About Your Pharmacist Learning About Your Pharmacist Pharmacists are the principal resource to patients and other health professionals in assuring appropriate use of and optimal therapeutic outcomes from medications. Pharmacists provide what has come to be known as pharmaceutical care. The principal goal of pharmaceutical care is to achieve positive outcomes from the use of medication that improves patients' quality of life. Pharmacists are professionals, uniquely prepared and available, committed to public service and to the achievement of this goal.
Pharmacists are a vital part of a complete health care system.
Nearly everyone is familiar with community pharmacists and the pharmacy in which they practice. Six out of every ten pharmacists provide care to patients in a community setting. You probably visit the community pharmacist more often than you do any other member of the health team. Pharmacists practice in a number of other health care settings as well, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, health maintenance organizations, and others. Pharmacists serve patients and the community by providing information and advice on health, providing medications and associated services, and by referring patients to other sources of help and care, such as physicians, when necessary.