Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works, Third Edition / Edition 3

by William N. Kelly

Overview

As the first baby boomers have reached 65, more prescriptions than ever are being dispensed, and the need for properly trained pharmacists is critical. Now in its third edition, Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works continues to provide a comprehensive review of all aspects of pharmacy, from the various roles of pharmacists to particular health care-related events to career planning information.

Beginning with a brief historical perspective on the field, the book discusses the many facets of the pharmacy profession. It describes the role of pharmacists in different settings and provides information ranging from licensing requirements to working conditions, highlighting the critical role of pharmacists within the heath care system. The author examines the drug use process with sections on distribution, prescribing, dispensing, and pricing. He also discusses the role of pharmacy support personnel. An expanded chapter on informatics explores how pharmacy has evolved through information technology and automation. Additional chapters cover poison control, pharmacy schools, pharmacy organizations, the drug approval process, and career development.

Designed for classroom and professional use, the book contains numerous tools to facilitate comprehension, including:

• Learning objectives to help readers focus on the goals of each chapter
• Informative tables and figures summarizing data
• Summary paragraphs tying in salient points
• Discussion questions and exercises to test assimilation
• "Challenges" which place the material in broader context
• Websites and references to encourage further study

Used in many schools of pharmacy in the United States, Canada, and Europe, this volume provides a look into the profession that is both broad and deep, supplying a one-stop reference to a promising career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439853054
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/16/2011
Series:	Pharmacy Education Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	488
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

William N. Kelly has more than 40 years of experience in health care as a pharmacy executive, researcher, professor, and clinician. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 10 book chapters and has presented his work both nationally and internationally. He is currently president of William N. Kelly Consulting, Inc., a company devoted to advancing medication safety and the practice of pharmacy, and vice president of scientific affairs for Visante.

Table of Contents

What Is Pharmacy?
The Pharmacist
Pharmacists and the Health Care System
The Drug Use Process
Pharmacy Supportive Personnel
Pharmacy Informatics
Pharmaceutical Care
Ambulatory (Community) Pharmacy
Health System Pharmacy
Managed Care Pharmacy
Home Health and Hospice Care Pharmacy
Long-Term Care Pharmacy
Government Pharmacy
Drug Information and Poison Control
Pharmacy Academia
Pharmacy Organizations
How Drugs Are Discovered, Tested, and Approved
The Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry
Other Opportunities for Pharmacists
Career Development

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer:Christine L Fitzgerald, PharmD(Temple University Hospital)
Description:This book provides complete information about the profession of pharmacy, including the role of pharmacists and the pharmacy, drug use, patient care, career opportunities, and much more. The first edition was published in 2006.
Purpose:The purpose is to provide an introduction to the profession of pharmacy to new pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists. A new pharmacy student or pre-pharmacy student may find this book helpful early on in their schooling to help develop a suitable career path. However, I do not think pharmacy technicians would find this very helpful as the chapters primarily pertain to pharmacists. Pharmacists thinking of changing careers may refer to this book to find some other avenue to practice pharmacy that they were unfamiliar with, but I don't think a practicing pharmacist would generally find this book helpful. The author met his objectives as they pertain to students.
Audience:Although the book is intended for students, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists, I think it is more appropriate for pre-pharmacy students or pharmacy students early on in pharmacy school. The material is too basic to be of help to a pharmacist and its broad scope is beyond the needs of a pharmacy technician.
Features:This would be an excellent primer for pharmacy students. The basic coverage of the profession of pharmacy can help direct the career path for students, especially those who want to think beyond a typical retail pharmacy setting. The book clearly covers opportunities in retail, hospital, industry, home healthcare,government, academia, and research. However, the book tries to cover too much; for example, going into detail about the components required on a prescription. It seems to lose its focus and purpose.
Assessment:This book would not be very useful beyond career development for students. And if that is meant to be the purpose of the book, then many sections should be removed.