The Responsibilities of an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
Looking into the Eyes of an Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist
Being a pharmacist is a very rewarding experience regardless of what path you may choose to follow in the pharmacy field. In the end, we all have similar goals to achieve and most of the time that goal includes quality patient care.
Counseling, dispensing, making specific guidelines, recommendations and building a rapport with patients are all consistent with the duties of a pharmacist. However, an outpatient pharmacist, for the most part, will spend more time with patients than an inpatient pharmacist or other healthcare providers. Majority of the patient population feels comfortable to speak with an outpatient pharmacist versus their physician. Some patients may require further counseling or need further explanation of a newly prescribed medication and this is where outpatient pharmacists can help, specifically ambulatory care pharmacists.
What is an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist?
An ambulatory care pharmacist is a pharmacist that counsels patients in an outpatient clinic setting for the management of chronic diseases. These chronic conditions may include HIV, diabetes, anticoagulation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and heart failure. Some pharmacists practice under a physician in an agreed upon collaborative practice. With the collaborative practice agreement, some pharmacists are able to prescribe and adjust doses.
Responsibilities of an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
Depending on the type of clinic the pharmacist is responsible for, some of the roles and responsibilities may be different. These pharmacists are responsible for counseling patients on medication side effects and making therapeutic adjustments when necessary. Each patient visit is usually in an intimate setting with only the pharmacist and the patient. The patient has their chance to explain any concerns they are having without having to rush. The pharmacist can access their electronic medical records which can allow them to dose adjust for renal or hepatic impairment. Results of blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, blood glucose level , and INR can all be assessed during the visit. These lab values are tested at the clinic and results are quickly computed so that the pharmacist can appropriately counsel and solve issues that have gone wrong in a patients diet or lifestyle. Appointments may last as long as 30 minutes or more depending on the extent of the condition, and whether it’s an initial or follow up visit.
Some pharmacists may also work with an interdisciplinary care team to enhance patient care and develop a therapeutic plan for the patient. These interdisciplinary teams may consist of physicians, social workers, case managers, nutritionists, therapists and pharmacists.
Conclusion
Ambulatory care pharmacists can reduce the amount of time a patient spends with a physician, decrease hospital readmissions and increase access to healthcare.
Ramsey Reed, Pharm.D. Candidate
References:
- ASHP. Ambulatory Care. Available at:https://www.ashp.org/Pharmacy-Student/Careers-in-Health-System-Pharmacy/Ambulatory-Care. Accessed April 22, 2020
- Helling DK, Johnson SG. Defining and advancing ambulatory care pharmacy practice: It is time to lengthen our stride. AJHP 2014; 71:1348–1356.
