Welcome to Engage4Rx! I am Dr. Penny Shelton, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University. "Engagement for Advancement" just might be an appropriate tagline for this blog, since the vision behind the the launch of Engage4Rx is to help teach and engage student pharmacists on issues important to the profession and patient care. Yet, Engage4Rx is not just for students. My quest with this blog includes the hope that practicing pharmacists of all settings will join our dialogue. Engage4Rx is open to anyone who recognizes that awareness and engagement are essential for the advancement of our profession.
The role of the pharmacist is quickly evolving as a provider of direct care for the purpose of monitoring medication therapy outcomes. Yet, our image, not just among the general public, but among policymakers and other health providers has not kept pace. Despite pharmacists continuing to rank very high in the Gallup "most trustworthy professions" poll year after year, most individuals outside of our profession, would be hard pressed to describe the abilities and role of the pharmacist beyond that of a dispenser of medications.
Anyone working in healthcare today, including pharmacists, can quickly become overwhelmed by the degree of change. It is almost as though we could see the essence of change whizzing by, if only we had the time to sit perfectly still . Healthcare reform, evolving models of care, technological advances, legislative and regulatory changes, and new payment structures make it difficult to keep up and wrap our minds around exactly what is happening. Keeping up is a must or rather a minimum requirement. In fact, as a profession we need to be out in front of many of these issues, helping to advocate and drive change that is mutually beneficial and appropriate for patients and pharmacy.
If we are not informed, if we are not engaged, if we are not advocating, then are we fulfilling our duty? Are we not falling short on our professional obligations? Have you read the APHA Oath of a Pharmacist lately? Hopefully Engage4Rx will help inform and serve as a forum for "engagement for advancement". May our journey together begin, now!
