Most consumers view pharmacists only as individuals who dispense drugs. But they do much more than that especially in a hospital setting. They work with the hospital staff to monitor for potential drug interactions, oversee technicians, counsel patients, and maintain appropriate records. Practicing hospital pharmacists require a doctor of pharmacy degree, and they must fulfill state licensing requirements. The pharmacy is a department essential to reducing medical mistakes and improving outcomes, and it accounts for roughly 10-20 percent of the average hospital’s operating costs.

So the tradition of having hospital pharmacists working in the basement is changing. Hospital pharmacists can now be seen on the patient care floors on rounds working closely with clinical staff in making recommendations to insure safe and cost effective drug therapy outcomes. This presents a great opportunity for the physicians to partner with the pharmacists in the hospital setting to improve patient care and lower costs..