One of the USC faculty professors, Dr. Steve Chen, never fails to reassure me that I chose a great profession. That I am being trained to become an integral part of health care in the US, filling in a place that is much needed especially during this time of reform for our problematic health care system. He has started projects that have expanded all over the nation to involve clinical pharmacists as an important factor in reducing health care costs. Just in the LA area, he has impacted many of the underserved populations through his implementation of safety net clinics. However, one important detail he emphasized to us was how important it is for pharmacy to reach out to the other professions. Many of our professors have told us pharmacy students that "you know you belong in pharmacy when you talk to yourself." It doesn't help the nation, and it doesn't help the pharmacy profession. What it means is pharmacists do so much to reduce the potential of hospitalization, to reduce the risk of exacerbating chronic illnesses, to help patients control their illnesses, to educate people on their own and their family's health issues, and to implement plans that ultimately reduce cost all over the spectrum. But, the pharmacy profession frequently does not publicly show these efforts, and we keep these to ourselves. If it doesn't get known, if it doesn't get a chance to spread outside of pharmacy, how will these beneficial ideas be able to improve the state of everyone's health?
I've been hearing over and over again how pharmacy is changing, how the purpose of pharmacy is still unclear now that there are new demands in health care, and how current pharmacists and leaders in pharmacy are dealing with this. In my mind, I see myself collaborating with a physician in an independent clinic. We work together to care for patients--- pinpoint their health problems and control them. And it's not only me who has these ideas. Apparently, it is one of the directions that pharmacy is going toward--- interdisciplinary care. This means pharmacy, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dietetics, nursing, etc. as well as the patient and family members are involved in the care given. All the other health professions have a long, historic, and definite role in providing health care. Physicians diagnose and start a plan and OT, PT, nursing, etc. continue monitoring and improving different aspects of the patient's overall health condition. Afterall, a diagnosis of one disease does not mean just one part of the body is affected. The whole body is put off balance. So, where does pharmacy come in? Pharmacy has always been associated with medications, but to what extent do pharmacists deal with medications? What responsibility are pharmacists going to take and what results are pharmacists aiming for? Clinical practice. Clinical skills.
As I become more involved in these pharmacy services set up by pharmacy students and advisors, I hope to share these experiences with everyone, not just within the pharmacy profession. The question is, for me, in which direction within pharmacy do I want to go?
