What is the purpose of a pharmacist?

I know pharmacists are smart people, and they go to school for a long time, and they have an understanding of chemistry and all kinds of stuff.

But seriously, all they do is count pills. Do they ever get called upon to formulate anything? Are the conflicting drug combos they're supposed to spot anything your average computer couldn't do?

It seems to me that your local pharmacy ought to look about like a RedBox vending machine. You scan some bar coded script and your driver's license and insurance card, and in 30 seconds, a bunch of bottles pop out.

I have to be missing something, right?

Originally Posted by Douglas

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I know physicians are smart people, and they go to school for a long time, and they have an understanding of chemistry and all kinds of stuff.

But seriously, all they do is write prescriptions. Are there diagnoses they're supposed to make that your average computer couldn't?

See what I did there? Obviously doesn't apply to all specialties, but it's an accusation that could be leveled at GPs, for instance.

Computers will take all our jobs within my lifetime anyway.

*Note that I don't actually believe what I wrote up there.

Originally Posted by kwiteaboy

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See what I did there? Obviously doesn't apply to all specialties, but it's an accusation that could be leveled at GPs, for instance.

Computers will take all our jobs within my lifetime anyway.

*Note that I don't actually believe what I wrote up there.

Uh, if you think that what a GP does even compares to what a pharmacist does, then at least I can rest easy knowing the computers will take your job before they take mine.

Knowing some pharmacists. . . most drug stores have to be the most unfulfilling use of their intelligence EVER. The few I know that enjoy their jobs either a) manage the store in it's entirety b) work in a specialty hospital and thus dispense things that require specific procedures (e.g. nuclear medicine) c) hire only hot pharm techs to work for them

Now, for someone really interested in drugs. . . being a pharmacologist would be pretty cool. Coordinating the oncologist's desired treatment with the endocrinolgist's desired treatment, etc seems like it would be much better.

Originally Posted by kwiteaboy

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.

Computers will take all our jobs within my lifetime anyway.


+1

I don't actually exist.

I am a computer located in a Starbucks at 5535 Memorial Dr, Houston, Tx, 77007.

Computers need love too. Someone please come and compliment my HD.

IIRC it goes *way* back, something like 500 years or so. Doctors used to be, well, mostly hacks, and they would sell potions they claimed would cure people. So splitting the two up made sense.

Originally Posted by Douglas

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Uh, if you think that what a GP does even compares to what a pharmacist does, then at least I can rest easy knowing the computers will take your job before they take mine.

Given a list of symptoms, a computer could output diagnoses and treatment plans. Computers are better at reading EKGs than cardiologists. Computers are better with many medical imaging diagnoses than radiologists. If you're going to suggest that a computer could do a pharmacist's job (something with which I won't disagree), then you'd better be open to the idea that computers could be better at evidence-based medicine than physicians.

Since GP's started using computers to print out prescriptions and removed the need for skilled handwriting interpretation, the Pharmacist's days have been numbered.

I once wanted to buy some of the 'strong' cough medicine - the assistant had to go out the back to get the pharmacist to look me up and down before handing over the opiates in alcohol solution my cough so badly craved.

My friend just graduated and is starting out at around 115k, retail. Not a bad gig.

This thread has been done before. Just an FYI.

this has always been my wonder as well. i understand well paid nurses, lawyers, engineers and the such. i never understood why pharmacists get starting pay so high when all they do is just carry out the orders prescribed by the doctor. and they are all vietnamese.
some of these pharmacists provide the worst customer service. the few ones ive dealt with the girls wouldnt even look you in the eye, and if they did, they act in a condescending way, and they take their sweet time (usually when you use the walgreen drive through), and won't even tell you when they are through, so you still sit there for 2 minutes until my brother in law ( i dont go to pharmacist, he does, for his mother) had to ask "uhh..so ..are you finished with me?? " then the girl without even looking at us , just nods her head.
like huh? learn some customer service skills girl.

I've dealt with a compounding pharmacy, where the pharmacist had to make up a skin cream out of components, but that's not a whole lot different from, say, cooking or bartendering. Other than that there's the issue of controlled substances, but after that you've got me stumped.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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This thread has been done before. Just an FYI.

:hossosso:

Originally Posted by Douglas

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:hossosso:

Originally Posted by suited

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My friend just graduated and is starting out at around 115k, retail. Not a bad gig.

From what I've heard from a few people in the business, being a pharmacist is a pretty solid way to guarantee a nice middle class life. But you have to deal with incredibly difficult people--both customers and store managers--and scheduling can be really wacky. There are also pharmacists who, from what I've heard, work only a few days a week and make $40-$60k a year.