Pharmacists

Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.

Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.

Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.

Work in hospitals or clinics or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultant, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas, such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.

Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.

Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.

Prepare sterile solutions or infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients' homes.

Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.

Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.

Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.

Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.

Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.

Manage pharmacy operations, hiring or supervising staff, performing administrative duties, or buying or selling non-pharmaceutical merchandise.

Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.

Offer health promotion or prevention activities, such as training people to use blood pressure devices or diabetes monitors.

Contact insurance companies to resolve billing issues.

Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.

Update or troubleshoot pharmacy information databases.

Refer patients to other health professionals or agencies when appropriate.

Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.