Pharmacist Shortage Worsens Nationwide

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051107/ap_on_he_me/pharmacist_shortage;_ylt=Amn3SV1K6dnd1WSMwrFGq0is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ- ^

[kcvl]

they have to know all the government and insurance regulations (which are massive and becoming a huge problem keeping up with government demands)and have patient consultations.

Has your wife ever considered nuclear pharmacy? That is becoming a huge demand in our area because of patient testing (like bone scans) and chemo.

Nuclear Pharmacy - salary around $95,000 (mostly done at hospitals)

Nuclear pharmacy is a specialty area of pharmacy practice dedicated to the compounding and dispensing of radioactive materials for use in nuclear imaging and nuclear medical procedures. These procedures use small amounts of radioactive material for the safe diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease. Diagnostic nuclear imaging is used principally for bone, brain, kidney, liver, gall bladder, heart, lung and infection assessment.

[vetvetdoug]

There was a previous discussion about medical related salaries where I noted that all of the pharmacists in my area clear $100K and was soundly dissed. The physicians, orthopods/anesthesiologists/cardiologists/neurologists, all clear $300K or better per year. GP physicians average here about $200K/year. I watch what other medical professionals make because I have the same amount of education and make $55K as a veterinarian.

[Harrius Magnus]

GP's at $200k, surely you jest. I am an internist and make less than my wife, a Nurse Practitioner (and she doesn't take call, or the liability, work weekends, work late, on and on). I have often though of alternative careers, and we already run every form revenue generation in our practice. I'd be a pharmacist in a skinny minute if I could make 80-100 and work 40 hrs. Then I could volunteer my services as a physician 20 hours/wk, which would continue my true love, and would still be less total hours than I work now.

[doc30]

I have the same amount of education and make $55K as a veterinarian.

And, from what I've heard, admission to vet schools is more competitive than into med school! Whne my wife does get through pharmacy school, she'll easily make double what I made when I finished my PhD!

[4everontheRight]

My husband works for a company that writes software for pharmacies, medical offices, etc. The big thing with his company and their competitors is robotic pharmacists....machines to dispense drugs. I am afraid the shortage won't matter soon.

[doc30]

Once she get's into pharmacy school, I'm sure she will be exposed to that field. It all depends upon what peaks her interest. Right now, we are just concentrating on getting her accepted. I say 'we' because I help her with the chemistry portion becasue I am a research chemist. I saw the PCAT section on chemistry and it looks like they are testing general knowledge and not difficult calculations.

[IndyTiger]

My wife is a pharmacist, and sees problems down the road with so many schools going to the PharmD degree that requires six years of study. Who with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is going to want to work at the corner drugstore? She feels that schools should still offer a bachelor of Pharmacy degree as well as the PharmD. She is 48 and works part-time (due to our having young kids) as a hospital pharmacist ...and is always getting letters and phone calls from headhunters looking for pharmacists.

[old-ager]

Can you say H-1 ?

[not_apathetic_anymore]

orthopods/anesthesiologists/cardiologists/neurologists, all clear $300K or better per year

I'd always seen numbers that suggest there are regional differences in reimbursement, and I know a couple of MD's who've left this area saying they could make more elsewhere. GUess it's true A few of those specialists will make that kind of money in this region, but most will not.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Nah - it will still matter. Robotic systems can't verify how an RX was written unless it's electronic, and even then the accuracy is questionable. We have robotic filling systems at all our facilities, and they're all backed up by teams of pharmacy techs and registered pharmacists.

[SC DOC]

There are now robots and pharmacy techs who count the pills, freeing the pharmacists for more important duties such as checking for drug interactions, not only from other prescribed medications, but also OTC, herbal meds, etc. They also spend a great deal of time educating patients about how to take the medications properly, and what to look out for. I realize that most retail pharmacies put flyers in with the medications that explain all this, but it is suprising how few will actually read and comply with the instructions. Pharmacists also act as advocates for thier patients with insurance companies who may not want to approve a particular medication because it is not on an approved list, until the pharmacist explains that the alternative medications may have already been tried unsuccessfully, or the patient has a problem taking the approved medication.

Finally, as my daughter, who is a Pharm.D. (Doctor in pharmacy) has pointed out to me (a physician), that she has on numerous occasions prevented a serious problem or even potentially a fatality by recognizing an error in the prescription or order for medication by the physician. Many physicians are grateful when she calls and points this out, but many others with fragile egos wind up cursing her out for challenging their judgement.

When you have to put up with this type of BS, you can see why pharmacists deserve the salaries they get.

[dfwgator]

Yep, I suspect right now in India they are building pharmacology schools right and left.

[vetvetdoug]

I am good friends with three GP's and they make $180-200K per year. I would have not believed it after I saw the national averages but this is a rural area and we have just a few physicians that choose to locate in this area and are compensated really well.

[CDHart]

I know a pharmacist saved my husband from a severe interaction from two drugs, both of which had been prescribed by his doctor. The two drugs should not be used together, and the pharmacist caught it, thank God.

Carolyn

[MarkL]

I've got a number of family members who are (retired) pharmacists. They're continually getting calls for full or part time work. I also know a married couple who are both pharmacists, and they LOVE their work, and they're making a ton of money.

I've heard that some companies are offering "signing bonuses" as high as $20,000 for a 5 year committment.

Mark

[SirLinksalot]

Can a Pharmacist's job be conceivably outsourced at all ?

[Texaspeptoman]

Yes, work on getting accepted. I am a pharmacist and it is rewarding/stressful. You have to be able to do 5 things at once (really only 4, direct traffic, and not kill anybody that day. That's all. You need to be a little A/R and O/C (anal retentive and obsessive/compulsive) because you have to do EVERYTHING right/perfect - shall we say. You have to have patience because after the 15th question of the day about, "What do I do about my cough?" you want to put on the tape labeled "Coughs 101."

You also get to watch kids grow up and bring their kids in for help. You get a lot of "thank you(s)." You sometimes see a patient (know their history) and realize that the new prescription for a heart medicine would probably kill her - (that's one reason why you do the 5 years of school) because the computer interactive drug utilization review (DUR) will not pick that problem up.

When you have kids, an assumption, your wife can work part time and actually be there for the kids and still make "good money."

If you look at pharmacy only as a job, then one can find a cubicle and verify scrips all day long. If you are into service and smiling, then retail or hospital can be good. Remember, nobody can "make" you grumpy or mad. It is always a choice of how you respond.

Yes, automation will come and we will see Rx vending machines, but, there will always be a pharmacist needed to watch over things.

Cheers and good luck...... (freepmail if any other qhestions)

[Joe Miner]

Just learning to read doctors' scribbles probably takes a year or two of college.

[Texaspeptoman]

cryptology 101

[small voice in the wilderness]

Bump...