http://www.azcentral.com/video/1308332544001
I am so proud to call the people who worked so hard to save this precious child's life my coworkers.
At your service, and with happy tears,
The Happy Pharmacist
Monday, December 5, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
5 - What I do all day
I write this blog because my husband was shocked to learn that I sit at a desk for a large part of my day. I don't know exactly what he thought I did at work? I figure if HE doesn't know what a hospital pharmacist does, then it might be worth educating the blogosphere.
None of this will come as a surprise to my fellow pharmacists. My other friends may have no idea that pharmacists are anything other than the extremely frazzled and mistreated white coats behind the counter at Walgreens. No disrespect - those folks work hard - but I'm a hospital pharmacist and therefore that's what I blog about.
Hospitals have pharmacists, usually 24/7 on duty. Every single thing you take at a hospital, whether it's aspirin, an antibiotic, or morphine, is reviewed by a pharmacist. And believe me, you want it this way.
Physicians are physicians and pharmacists are pharmacists. Just as I am not an expert on diagnosing, physicians are not (for the most part) experts on medications. We must work together. And for the record, many pharmacists are "Doctors".
We make sure that the drug that gets delivered to your body is the exact same as what was ordered. This may seem like a no-brainer, but with thousands of medications - many of them just varying doses of the same thing - this is a huge part of our job.
Pharmacists make sure that the medication isn't something you're allergic to (refer post #3). If it is something you're allergic to, we discuss options with the doctor.
We make sure that the dose ordered by the doctor is appropriate for your weight, your kidney and liver function, your age, etc. Again, we discuss with your doctor as needed.
We make sure that the drug and dose ordered is appropriate for what ails you.
We make sure that the drug ordered doesn't interact with any other medications you're on.
We make sure the doctor isn't giving you IV when you could be taking pills - this saves you money as well as discomfort.
We make sure the doctor is appropriately monitoring your response to medications.
We review your case to see if medications you take might be causing some of your symptoms (it's amazing how often this happens).
We often consult with your doctor to help select the right medication in the first place. We love doctors who ask our help in this. It saves us trouble down the road, and it helps you get better more quickly when the medication is right the first time.
We might visit your room to teach you about a medication, especially if it's something you need to continue to take after you go home.
Fellow hospital pharmacists - am I forgetting anything?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
None of this will come as a surprise to my fellow pharmacists. My other friends may have no idea that pharmacists are anything other than the extremely frazzled and mistreated white coats behind the counter at Walgreens. No disrespect - those folks work hard - but I'm a hospital pharmacist and therefore that's what I blog about.
Hospitals have pharmacists, usually 24/7 on duty. Every single thing you take at a hospital, whether it's aspirin, an antibiotic, or morphine, is reviewed by a pharmacist. And believe me, you want it this way.
Physicians are physicians and pharmacists are pharmacists. Just as I am not an expert on diagnosing, physicians are not (for the most part) experts on medications. We must work together. And for the record, many pharmacists are "Doctors".
We make sure that the drug that gets delivered to your body is the exact same as what was ordered. This may seem like a no-brainer, but with thousands of medications - many of them just varying doses of the same thing - this is a huge part of our job.
Pharmacists make sure that the medication isn't something you're allergic to (refer post #3). If it is something you're allergic to, we discuss options with the doctor.
We make sure that the dose ordered by the doctor is appropriate for your weight, your kidney and liver function, your age, etc. Again, we discuss with your doctor as needed.
We make sure that the drug and dose ordered is appropriate for what ails you.
We make sure that the drug ordered doesn't interact with any other medications you're on.
We make sure the doctor isn't giving you IV when you could be taking pills - this saves you money as well as discomfort.
We make sure the doctor is appropriately monitoring your response to medications.
We review your case to see if medications you take might be causing some of your symptoms (it's amazing how often this happens).
We often consult with your doctor to help select the right medication in the first place. We love doctors who ask our help in this. It saves us trouble down the road, and it helps you get better more quickly when the medication is right the first time.
We might visit your room to teach you about a medication, especially if it's something you need to continue to take after you go home.
Fellow hospital pharmacists - am I forgetting anything?
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
Monday, August 29, 2011
4 - The Drowning Pool
This summer, a small child was found unconscious in a pool. 911 was called and the ambulance came quickly. They were able to regain a pulse, but he was brain dead.
This happens MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SINGLE SUMMER IN ARIZONA! People! Watch your kids! Put up a fence (which is required by law)! Don't ever assume even for one second that somebody else has an eye on your kids. They are YOUR responsibility.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
This happens MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SINGLE SUMMER IN ARIZONA! People! Watch your kids! Put up a fence (which is required by law)! Don't ever assume even for one second that somebody else has an eye on your kids. They are YOUR responsibility.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist
Sunday, August 21, 2011
3- Allergies
From Merriam-Webster Medline Plus Medical Dictionary - the definition of "allergy"
1: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal>
2: exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
In a serious healthcare situation, we pretty much only care about the first kind of allergy. Medications that cause these reactions should and will be avoided (with a few exceptions which I won't get in to here). If you have allergies of the second kind, we'll try to avoid those if we can but if those medications are the best choice then we may use them anyway and just keep an eye on you.
