Prescriptions are filled, pharmacy technicians are supervised, customer service is provided, pharmacy inventory is managed, vaccines are administered, and education is provided retail pharmacists. To complete all of these tasks, these professionals must be extremely organized and detail-oriented, as well as possess excellent communication and social skills. Despite the fact that they may sell products other than those found in pharmacies, their primary concern is always to get patients the medications they require.
Completing prescription orders is a retail pharmacist’s primary responsibility. This process begins with the collection of patient information from formal prescription slips, which the consumer may present or which a physician may send electronically from a different location. The pharmacist examines this information for any potential drug interactions and confirms that the patient has given permission to receive the medication (s). He then collects payment from the customer or verifies the customer’s health insurance coverage, which often includes filling out third-party insurance forms.
A retail pharmacist is in charge of dispensing all medications from the pharmacy safely, but he does not always complete prescriptions himself. He frequently delegated some responsibilities to qualified pharmacy technicians. In some cases, the pharmacist may seek information from other pharmacists who specialize in a specific medicine type. As a result, the pharmacy can fill many more prescription orders than if the pharmacist worked alone. If a retail pharmacist has techs on staff, he is in charge of scheduling, monitoring adherence to pharmacy policy and other regulations, as well as payroll.
A retail pharmacist’s job also includes customer service in addition to prescription filling. Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of specific drugs and other health-related equipment in the pharmacy is one example. It’s also standard to answer questions about how to use drugs. If a customer requires assistance in locating an over-the-counter item, he may direct the customer to the item or even physically accompany the customer to the item. In some cases, a retail pharmacist works with the physician and the patient to switch medications to the generic version rather than the name-brand version to help the patient afford the medication.
Customers expect pharmacies in retail locations to have medications on hand, so keeping track of an ordering inventory is an important part of a retail pharmacist’s job. Because many drugs in pharmacies are regulated, retail pharmacists keep meticulous records of when a substance arrives, who dispenses it and how much, the cost, and when a new order is likely to be required. Another task is to check the inventory for old or expired medications.
A retail pharmacist may have the training and authorization to provide some basic vaccines, such as flu vaccines, in some cases. If the pharmacist is qualified, he can advertise the vaccines’ availability and administer them in a controlled environment when necessary. If the pharmacist is unable to provide this service himself, he or she may work with the pharmacy manager or owner to arrange for someone else to do so.
Some pharmacists who work in retail also teach. This can occur in a traditional classroom setting, but it can also occur in the pharmacy, such as when someone is interning under the supervision of a pharmacist. The pharmacist may need special licenses to do this, depending on the jurisdiction.