Who We Are 
When you think of a pharmacist, you are probably very familiar with the person behind the counter at your local drug or grocery store. Pharmacists also play an essential role in the care provided to patients in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities.
Pharmacists who practice in hospitals and health systems are critical members of the health care team who:
- Advise physicians, nurses, and other medical staff on new medications, effective therapies, and the selection and administration of medications.
- Perform critical quality checks to detect and prevent harmful drug interactions, adverse reactions, and mistakes,
- Monitor patient responses to medications to make sure the medication is working appropriately
- Counsel patients and their families about the medication regimen and proper medication use
- Conduct wellness and disease prevention programs to help manage high-risk conditions like diabetes, asthma, or hypertension
- Prepare injectable medications used for cancer treatment
- Oversee all aspects of medication use, from managing inventory to setting medication-use policy.
Pharmacists are experts in the successful use of today's complex medications.
- All pharmacists graduate with a minimum of a six-year doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
- After graduation, many pharmacists receive additional post-doctoral clinical training as pharmacy residents. Similar to medical residents, pharmacy residents gain in-depth, hands-on experience with patients and other health professionals.
Click here to read more about how pharmacists manage patients' medication therapy.
Click here to hear health-system pharmacists describe their role on the health care team.
What's Important to Us:
- Funding for Specialized Residency Programs
ASHP is seeking the restoration of funding for second-year specialized pharmacy residency programs to ensure that there is an adequate supply of qualified clinical pharmacists and pharmacy practice leaders available to manage high-risk medication therapy in hospitals.
- Effective Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Benefit for Medicare Beneficiaries
ASHP believes that all Medicare beneficiaries should have access to MTM services provided by pharmacists, who have the training and expertise to best help these patients manage their medication regimens.