Pharmacy career more than dispensing drugs
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 09/01) - Glenn Whiteway's Grade 9 science project offered him a telling glimpse of his future as a pharmacist.
"It was on hormones and plant growth. I didn't mess around with the bubbling volcanoes," he said with a laugh.
National Pharmacy Awareness Week, March 5-11, has allowed the Stanton Regional Hospital pharmacist an avenue to promote his profession.
"People don't know the behind the scenes things pharmacists can do," Whiteway said.
The majority of Yellowknife's 11 licenced pharmacists work at in-store pharmacies.
At Stanton, Whiteway and Mike Peeters fill 250 in-house prescriptions from a selection of 800 tablets, syrups, creams, injections and inhalers each day. They are assisted by two pharmacy technicians -- the department's backbone with their combined 20 years of service.
But there's more to the job, Whiteway said, much more.
The dynamic drug detectives, work in close consultation with doctors and nurses. They'll whip up exotic eye drops and chemotherapy medicine upon request. They travel to Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay) and Fort Smith to discuss new medications with health centre nurses. They work with patient care teams in the field of asthma, palliative care, dialysis and cancer. First and foremost, they ensure the correct drugs are heading to the right patients.
"All those things keep the job interesting, Whiteway said.
Peeters, who joined Stanton's pharmacy department in July, said the field is growing.
"Drugs coming on to the market have increased exponentially and we've got to stay current," Peeters said.
The most commonly dispensed drugs are cardiac medication -- a reflection of widespread heart disease in the NWT and across Canada. One of the most expensive drugs in stock is the Alteplase. A one-shot heart attack injection carries with it a lofty $2,700 price tag.
Drugs with "abuse potential" like pain killers and sedatives are kept under lock and key.
The tempting tablets are monitored by security and subject to a strict tracking system.
What makes Stanton's pharmacy department unique is the $1 million volume and variety of drugs moving from shelves and on to wards, clinics and into bathroom cabinets each year.
And don't be fooled by the myth that "natural" drugs are safe, especially when taken in combination with prescription medication.
"Everyone thinks because something is herbal they can't get into trouble.
Herbs are good things but you can't think it's just like drinking a cup of tea," Whiteway said.
"There are risks, as with all drugs."
