Long-Term Care Pharmacy
Long-Term Care Pharmacy
A long-term care pharmacy is a specialized pharmacy that provides medications and therapies to patients who need long-term care. These pharmacies serve patients who are living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other long-term care settings (also known as senior care pharmacies). With the “aging of America,” the proportion of people needing long-term care can be expected to increase. There are two general career paths in long-term care pharmacy: one focuses on dispensing/management operations and the other on consultant services.
As always, we have a number of LTC, senior care, and nursing home pharmacy opportunities across the country. If you are a pharmacist or pharmacy technician looking for an LTC pharmacy position, get in touch to hear about our available positions.
Duties of Pharmacists in Long Term Care Settings
Long-term care pharmacists are responsible for ensuring that patients receive the medications they need to stay healthy and comfortable. They work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, doctors, and social workers, to provide a holistic approach to care. Here are some of the specific duties of a LTC pharmacist:
- Verifying prescriptions: Verify prescriptions from doctors and other healthcare providers to ensure that they are accurate and complete.
- Delivering medications: Pharmacists deliver medications directly to patients' long-term care facilities.
- Monitoring patients: Pharmacists monitor patients' progress and adjust medications as needed.
- Educating patients and staff: Pharmacists provide education to patients and staff on how to administer medications and manage their care.
- Consulting with other healthcare professionals: Pharmacists consult with other healthcare professionals, such as nurses and doctors, to ensure that patients are receiving the correct medications and that their care is coordinated.
- Providing medication therapy management (MTM) services: Pharmacists provide MTM services, which are a range of services that help patients optimize their medication use.
What Does a Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician Do?
- Preparing and dispensing medications to LTC residents
- Maintaining inventory of medications and supplies
- Ordering medications and supplies
- Processing insurance claims
- Answering resident and staff questions about medications
- Completing medication reconciliation (a process of comparing a patient's current medications to their medication history)
- Monitoring resident medication usage for safety and effectiveness
- Maintaining a clean and organized pharmacy
Why Choose a Career in Long-Term Care?
There are many reasons why you might choose a career in a long-term care pharmacy (LTC pharmacy). Here are a few of the most common reasons:
To help people
LTC pharmacists and technicians play a vital role in ensuring that elderly patients receive the medications they need safely and effectively. They also have the opportunity to build relationships with patients and their families, and to provide them with education and support.
To work in a stable environment
The demand for LTC pharmacists and technicians is expected to grow in the coming years, as the population ages. This means that there are good job prospects and job security in this field.
To have a flexible schedule
Many LTC pharmacies offer flexible schedules, which can be a good fit for people who have other commitments, such as family or school.
To make a difference in the lives of others
LTC pharmacists and technicians have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of elderly patients. They can help to improve patients' quality of life by ensuring that they receive the medications they need safely and effectively.
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