As the Future of Pharmacy Marches On, Pharmacists Must Embrace IT’s Intelligence Guest Columnist: Travis C. A. Brooks, Pharm.D. candidate
Pharmacy is being revolutionized by the fruits of its labor. The godfather of technology, information technology and its poster child artificial intelligence has forever changed our future in the practice of pharmacy. When we think about where we are at this moment in time, we have to first remember to thank and pay homage to our forerunners in pharmacy practice. Travis C.A. Brooks, Without the efforts of our predecessors adPharm.D. candidate vancing the field of pharmacy, the industry would not be at the level it has grown to today. Advancements in both IT and AI paved the way for the field of pharmacy to continue to grow.1 When IT was first introduced, most of the pharmacists couldn’t even fathom the idea of technology helping them. As the years passed, technology advanced and now there are numerous technological trajectories in the modern practice of pharmacy. It is up upand-coming pharmacists new to the field to embrace ever22
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FLORIDA PHARMACY TODAY
changing technology. So, what is our role in being a pharmacist? Is our primary role and professional title more than just filling a prescription? The answer is yes in a huge way! Our role and scope of practice more than meets the public eye. A pharmacist must provide: health assessments and screenings, immunizations and vaccines, medication therapy management services, patient education and counseling, and patient care plans in collaboration with a physician to ensure that each patient is receiving the utmost quality care.2 Now, with all that being said, a pharmacist cannot do all this alone. We must have help and we must work together. It is worth noting that pharmacy technicians play a critical role assisting pharmacists. Pharmacy techs are much appreciated by pharmacists and patients alike. Information technology has given pharmacists a whole new outlook and new methods to provide the absolute highest quality of patient care. The role of information technology in pharmacy practice is dynamic and not likely to lose any relevance. I believe we will see an increase in efficiency as we are able to
