Consulting pharmacists dispense drugs, maintain knowledge of pharmaceutical laws, assess drug therapies, and prepare reports. They require analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, and hold at least a bachelor’s degree and a pharmacist license. They work in offices and clinics, and oversee small teams.
Consulting pharmacists wear many hats at work. Not only are they certified as pharmacists, meaning they are legally capable of dispensing prescription drugs, but they are also responsible for maintaining knowledge of pharmaceutical laws and advising their employers on necessary policy changes. Many locations utilize the services of a consulting pharmacist, including long-term care facilities, government agencies and private hospitals.
Consistent review of government drug laws is an essential function of the typical consulting pharmacist. In this review, the pharmacist should be able to identify irregularities in the patient’s medication use, dosage, and possible drug interactions. Review of facility documentation is also under the supervision of a consulting pharmacist.
Consultant pharmacists are often called on to assess the effectiveness of various drug therapies, which means they must be skilled in interpreting the data. They must also be able to examine clinical data and come to educated conclusions to apply to patient situations. Preparation of detailed weekly, monthly and quarterly reports is included in most consulting pharmacist positions.
Skills required of a pharmaceutical consultant include analytical and written communication skills. In addition, the consultant is sometimes expected to discuss findings with nurses, physicians, and others involved with the facility; therefore, verbal communication skills are desirable. Proficiency on a computer allows the consultant to enter and manipulate data.
Quality of service decisions regarding medications depend in part on the opinion of the consulting pharmacist. Assessments, education and research studies are tools used by the pharmacist to determine needed improvements. Problems with drug dispensing are included in discussions about service quality.
Typically, consulting pharmacists hold at least a bachelor’s degree, although many go on to earn a master’s degree in the field of pharmaceuticals. They also become licensed as pharmacists and, once licensed, must take continuing education courses on drug development and pharmaceutical law. Facilities sometimes require pharmacy consultant candidates to also work as pharmacists. Less often, pharmaceutical consultants conduct research and compile the results to share with medical professionals. An example of such research is a drug efficacy study.
The work environment of a pharmacy consultant includes offices and clinics. In most cases, a pharmacy consultant works daytime hours, although the hours can be long. Sometimes pharmacy consultants oversee a small team.
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