Caring

Ethics states: 
"A pharmacist respects the covenantal relationship between the patient
and pharmacist". 
•   So what does this mean? Why is it important?
•   What is caring?
•   What are covenantal relationship?
•   What do these concepts have to do with our code of ethics and the need for our profession commit itself to these concepts?
Pharmaceutical Care: is the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient s quality of life.
There are 4 criteria should be considered :
1. The provider must possess knowledge & skill in pharmaceutics & clinical pharmacology .
2. The provider must be able to mobilize the drug distribution system according to the  drug-use decisions and implementations.
3. The provider must be able to develop the relationships with patient and other health professionals needed to provide pharmaceutical care.
4. The provider must be available in society in sufficient numbers.
• Pharmaceutical  care  requires  a much  more  intensive  relationship between the pharmacist and patient.
• Information must be provided and understood by both patient and pharmacist.
• The problems that the patient has now or has had with medication must be solved in such a way that is not life threatening.
• Appropriate medication regimens must be oriented to the needs of the individual patient, not the needs of the provider. Concerns that patients have about their illness or treatment must be addressed in a way that not minimizes the concerns.
All these indicate that pharmaceutical care requires caring but what does caring mean?
It means attending to the need of others, making the concern of others paramount ; when pharmacists make themselves available to patients they relive some of their patient s sense of fear and loneliness.
Some questions
•   Can I permit myself to enter into the private world of my patient, explore their feelings without judging them and in some honest way respond in a manner that lets them know that I have listened and I want to provide whatever assistance or comfort that I can?
•   Can I see this person as having a unique reaction to his illness?
•   Can I learn enough about this person so that insight or assistance I give is likely to be useful?
Pharmacists may say they don t have time or do not get paid to render pharmaceutical care, we ll ask some questions:
? If a patient come to your pharmacy and you know that the drug
prescribed would kill him, given the patient s  prior medical history,
would you intervene despite how busy you were and whether you don t get paid?