The Power of Pharmacy

October is American Pharmacists Month, and we celebrate the power of pharmacy and the value of individual pharmacists across the nation. As the American health care system continues to evolve, pharmacists are making a real difference in their communities and having a significant impact on the health care team. It’s a time to recognize what pharmacists do and how they contribute to the well-being of patients and their families. The value of the pharmacist cannot be overstated as more people are beginning to understand what these highly trained individuals accomplish each day.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has encouraged its members to promote the profession in the “Know Your Pharmacist, Know Your Medicine” campaign—and to spread the word about the importance of pharmacists and “get the attention you deserve among your peers, patients and community.”

The point of this month-long celebration is to draw attention to how pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, and some pharmacists are getting creative with local events and media coverage, which the APhA promises to share with the profession.

But it’s not just a celebration within our borders. Through social media, pharmacists are making their voice heard all over the world. Earlier this month, we saw a unique event in pharmacy that speaks to the power of pharmacy worldwide. On October 2, 2014, members of pharmacy organizations around the globe took part in the second annual #Pharmacist tweet-a-thon to highlight the positive impact that pharmacists have on their patients, their communities, and the health care industry. On that day, pharmacists around the world used the hashtag #Pharmacist to tweet about the actions they have taken or are taking to help patients, doctors, other health care providers, and their communities.

Pharmacy Times joined the conversation to help promote the value of the pharmacist, something we do each and every day via @Pharmacy_Times and Facebook. The tweets described the impact that pharmacists have on their patients’ daily lives—from preventing adverse reactions to administering flu shots to counseling for a healthier lifestyle—showcasing positive actions taken by pharmacists on behalf of their patients.

These positive stories abound, and the power of pharmacy can be felt. With national and state pharmacy associations in the United States participating this month, along with counterparts from Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland, the word has gotten out that pharmacists play a significant role in the health of the nation and the world.

We keep a close eye on what pharmacists are doing—all year long. And we believe in the power of pharmacy each and every day.

Thank you for reading!

Mike Hennessy

Chairman and CEO