I had a house officer, or perhaps a newly qualified medical doctor, come into the pharmacy for an antibiotic cream this week.
He wasn’t dressed in a way that suggested he was medically inclined, and he wasn’t a physician I already knew, so I asked what he wanted to use it for.
He started describing the symptoms using medical terminology, and that was when I realized he was a medical doctor.
I asked whether the cream was actually the best option. We discussed the nature of the symptoms, the extent of the affected area, and the patient’s profile.
He asked if there were better alternatives, and I told him that if we were specifically talking about creams, the one he requested was appropriate. However, given the extent of the condition, I would have preferred an oral option.
He then gave me some additional information about the patient, including the absence of fever, how many days old the patient was, and something about the primary caregiver.
At that point, I understood the clinical context and gave him what he needed. Shikena.
I’ve interacted with several other healthcare professionals, and one thing I always try to do is respect the other person’s experience and knowledge.
Why?
I know I don’t know shiii. 😂
I know there is still a lot to learn, and believe me, that attitude has helped me quite a bit.
The first time I read about high-dose amoxicillin in paediatrics for acute otitis media, I stored it somewhere in my head.
Months later, I saw a prescription for a high dose and only needed the patient’s symptoms to understand the prescriber’s intent.
If I didn’t know about the use of high-dose amoxicillin at the time, I would still have been within my professional right to flag it.
That is also why I encourage my externs to study both sides of a condition: the diagnosis and the pharmacotherapy, but to focus more deeply on pharmacotherapy.
You should understand what the doctor is trying to treat, but you should also understand what the drug is doing, why that drug was selected, whether the dose makes sense, what the alternatives are, what to monitor, and when you should question the prescription.
I’ve interacted with “dispense as such” physicians too sha. 😂
But I make sure they know that I am not that kind of pharmacist.
Na there my ego sef dey pump. 😪😂
You come correct, and I’ll respect your clinical judgment.
You come anyhow, and I will show you that I can replicate your behavior. 😂
Prescribed a higher dose of amoxicillin for a child and the pharmacist flagged it .
I went and we discussed the rational why higher doses of same drug was to be used in those particular scenario.
Very matured and healthy collaboration.