Diabetes ushers in new practice mode
Stephen Clement is the owner of Copper Bend Pharmacy. He is also
a past Illinois state pharmacist of the year and the current
National Community Pharmacists Association preceptor of the
year. As a pharmacist, he is always happy to help the patient
who calls his drugstore to verify insulin dose before giving
himself the injection.
"I've made a difference in that patient's life," Clement said.
"Do you really think that gentleman will go anywhere else to buy
diabetic supplies?
His trust is in me." Loyalty, trust and building relationships
through individualized care are still a cornerstone practice for
pharmacists. But other aspects of their careers are also
developing. According to H. Joseph Byrd, associate dean for
clinical affairs at the University of Mississippi's pharmacy
school, the changing climate is good news for pharmacists.
"But getting pharmacists to transition from drug dispensing to
patient intervention and disease prevention memos a shift in
practice and may be a slow, gradual process. I'm advocating a
new role for pharmacists that is more exciting, more challenging
and eventually more economically rewarding," Byrd said.
The pharmacists need to make that transition. "There are so many
companies offering so many different products, especially
glucose monitors," said Gregory Whelan, an associate director
with Pfizer who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 16.
"You see all these boxes on the pharmacy shelves, and each
claims to do something special. I rely on my pharmacist to be
objective based on my facts and circumstances and to recommend
the best device for me."