Like many other careers in healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry is very diverse and has many different job options available. Though two popular choices amongst healthcare professionals are clinical pharmacy and retail (or community) pharmacy. Retail pharmacists work in-store while clinical pharmacists work directly with physicians and patients in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
Both roles offer endless opportunities and benefits and help to improve the lives of patients through expert knowledge of medicines. Though if you’re struggling to decide which pharmaceutical role would be a better fit for you or are interested in learning more about them in general and how they differ, then we have put together a useful guide outlining what separates the two.
Clinical Pharmacist vs Pharmacist
Both roles have a lot in common in terms of education, training, skills and knowledge, but there are some key differences in responsibilites for each role that make the day-to-day experience vary.
Clinical Pharmacist
Clinical pharamcists can collaborate with other pharmacists in the industry, such as those working at the hospital or retail pharmacy. Unlike retail pharmacists, they spend the majority of their day liaising with other medical professionals to ensure safe dispensing of medications to patients. Health professionals that have qualified as a clinical pharmacist will have trained for years to become specialists in medicine that can:
Work directly with patients as part of the GP team to ensure high standards of care
Provide expert advice to patients on medicine, including answering any questions they might have on either the treatment they are receiving or about to receive
Help to improve the quality of life for patients by advising on life changes to promote health and wellbeing
Complete annual reviews on medicine for patients who are receiving treatment for long periods of time to discuss effectiveness
Carry out health checks
Help to explain changes in medication to patients in hospital so that they are appropriately informed and advised on the course of action
Retail Pharmacist
If you’re fresh out of training and looking to start your pharmaceutical career, then retail pharmacy may be the better choice as it involves less stress and pressure than clinical pharmacy. Retail pharmacists are often the heart of their local communities and can be found working in a retail setting rather in a hospital or GP surgery.
In comparison to a clinical pharmacist, their role is predominately public-facing as they fill medication orders placed by doctors and are also responsible for:
Dispensing medications correctly for patients to use at home
Educating patients on their medications and answering any questions they might have
Reviewing patients’ medications to ensure that there aren’t any issues with the way they interact
The role of a Clinical Pharmacist in general practice
Clinical pharmacists can often be found working in general practice as there are many benefits to having them as part of the wider team. Not only do they ease workloads and improve care provision, but they also reduce waiting times for patients and A&E admissions, as they:
Are the point of contact for all medicine-related queries
Take on routine tasks such as medicine reviews and prescription requests
Review patients on complex medicine regimens
Respond to acute medicine requests
Manage and prescribe medicine to patients who have long-term conditions
Free up time for GPs who can refocus on attending to patients