Pediatric Pharmacist
Caring for a child can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in one’s lifetime. The parent and the child grow together, they learn what’s best for the child as time goes on. The pediatrician is a part of the growing and nurturing also, and everyone works together to ensure a long and healthy life ahead.
In the old days, the pediatrician would see the patient from the time they were babies all the way up to early adulthood, and they would supervise every aspect of their care. Today, however, due to the growing demand for a more specialized system and the need to reduce risks, there may be several pediatric workers involved in the care of one child. The pediatrician may have a whole team working together to optimize patient outcome, and the role of the pediatric pharmacist is to ensure proper medication treatments and to avoid dosage errors.
Why Do We Need Specific Pharmacists for Pediatrics?
Because children are new to the world and have yet to get to know their bodies, it may be difficult to assess illnesses or determine medication dosages. Pediatric pharmacists are trained to know how to correctly dose and dilute medications to meet the specific needs of a child, depending on height, weight, allergies, and other factors. Any dosage or dilution errors can be detrimental because children are more susceptible to harm by minor errors. To eliminate risk and ensure the best possible outcome for the young patients, it’s essential to have a pharmacist specifically trained in medication treatment for children.
What are the Challenges a Pediatric Pharmacist Faces?
Pharmaceuticals designed specifically for children are a relatively new concept, which means there’s a lot of information left to be discovered. This can be exciting for pediatric pharmacists because they are an integral part in any research or medication monitoring that can lead to major breakthroughs, but it can also prove challenging at times. There may not be sufficient published information and references regarding medication therapy for the young, and the FDA has yet to approve many pediatric medications.
One more obstacle for pediatric pharmacists is the communication barrier between children and adults. Children have not spent much time in their growing bodies, and they may not be used to all the different types of pain and ailments it can succumb to. This makes it difficult for them to communicate with their parents, their caregivers, and their pharmacists about what is wrong. Pediatric pharmacists need to be able to break down the language barrier to ensure the best possible outcome.
What’s in Store?
Children are the human race’s most precious resource. Parents would give anything to know they’re doing what’s best for their child, and everyday they learn more about how to nurture for the young one in their lives. Everyday there is new published research regarding the proper care of the young, including what sort of diet they should follow, how much exercise is necessary, and how to treat illnesses and allergies. With new research comes more innovations, and the pediatric pharmacy continues to grow and become an important part of the healthcare field.
The whole healthcare system is working toward creating a healthier future generation, and everyone from individual researchers to emergency department nurses is playing a hand, and the pharmacy industry is no exception. Whether it’s working behind the scenes to develop new medications for specific illnesses, or if it’s being on the frontline to communicate directly with the patients and dispense the drugs, pharmacists are diligently working to heal and prevent disease. Caring for the young requires compassion, understanding, and a willingness to explore new territories. It requires rigid meticulousness and a flash of creativity to push boundaries and take the field to new heights. If you’re interested in becoming a pediatric pharmacist, start early with a residency or research fellowship, join applicable organizations, and continue to search for jobs in pediatric pharmacies.
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