The document discusses the roles and importance of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. It notes that pharmacists do more than count pills, as they are medication experts who play an essential role on the healthcare team by performing tasks like patient assessments, modifying medication therapy, educating patients, and developing hospital formularies to optimize medication use and reduce errors and costs. Pharmacy technicians also perform important roles like preparing medications and managing automation systems. The document emphasizes that pharmacists are important as the "medication experts" who can improve patient outcomes and healthcare.

1. Happy Pharmacy Week!
Educate Before You Medicate -- Knowledge is the Best
Medicine -- Talk With Your Pharmacist
November 13, 2016

2. What do Pharmacists do?
• Pharmacists do more than count pills!
• We are the medication experts
• We play an essential role in the healthcare team
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3. What do Pharmacists do?
● Perform patient assessments such
as A1c and INR testing
● Initiate or modify medication therapy
based on patient response
● Interpret data to increase to
medication safety and effectiveness
● Adjust dose of medications based
on laboratory data
● Round with the healthcare team
● Identify barriers to patient
compliance
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4. What do Pharmacists do?
• Develop the hospital formulary
• Oversee drug administration
• Perform medication
reconciliations
• Provide education and
counseling to patients to reduce
medication-related issues
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5. What do pharmacy technicians do?
• Screen prescription orders
for accuracy and
completeness
• Prepare IV medications and
compound medications
• Assist in the management of
investigational drug studies
• Manage the medication
automation systems
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6. Why are pharmacists important?
• “Medication expert”
• Optimize the patient’s
medication therapy
• Reduce medication errors
• Reduce adverse drug events
• Increase medication
adherence
• Reduce healthcare cost and
hospital length of stay
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7. Fun facts!
• Coca-Cola was originally a cough syrup invented by a
pharmacist named John Pemberton
• Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United
States was a pharmacist
• Agatha Christie, a famous British crime novelist was a
pharmacy technician
• Lipitor is the best selling drug of all time generating more
than $125 billion in sale since its introduction in 1997
• Synthroid is the most commonly prescribed medication in the
United States
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