Pharmacist Scope of Practice

This paper explores the increased scope of practice of U.S. pharmacists. It presents background information on the pharmacy profession and outlines how the medical profession can work with pharmacists to enhance patient safety and quality of care. The paper calls for further research on the effects of pharmacy automation and the move to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree on pharmacy practice. Other positions include support for patient education and hospital rounds, opposition to independent pharmacist prescriptive privileges and initiation of drug therapy, increased use of the pharmacist as immunizer (as allowed by state law), and continued support for the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine 1990 therapeutic substitution position.