Like I said before, it's the person, not the company... if you have a good pharmacist, it doesn't matter where they're from.
I work for a big chain myself, and do the same things everyone else does, if not more.
I provide immunizations. In fact, I am an immunization trainer certified with the APHA that trains other pharrmacists to provide immunizations. My company is very keen on providing immunizations, and at least 95% of the pharmacists working in the company are trained to give shots.
I provide medication reviews. I was the first one in my company in all of BC to provide a medication review, and probably one of the first in BC period to provide them. I am also part of the medication management pilot, and conduct thorough discussions with my patients where problems are always found.
I run off site flu shot clinics, I write articles for magazines, I teach pharmacy students and certified technicians, I do presentations and talks in the community for corporations and community groups, I'm trained in central aortic blood pressure screening, and I'm an editor for a new publication coming out.
Thing is, most of these opportunities to go above and beyond clinically, and for the community/patients, were facilitated and encouraged through the "big faceless company" I work for. Head office is pushing hard for Pharmacists to perform clinical services, because that is the future. They know that also. I told head office that I wanted to have a computer setup in my counselling area so I can use it during my sit-down medication consults. And BAM! I get a new computer installed.
So what's the take home message? I believe it's not a matter of where or who you work for that determines the quality of the pharmacy care you provide. It depends on the pharmacist. So I still stand by the concept that as a pharmacist, if you're good, you can be good no matter where you work. If you don't give a shit, and are complacent, and could care less, then you'll suck even if you are put into the most clinical of all clinical pharmacies in the world.
No disrespect to independents, or chains alike. It doesn't matter what environment you work in because that part is just the job part. We all work wherever we can find someone to pay our wage... That part I understand.
If you are committed to your patients and to good patient care, then you will earn their respect and mines. So that's about it.
On a side note: we've begun a gift pile at my work for christmas to see how tall it gets before the new year. We're keeping it in plain view, and I think that's helping it get bigger because alot of people never think about thanking their pharmacy staff for all their help in the year... at least not until they see our gift pile hahaha...
