Pharmacists
play essential role in COVID-19 response as front-line health-care
professionals, many pharmacists are playing an important role in patient care
during the COVID-19 pandemic in community pharmacies, hospitals and other
health-care settings including long-term care. The pharmacist's scope of
practice includes helping address a variety of minor ailments and many
pharmacists have taken additional education such as the diabetes educator training.
This expanded scope provides patients with another source from which to receive
reliable health advice and is helping to ease pressure on hospitals and clinics
during this time. "The pharmacist's role has continued to change over the
last decade and with our new Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, it is very much
geared to direct patient care,". Pharmacists are an essential first line
caregiver to provide medication information and the management of their
medication therapies. They 're the most easily accessible health-care
professionals. You can walk into a pharmacy and talk to your pharmacist without
waiting more than 10 minutes, whereas at the clinic or hospital you could be
waiting for a longer amount of time,". They have also seen an increase in
delivery requests, and more people phoning in for advice and requests rather
than coming in persons.
Since
the pandemic began, pharmacists have spent a lot of time educating people about
COVID-19 and reinforcing messaging about how to reduce the spread. This is important
in a small community where some may think they don't have to worry about the
virus if it is not yet present in their community. "The role has not
changed, but the communication methods that pharmacists must adapt to provide
information and product has changed rapidly as well as physical changes within
the pharmacies to protect their colleagues and other employees,". These
changes have also affected pharmacy students. Student experiential training in
pharmacies and hospitals has been postponed due to the COVID-19 patients. The
amount of PPE they have to wear in the hospital to see patients, including
masks, gloves and face shields, can present a barrier. "It's really tough
on patients, everyone looks the same to them. It makes it a little bit harder to
build those relationships with patients since they can't see your face,".
Pharmacists continue to support their communities in any way they can.
Pharmacists really care about their patients and profession,". Pharmacists
are still doing their job, as usual, as well as supporting the COVID-19
response.
"Pharmacists
are working as part of the teams treating COVID-19 patients. They're there to
support their patients and colleagues and get the best outcomes they can for
their patients. They're part of the team and intend to stay part of the
team,".
Arti Gupta
Assistant Professor
College Address
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Farrukhnagar, Distt.- Gurgaon, Haryana
Phone:- 9818511778
Email:- rgcpcollege@gmail.com
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New Delhi, India-110085