharm tech who later became a pharmacist and now an MD! To me, they are all honorable proffessions, it just depends on ones goals:-)<br/><br/>How can you say that a pharmacist does not know drug disease interaction when you went to pharmacy school.<br/><br/>Pharmacists know their pharmacology and how those drugs act on the body, side effects, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, drug-herbal interaction: most MDs would care less about these interactions.<br/><br/>MDs should diagnosis and PharmDs should prescribe! MDs and Pharmacists (and even pharmacy techs) are waaaay different things.

Lets say there are 3 different drugs to cure a patient with an illness who also happen to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. The pharm tech knows any of the drugs would cure the patient. Why? He has no idea other than the fact he has seen the Pharmacist dispense those in the past. For the Pharmacist, he knows because he understants the active components of those drugs and knows that any of the 3 drugs would work. While on the other hand, the MD knows that drug#1 could cure the patient's illness while aggrevating his BP & diabetes; drug#2 could cure illness and as well lower BP and aggrevate diabetes. You get the idea. Each of the jobs/professions completely have their own place in the food chain.

How do I know these? I used to be a pharm tech who later became a pharmacist and now an MD! To me, they are all honorable proffessions, it just depends on ones goals:-)

How can you say that a pharmacist does not know drug disease interaction when you went to pharmacy school.

Pharmacists know their pharmacology and how those drugs act on the body, side effects, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, drug-herbal interaction: most MDs would care less about these interactions.

MDs should diagnosis and PharmDs should prescribe!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-89058 Anonymous Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-89058 MDs and Pharmacists (and even pharmacy techs) are waaaay different things. <br/><br/>Lets say there are 3 different drugs to cure a patient with an illness who also happen to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. The pharm tech knows any of the drugs would cure the patient. Why? He has no idea other than the fact he has seen the Pharmacist dispense those in the past. For the Pharmacist, he knows because he understants the active components of those drugs and knows that any of the 3 drugs would work. While on the other hand, the MD knows that drug#1 could cure the patient's illness while aggrevating his BP & diabetes; drug#2 could cure illness and as well lower BP and aggrevate diabetes. You get the idea. Each of the jobs/professions completely have their own place in the food chain. <br/><br/>How do I know these? I used to be a pharm tech who later became a pharmacist and now an MD! To me, they are all honorable proffessions, it just depends on ones goals:-) MDs and Pharmacists (and even pharmacy techs) are waaaay different things.

Lets say there are 3 different drugs to cure a patient with an illness who also happen to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. The pharm tech knows any of the drugs would cure the patient. Why? He has no idea other than the fact he has seen the Pharmacist dispense those in the past. For the Pharmacist, he knows because he understants the active components of those drugs and knows that any of the 3 drugs would work. While on the other hand, the MD knows that drug#1 could cure the patient's illness while aggrevating his BP & diabetes; drug#2 could cure illness and as well lower BP and aggrevate diabetes. You get the idea. Each of the jobs/professions completely have their own place in the food chain.

