As the pharmacy profession evolves, those just starting their careers see the profession differently than pharmacists who have been in the field for a number of years. Whether in a retail pharmacy, a hospital setting or a long-term care facility, new pharmacists have to adapt to the changing times. We sat down with Kimberly Kern, PBA Health intern and 2013 Pharm.D. candidate at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) School of Pharmacy, to discuss her plans for her future career and how she sees the profession progressing.
Why did you decide to go into pharmacy?
A career in healthcare has always interested me. I began college with the intention of getting a bachelor’s degree and continuing on to medical school. After my first year of college, my neighbor, and local pharmacist, told me that the pharmacy she worked in could really use a technician. After applying for the job, I was hired.
Almost immediately I realized that pharmacy might be the best option for me. I worked with all female pharmacists at the time and saw that they were able to have a successful career and also maintain a family life as well. This appealed to me, so I began the process to apply to pharmacy school.
I am currently finishing up my last year of school at UMKC and will graduate in May 2013. I could not be happier with my choice of career. Pharmacy as a profession is constantly changing and evolving and I know I will be given countless opportunities to help patients throughout my career.
What experiences have you had with independent retail pharmacy?
I have had only minor experience with independent pharmacies. While interning at PBA Health, a pharmacy services organization based in Kansas City, Mo., I have been exposed to what actually happens behind the scenes to create a setting for a successful pharmacy and business.
Working at a large chain retail setting, I have always known that cost of goods is important and that contracting with insurance companies is very difficult and time consuming. I did not realize, however, how much work goes into successfully running a business. While at PBA Health I have been able to observe and participate in the “behind the scenes” services that help independent pharmacies function. I now know that in order to run a successful independent pharmacy that one must be very business savvy in addition to being able to safely and effectively provide treatment to patients.
What area of pharmacy do you see yourself working in?
I have worked at a large chain retail pharmacy for a little more than five years and I feel pretty confident that the retail setting is where I will work. Throughout my different rotations and clinical experience I have been exposed to several different practice settings. I think that practical experience is a critical component to any successful curriculum and I have been very lucky to have excellent preceptors and diverse learning experiences.
The true purpose behind these clinical and practical learning experiences, I feel, is to open the student’s eyes to the possibilities of what pharmacy as a profession can truly offer. The days of pharmacists simply dispensing medications and sending patients on their way are coming to an end and I am excited for the possibilities ahead to provide a more diverse type of healthcare.
Do you have any other interests in the pharmacy field?
Another aspect of pharmacy that interests me is nursing home consulting. This type of service, which is mandated by Medicare, requires that a licensed pharmacist review nursing home patients’ medical records or charts on a monthly basis. Pharmacists are the ideal candidates for this type of service, as we are able to look at a list of medications and determine if the side effects the patient may be experiencing are typical, or more serious. Pharmacists are able to identify drug-drug interactions as well as allergic reactions.
Throughout school I have learned how to read and interpret laboratory values, which when combined with a current medication list, is very helpful for determining where dosages can be adjusted or medications can be changed in order to make the patient healthier. Consultation services can be done individually or pharmacies are able to contract with certain facilities and have a staff pharmacist visit the facilities monthly to perform the chart reviews. This is an excellent way for pharmacies, especially those providing long term care services, to increase their business and to allow the pharmacists to use the clinical knowledge they have been taught.
Where do you see the future of pharmacy going?
I understand that patients will always need monthly prescription medications and that aspect of the job does not deter me. I love daily interaction with patients and although the daily routine does not vary much from day-to-day, I can honestly say I have never had the same day twice. Currently my store is focused mainly on dispensing medications but I hope that in the future we will move towards more medication therapy management (MTM) type of services and clinics.
As a student at UMKC I have been trained in many health-related activities, such as blood pressure monitoring, diabetic glucose testing, A1C testing, INR monitoring and height and weight checks. Students are also required to become licensed to immunize. All of these activities make pharmacy stand out as a profession. Not only can we help patients with day-to-day medication issues, such as adherence, but we can also be a one-stop-shop for maintenance healthcare.
Instead of a diabetic patient making an appointment at the doctor to get his blood glucose checked, he could come to his local community pharmacy where a pharmacist would be able to assist him. Pharmacists are able to check blood glucose, height, weight, as well as discuss the importance of medication compliance and proper insulin injection technique.
Pharmacists have long been seen as the most accessible healthcare professionals and pharmacy continues to be one of the most trusted professions. I think that this makes pharmacists the perfect people to help patients understand their health. All of these aspects just begin to touch on the possibilities that pharmacists moving forward in the future will have. As I approach graduation the thought that my days at school are over is really starting to hit me and I can’t wait to see how the profession will grow and evolve as I begin my career and continue to practice.
