<<Back to Pre-Pharmacy
academics & students
General Description of the Profession
Pharmacists are the health professionals who serve patients and other health professionals in assuring appropriate use of and optimal therapeutic outcomes from, medications. In addition to the responsibility for professional interpretation and review of prescription orders, medication record screening and review, and the accurate dispensing of medications, pharmacists serve patients and the community by providing information and advice on health, providing medications and associated services, and by referring patients to other sources of help and care, such as physicians. Pharmacists must be fully acquainted with the physical and chemical properties of drugs and their behavior in biological systems. Pharmacists often serve as educators in the proper use of drugs both for the public and health practitioners.
Pharmaceutical care encompasses the full range of pharmacists' skills, knowledge, and ability in providing medication services to patients. The principal goal of pharmaceutical care is to achieve definite outcomes from medication use that improve patients' quality of life. Pharmacists are professionals committed to public service and the achievement of this goal.