How do I know these? I used to be a pharm tech who later became a pharmacist and now an MD! To me, they are all honorable proffessions, it just depends on ones goals:-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-84203 Anonymous Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-84203 Lets all be honest with ourselves. Pharmacists know more about medications than any MD could ever hope to know. However...it should be a system in which the patient sees the MD and recieves a diagnosis, the patient then takes that diagnosis to their Pharmacists who writes a script and fills according to that diagnosis. Wake up people!! MD's specialize in diagnoses while PharmD's specialize in Drugs. Lets all be honest with ourselves. Pharmacists know more about medications than any MD could ever hope to know. However…it should be a system in which the patient sees the MD and recieves a diagnosis, the patient then takes that diagnosis to their Pharmacists who writes a script and fills according to that diagnosis. Wake up people!! MD’s specialize in diagnoses while PharmD’s specialize in Drugs.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-84156 Anonymous Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:16:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-84156 Where is the outrage with NP's being able to prescribe drugs autonomously without physician supervision. Pharmacists receive much more education with regards to appropriate drug therapies than NP's. If I recall, many of the faculty that teach NP's these courses ARE PHARMACISTS. Pharmacists will follow this trend because they can prescribe safely on a limited list and this will cut down on drug costs for patients AND the taxpayer. The last time I went to a general practitioners office with the flu, the physician just gave me shot gun antibiotics and Tamiflu. No "extensive" testing done AT ALL. Where is the outrage with NP’s being able to prescribe drugs autonomously without physician supervision. Pharmacists receive much more education with regards to appropriate drug therapies than NP’s. If I recall, many of the faculty that teach NP’s these courses ARE PHARMACISTS. Pharmacists will follow this trend because they can prescribe safely on a limited list and this will cut down on drug costs for patients AND the taxpayer. The last time I went to a general practitioners office with the flu, the physician just gave me shot gun antibiotics and Tamiflu. No “extensive” testing done AT ALL.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-83837 Anonymous Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-83837 The reason doctors disagree with pharmacists prescribing is NOT because they are concerned for patient safety. It is because of POWER and their fear of losing their prescriptive monopoly. The status quo is changing and pharmacist have displayed in numerous practice settings such as the VA that they CAN prescribe drugs both safely and effectively! Pharmacists are already allowed to prescribe in other countries such as the UK with great success. The one track mind that only a "doctor" can magically write scripts effectively is nonsense. You cannot tell me that a pharmacist is not capable of prescribing Allegra for seasonal allergies or nystatin for oral thrush for example. Yes, there needs to be limitations, but many meds that are Rx only do not necessarily need a doctor visit to treat. The reason doctors disagree with pharmacists prescribing is NOT because they are concerned for patient safety. It is because of POWER and their fear of losing their prescriptive monopoly. The status quo is changing and pharmacist have displayed in numerous practice settings such as the VA that they CAN prescribe drugs both safely and effectively! Pharmacists are already allowed to prescribe in other countries such as the UK with great success. The one track mind that only a “doctor” can magically write scripts effectively is nonsense. You cannot tell me that a pharmacist is not capable of prescribing Allegra for seasonal allergies or nystatin for oral thrush for example. Yes, there needs to be limitations, but many meds that are Rx only do not necessarily need a doctor visit to treat.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-83532 Anonymous Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:34:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-83532 Pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe, plain and simple. The physicians that say they are afraid of safety concerns are only worried about losing 1) Money and 2) Power. Pharmacists are fully qualified to safely prescribe over half the meds behind the pharmacy counter. Allegra? Naproxen 550mg? Give me a break. You don't need an expensive office visit for that. Digoxin, Coumadin I do believe need to be monitored in a doctors office, but many drugs do not required extensive diagnostic/monitoring skills. Get over your status quo vision of health care. Its time to think outside the box. Pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe, plain and simple. The physicians that say they are afraid of safety concerns are only worried about losing 1) Money and 2) Power. Pharmacists are fully qualified to safely prescribe over half the meds behind the pharmacy counter. Allegra? Naproxen 550mg? Give me a break. You don’t need an expensive office visit for that. Digoxin, Coumadin I do believe need to be monitored in a doctors office, but many drugs do not required extensive diagnostic/monitoring skills. Get over your status quo vision of health care. Its time to think outside the box.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-80598 Anonymous Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-80598 I don't think most dentists knows the difference between peritonsillar abscess, viral URI and Lemierre's syndrome either (no disrespect to them). Please do not be so short-sighted. Obviously, the scope of prescribing will be limited. Their case is: pharmacists prescribing SOME controlled medication which may assist in patient healthcare. My opinion... I think they should be able to prescribe some pharmaceutical drugs. For god sakes, their study is in Pharmacology. I don’t think most dentists knows the difference between peritonsillar abscess, viral URI and Lemierre’s syndrome either (no disrespect to them). Please do not be so short-sighted. Obviously, the scope of prescribing will be limited. Their case is: pharmacists prescribing SOME controlled medication which may assist in patient healthcare. My opinion… I think they should be able to prescribe some pharmaceutical drugs. For god sakes, their study is in Pharmacology.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-80320 Anonymous Sun, 23 Sep 2007 04:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-80320 I am a fourth year pharmacy student at the University of Toronto. I find it upsetting that physicians and the public in general still do not realize how poorly utilized pharmacists are. We do not want to diagnose or order lab tests (although physicans wanting these results only for their eyes is laughable), we want more freedom to help patients AND physicians. If someone walks into their GP's office with a malady beyond the physician's scope of practice, they are referred to a specialist. If a patient comes into my pharmacy with a problem that I am not competent to 'treat', I will refer them to their GP. My college will hold me just as accountable for practicing outside of my area of competence as any doctor would be. And with all of this fuss about how patients will be hurt by their stupid pill-counters writing scripts, I find it almost comical that studies have shown that adverse drug reacitons are currently the third leading cause of hospitalization in Canada. I am a fourth year pharmacy student at the University of Toronto. I find it upsetting that physicians and the public in general still do not realize how poorly utilized pharmacists are. We do not want to diagnose or order lab tests (although physicans wanting these results only for their eyes is laughable), we want more freedom to help patients AND physicians. If someone walks into their GP’s office with a malady beyond the physician’s scope of practice, they are referred to a specialist. If a patient comes into my pharmacy with a problem that I am not competent to ‘treat’, I will refer them to their GP. My college will hold me just as accountable for practicing outside of my area of competence as any doctor would be. And with all of this fuss about how patients will be hurt by their stupid pill-counters writing scripts, I find it almost comical that studies have shown that adverse drug reacitons are currently the third leading cause of hospitalization in Canada.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe.html/comment-page-1#comment-79157 Anonymous Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:47:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/06/pharmacists-want-to-prescribe-medications-in-alberta.html#comment-79157 iam a new graduate of pharmacy in egypt<br/>i was in shock after practicing the profession i love<br/>alot of people consider us salesmen<br/>and what is make me sad that i could go to med school if i wanted but i preferred pharmacy<br/> i can assure that the pharmacist can prescribe without the need to practice<br/>just like physician who take their knowledge from pharmacists<br/><br/>and benifeting from precribing is an issue that makes me worry if it came to physician not pharmacists obviosly iam a new graduate of pharmacy in egypt
i was in shock after practicing the profession i love
alot of people consider us salesmen
and what is make me sad that i could go to med school if i wanted but i preferred pharmacy
i can assure that the pharmacist can prescribe without the need to practice
just like physician who take their knowledge from pharmacists

and benifeting from precribing is an issue that makes me worry if it came to physician not pharmacists obviosly

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