Pharmacists: Stop, Collaborate and Listen

Collaborating with primary care physicians and listening to patient’s healthcare concerns are now a part of the norm it would seem for pharmacists. In a recent USA Today article we can see a prime example of this new dynamic.

Here is a synopsis:

Jill Freedman visiting her pharmacist (Photo: Heidi de Marco, Kaiser Health News)

Jill Freedman (left)
Diana Arouchanova (right)

Jill Freedman, a Californian resident, had been experiencing high blood pressure for quite some time. Worried about a potential stroke or even heart attack, she consulted with her doctor. Her doctor doubled one of her prescriptions, intending for it to resolve the situation. After not seeing any results and, in fact feeling even worse, Freedman informed her pharmacist, Diana Arouchanova, about her continuing problem. Upon inspection of Freedman’s various prescriptions, Arouchanova discovered that a combination of prescriptions Freedman was taking had caused a reaction which raised her blood pressure. After contacting Freedman’s physician to change the medication, Arouchanova began to monitor Freedman’s blood pressure daily, which soon dropped to stable levels.

This story goes to show how healthcare is a team effort amongst various healthcare professionals. Without the pharmacist’s input, Freedman’s situation might have persisted, and could have resulted in serious consequences. Since pharmacists’ functions are expanding, they are able to alleviate some of the pressure currently on, often overloaded, doctors. In turn, this leads to improved care and also helps contain costs. Rather than absorbing or encroaching upon a physician’s job functions, these new roles are simply aiding in doctors’ work, helping to fill a void within health care. At the end of the day, all pharmacies and pharmacists want to do is insure and promote good health as evidenced by CVS’s recent announcement to no longer sell cigarettes.