Ministry of Health
The Pharmacy Team: Your Questions Answered
- What is a pharmacist?
- Who is on the pharmacy team?
- What can a pharmacist do for you?
- What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?
- What training does a pharmacy technician have?
- What training does a pharmacist have?
- Are there specialized pharmacists?
- How is the pharmacy team involved in patient care in the hospital?
- Where else do pharmacists work in British Columbia?
- How are pharmacists in the Ministry of Health involved in the provision of safe and effective drug therapy in British Columbia?
- How is the role of the pharmacy team changing in British Columbia?
What is a pharmacist?
The pharmacist is an expert in drug treatment. The practice of pharmacy goes far beyond dispensing prescription drugs. One of the most available members of your health care team, the pharmacist works to ensure that you get the best results from your drug treatment. Pharmacists make sure you receive the safest and most effective drug treatment. To find out more, read What can a pharmacist do for you?
TopWho is on the pharmacy team?
The pharmacy team includes pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and sometimes support staff and students. You may see pharmacy teams at:
- the community or retail pharmacy (drug store)
- hospitals
- long-term care homes
What can a pharmacist do for you?
Pharmacists are one of the most available health care providers. As experts on drug treatment, they can help you and your family with your questions and concerns about medications.
The pharmacist:
- makes sure the drug prescribed for you is the best for your condition
- checks that the dose prescribed is safe for you
- confirms that the new medication is safe to take along with other medication(s) you are taking. Drugs may interact with other drugs, including non-prescription drugs, herbals, vitamins or supplements. It is important to tell your pharmacist exactly what you are taking
- fills your prescription
- gives you written information on the prescribed drug(s)
- may give vaccinations
- helps you understand more about your drug treatment, such as:
- why the physician (doctor) has prescribed a certain drug
- how to take the drug properly
- when the drug should start working
- what to do if the drug is not working
- what to do if you experience a side effect
- the most common and most dangerous side effects
- answers your questions about:
- prescription drugs
- non-prescription, or over-the-counter products
- supplements and natural health products
- the safety of prescription and non-prescription drugs while pregnant or breastfeeding
- ways of remembering to take your medication
- taking care of minor medical problems (such as skin rash)
- improving your health with lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking
To find out more, see Your Pharmacist and You on the Canadian Pharmacists Association website.
What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?
Pharmacists oversee pharmacy technicians in community and hospital pharmacies. Technicians prepare prescriptions and assist with many routine duties in the pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians are able to receive prescriptions from patients, enter prescriptions into the computer, arrange payment from patients' drug plans, and keep and maintain drug inventories. This allows the pharmacist to perform more patient-directed activities. To find out more, see How is the role of the pharmacy team changing in British Columbia?
What training does a pharmacy technician have?
Most people that work as pharmacy technicians have trained at a community college or learned on the job. The college programs for pharmacy technicians teach students about:
- medical and pharmacy terminology
- billing procedures (working with drug plans)
- preparing prescriptions
- how drugs work
The community college program also includes practical training in a pharmacy.
The role of the pharmacy technician is continuing to expand and technicians will soon be able to prepare prescriptions independently. To find out more, see How is the role of the pharmacy team changing in British Columbia?
What training does a pharmacist have?
In order to practice pharmacy in Canada, a pharmacist must have a university degree in pharmacy. The degree requires four to five years of full-time studies. Pharmacy students learn about:
- diseases
- how drugs work (both prescription and non-prescription drugs)
- which drugs are best for certain diseases and symptoms
- the side effects of drugs
- communicating with patients
- dispensing drugs (preparing medications for the patient after receiving a prescription)
The university programs also include practical experience in community and hospital pharmacies. In B.C., a pharmacist must also pass written and practical tests after completing their pharmacy degree. Evaluations are repeated every few years to make sure that the pharmacist continues to have the knowledge and skills to safely practice pharmacy.
Some pharmacists will continue their studies by obtaining additional practical experience (e.g., a residency in either community or hospital pharmacy) or obtaining an advanced degree. Advanced study options include a Masters of Science (MSc), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), or a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).
Are there specialized pharmacists?
Pharmacists in British Columbia are involved in a number specialized health services, such as:
- treatment of heart and lung diseases
- treatment of diabetes
- treatment of cancer (oncology)
- treatment of infectious diseases
- treatment of kidney diseases
- treatment of transplant patients
- treatment of HIV/AIDS
- immunization
- anticoagulation (use of blood thinners)
- pain control
- poison control
- compounding (preparing topical, oral, or injectable drug preparations that are not manufactured by pharmaceutical companies)
- long-term care
- home health care (wound care, orthotic fittings)
- clinical research
How is the pharmacy team involved in patient care in the hospital?
The pharmacy team is involved in all aspects of drug treatment in the hospital. As part of the health care team, the pharmacist:
- helps choose which drugs will be used in the hospital
- talks with the patient to find out which drugs they were taking at home before coming to hospital
- ensures the correct drugs and dosages are prescribed when a patient is first admitted to hospital
- finds out if certain drugs should be avoided because of drug allergies
- helps decide if and when drugs should be prescribed for the patient
- makes sure prescribed drugs are safe and effective for the patient
- reduces drug side effects by ordering tests and checking test results
- reviews the list of prescriptions for discharge and informs the patient about any new drug treatment(s)
The pharmacy team ensures that:
- drugs are prepared and ready on time
- drugs for intravenous use (put directly into the patient's blood) are made in a clean environment to reduce bacterial contamination
- drugs are used properly, safely and cost-effectively
- nurses and others on the health care team have the information they need to give drugs safely and effectively
Where else do pharmacists work in British Columbia?
Besides working in community pharmacies, hospitals, and long-term care homes, pharmacists work:
- for the provincial government in the Ministry of Health (Pharmaceutical Services Division)
- for the federal government in the adverse drug reaction reporting program (Canada Vigilance)
- for the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia - the organization that licenses and regulates the practice of pharmacy in British Columbia
- in military health care facilities
- in education and research at the University of British Columbia and select community colleges
- for pharmaceutical companies - to research, develop, manufacture and market prescription and non-prescription drugs
- as private consultants to patients, companies, or other organizations
How are pharmacists in the Ministry of Health involved in the provision of safe and effective drug therapy for people in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, pharmacists help choose the best drugs for coverage in the provincial drug program (PharmaCare) and make sure the drugs are used in the best way through education, policy development and evaluation. To find out more, see About the Pharmaceutical Services Division.
How is the role of the pharmacy team changing in British Columbia?
Most community and hospital pharmacies have pharmacy technicians who help prepare prescriptions and assist with many routine duties in the pharmacy. The role of the pharmacy technician is continuing to expand and technicians will soon be able to prepare prescriptions independently. This will allow pharmacists to spend more time talking to patients and helping them get the best drug treatment.
The role of the pharmacist has greatly changed over the last 100 years (see What can a pharmacist do for you?). In 2009, pharmacists in British Columbia began renewing and adapting prescriptions and giving vaccinations. To find out more, see Your Pharmacist and You on the Canadian Pharmacists Association website.