There are two points I hope you you take from this:
1- When your doctor asks you if you have any allergies to medications, s/he asks because s/he wants to avoid killing you, not because s/he wants to avoid giving you an upset stomach. Therefore, please do not tell your doctor that you are allergic to codeine because "it makes you want to puke". On the flip side, please DO tell your doctor that you are allergic to penicillin if it makes your throat swell closed. Note that no where in the above definitions is "upset stomach" considered an example of an allergic reaction.
2- When your doctor asks if you have allergies, please tell the doctor WHAT the reaction is so that your doctor can decide whether or not your reaction is a true allergy and whether or not a situation might warrant using the medication anyway. Do you want your doctor to hesitate giving you pain medication because s/he isn't sure if your "allergy" is a true problem? Do you want your doctor to hesitate to give you the best antibiotic for a life-threatening infefction because s/he isn't sure? If you don't tell us which of the two kinds of allergies you have to a medication (or if you call something an allergy that really is not), then we kind of have to assume it's the worst kind and avoid the medication.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist :)
1: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal>
2: exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
In a serious healthcare situation, we pretty much only care about the first kind of allergy. Medications that cause these reactions should and will be avoided (with a few exceptions which I won't get in to here). If you have allergies of the second kind, we'll try to avoid those if we can but if those medications are the best choice then we may use them anyway and just keep an eye on you.
There are two points I hope you you take from this:
1- When your doctor asks you if you have any allergies to medications, s/he asks because s/he wants to avoid killing you, not because s/he wants to avoid giving you an upset stomach. Therefore, please do not tell your doctor that you are allergic to codeine because "it makes you want to puke". On the flip side, please DO tell your doctor that you are allergic to penicillin if it makes your throat swell closed. Note that no where in the above definitions is "upset stomach" considered an example of an allergic reaction.
2- When your doctor asks if you have allergies, please tell the doctor WHAT the reaction is so that your doctor can decide whether or not your reaction is a true allergy and whether or not a situation might warrant using the medication anyway. Do you want your doctor to hesitate giving you pain medication because s/he isn't sure if your "allergy" is a true problem? Do you want your doctor to hesitate to give you the best antibiotic for a life-threatening infefction because s/he isn't sure? If you don't tell us which of the two kinds of allergies you have to a medication (or if you call something an allergy that really is not), then we kind of have to assume it's the worst kind and avoid the medication.
At your service,
The Happy Pharmacist :)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
2- Why I'm so happy
I didn't give college much thought when I graduated from high school in 1990. I spent a few terms at a community college and figured I was secretary-bound. I went to work for what was then Norwest Financial (now Wells Fargo) and there I stayed until 2007. I worked full time and part time through the years. I was a supervisor and a peon. They were mostly good to me.
When my kids were little, I started thinking about going back to school some day and getting my business degree. I was thinking I would stay at Wells Fargo forever, and the degree would give me more opportunity there. When my youngest entered first grade, I took a few classes while I continued to work part-time.
During that first year, a math teacher asked me what my major was. I told him business. He said "oh that's too bad". He said that with my math skills I should consider a profession where they can be put to use. He planted a seed in my head. He retired after that term but I still think of him. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me now, but I'll remember Paul Porch forever.
OK typing out the details I realize it's a pretty boring story. The upshot is that I had a mid-life crisis and decided to become a pharmacist. And so here I am, a new pharmacist at age 39! I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. I landed a dream job. In my dream location. Heck yeah!
So I want to share a bit of my good fortune by spreading some worth while knowledge around. I'd be happy to take requests if there is something you're wondering about.
When my kids were little, I started thinking about going back to school some day and getting my business degree. I was thinking I would stay at Wells Fargo forever, and the degree would give me more opportunity there. When my youngest entered first grade, I took a few classes while I continued to work part-time.
During that first year, a math teacher asked me what my major was. I told him business. He said "oh that's too bad". He said that with my math skills I should consider a profession where they can be put to use. He planted a seed in my head. He retired after that term but I still think of him. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me now, but I'll remember Paul Porch forever.
OK typing out the details I realize it's a pretty boring story. The upshot is that I had a mid-life crisis and decided to become a pharmacist. And so here I am, a new pharmacist at age 39! I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. I landed a dream job. In my dream location. Heck yeah!
So I want to share a bit of my good fortune by spreading some worth while knowledge around. I'd be happy to take requests if there is something you're wondering about.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
1- The Birth of a Blog
Most of my fellow pharmacists are familiar with "The Angry Pharmacist" blog. It is hilarious. Genius. Written by a retail pharmacist, it is a series of rants about the daily grind of the job - irrational customers, vicodin junkies, that kind of thing. I'm playing on the name, but I plan to make this blog entirely different.
As I begin my journey as a (hospital) pharmacist, I decided I want to share things that come my way that might help others - health information, etc. Although I do love to rant, I'm going to leave that to others and keep this positive. Maybe someday I'll be at this long enough to get bitter, but for now I have nothing but gratitude for the opportunity I have been given.
I work for a major hospital with strict policies on keeping their name out of negative on-line social networking. I also have to consider patient privacy laws. For once in my life, I don't intend to break any rules :)
As I begin my journey as a (hospital) pharmacist, I decided I want to share things that come my way that might help others - health information, etc. Although I do love to rant, I'm going to leave that to others and keep this positive. Maybe someday I'll be at this long enough to get bitter, but for now I have nothing but gratitude for the opportunity I have been given.
I work for a major hospital with strict policies on keeping their name out of negative on-line social networking. I also have to consider patient privacy laws. For once in my life, I don't intend to break any rules :)
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