Pharmacists have played a vital role in the PHS over the last 100 years. While most pharmacists have been clinicians, many have also served in administrative, regulatory, or research roles. Pharmacists serve in either the PHS Commissioned Corps, a Uniformed Service, or the Federal Civil Service. As of October 1999 there were 750 pharmacists in the PHS Commissioned Corps and over 300 in Civil Service.
The greatest need is for clinical pharmacists to work with medically underserved populations. Most PHS pharmacists begin their careers in a clinical setting, advancing to senior clinical positions or moving to research or administration. There has been however, an increase in the direct entry of new graduates into �non-traditional� pharmacy practice assignments, such as with the FDA. The PHS hires both Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy graduates.
Indian Health Service
Many new pharmacy graduates begin their PHS careers in the (IHS). Today, there are approximately 500 pharmacists in the IHS and of this number 385 are in the PHS Commissioned Corps. Clinical pharmacy services are provided to 1.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives living on or near reservations located in 34 states. The largest number of facilities are in the southwest. Pharmacists are fully integrated into the health care team in the provision of pharmaceutical care. The majority of IHS facilities are computerized and have private consultation rooms.
- At inpatient facilities, services provided include pharmacokinetics, physician rounding, unit dose and IV additive services.
- At ambulatory facilities, pharmacists provide primary care, review the patient's health record for appropriateness of drug therapy, make interventions with providers, and counsel all patients on their medications.
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employs over 400 pharmacists to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs, biologics, and device products. Locations range from FDA headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, to one of 150 cities nationwide with FDA operations. FDA pharmacists may work:
- in pharmacology, toxicology, radiopharmacology, and pharmacokinetics;
- on new drug applications and adverse reaction reports;
- as field inspectors and consumer safety officers; or
- on expert advisory committees and review panels.
Bureau of Prisons
More than 135 pharmacists currently work in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Practice settings range from ambulatory care sites to 550-bed hospitals. Both urban and rural sites are available throughout the U.S. The variety of assignments is expected to grow with the BOP opening 20 new prisons in the next 5 years. A wide range of professional opportunities exist for new as well as experienced pharmacists.
Determining drug selection criteria, performing pharmacy interventions, and providing patient counseling and education are important responsibilities for every BOP pharmacist. A new state of the art computer program allows pharmacists to maximize their presence. Every pharmacist can make a critical impact on the quality of health care in each facility.
National Institutes of Health
Most National Institutes of Health (NIH) pharmacists work at the Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, a 450-bed research hospital and laboratory complex. Pharmacists and pharmacy residents team with physicians to design, implement, and evaluate over 1,200 investigational drug regimens each year. Their needs include:
- staff pharmacists with at least 1 year of hospital experience.
- specialized pharmacists with a postgraduate degree and at least 1 year of clinical work in their specialty.
- trained radio-pharmacists, to work in nuclear medicine.
Also, the NIH's Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease and of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, as well as its National Cancer Institute, employ pharmacists in clinical and administrative positions. |
