I've recently been involved in a debate on Private-Rx regarding how we can define a pharmacist. What is the hidden essence that unites the industrial pharmacist with the PCT prescribing advisor, the community locum with the tertiary care pharmacist prescriber?
The general feeling was that, if we as a profession cannot agree what defines us, how can we expect others to understand what is uniquely special about a pharmacist?
We all know the legal definition of a pharmacist (someone registered with RPSGB), but how do we define ourselves in professional terms - a definition incorporating all pharmacists but excluding those not on our register?
After the debate took a few detours, I put the following forward as a potential definition*:
Pharmacists use their advanced knowledge of drugs and healthcare to
provide drugs, advise on health issues and manage the processes involved with medicines taking. This involves pharmacists working at various stages from pharmaceutical research and the design of individual drug products; through to the design, execution and management of processes to ensure safe drug supply to patients and other healthcare professionals; through to the monitoring of treatment including side-effects. Throughout pharmacists use their professional judgement to ensure that the patient and wider society gains the greatest benefits from pharmaceuticals.
Is this who you think you are? Can you better define pharmacists (that's all of us) in one paragraph?
Let me know by posting a comment below.
