 | Glen Mathis has been the co-owner of Mathis Drug Store in Girard since 1983. For more information or to reach Glen, please call 620-724-4313. |
Health & Medicine
2010-09-01 10:23:00
Pharmacist’s input is important too
Answer: From the way your question is written, I can tell that you do not have a personal relationship with a pharmacist. While it is extremely important to have a personal relationship with your doctor, it is also very important to have a personal relationship with your pharmacist for many reasons, some of which are listed below.
In order for your pharmacist to do his or her job, you should get all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. Whenever you pick up a prescription at your community pharmacy, the information is entered into a computer database, which immediately checks the new prescription against your current medications and alerts pharmacists about possible interactions between drugs. You should also tell your pharmacist of any disease states that you might have such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc. so that he or she can also check for drug/disease state contraindications.
You may go to more than one physician and your cardiologist may not know what your family physician has prescribed and vice versa. Your pharmacist then becomes the only professional who can make sure that prescriptions from two different doctors do not interact in a negative way.
If you have insurance that covers your prescriptions, your pharmacist is able to suggest alternative medications that may result in a lower co-payment. Your physician is usually unaware of the many requirements and restrictions that insurance companies place on your prescription drug benefit. Your pharmacist, on the other hand, is in direct contact with your insurance company via the pharmacy computer system and can determine what drugs are covered and what your co-payment will be.
Keep in mind that whenever a pharmacist suggests a change to a prescription written by your doctor, the pharmacist will first discuss the suggested change with you and then will contact your doctor's office to make sure that the change is all right with your doctor as well. Pharmacists will never change a prescription without contacting and getting permission from the prescribing physician first.
If you do not feel that it is possible to develop a personal relationship with a pharmacist at your current pharmacy because the pharmacists are too busy or just don't seem to want to take the time, you should look for a pharmacy where you will be given the opportunity to talk to a pharmacist directly in a private setting.
Finally, never hesitate to ask questions of your physician or pharmacists. After all, it is your health and well being at risk.
