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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Pharmacy Alumnus Speaks About Dynamic Changes in the Profession
Osmel Delgado, Pharm.D., Class of 2002
Nova Southeastern University’s College of Pharmacy Student Chapter of Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists welcomed alumni guest speaker, Osmel Delgado, Pharm.D., class of 2002, director of Pharmacy at Cleveland Clinic Florida and president of Southeast Society of Health-System Pharmacists at the February general meeting hosted by the College of Pharmacy.
Delgado spoke about the dynamic changes in the pharmacy profession. He indicated that with the current health care environment, the key is to improve quality of patient care while cutting costs. Data shows that pharmacists improve medication-use outcomes for patients when they are included in the patient-care team. Pharmacists, as medication-use experts, can play a substantial role in improving the clinical outcomes by increasing patient adherence and decreasing medication adverse events. However, despite pharmacists’ key role as practitioners, they are not recognized as patient care providers under social security act yet.
Delgado addressed the pharmacy students indicating that pharmacy students are standing on a historical point for the profession of pharmacy. Pharmacists can obtain the recognition and entitlement for payment for the patient care services that pharmacists already provide if by joining efforts to convince the state and federal legislators to pass the laws granting this status for pharmacists.
Delgado inspired students to take the initiative and be proactive beyond the classrooms and realize that in a few years, there might not be as many jobs for pharmacists as we know it today. He also stressed that if student pharmacists work alongside the current pharmacy practitioners, there will be a distinguished place for pharmacists as health care providers in the future of the United States, as it serves the goals of the health care reform.
Delgado concluded his presentation by encouraging students to consider attending Tallahassee Legislative Days to further educate themselves about the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI); Medication Therapy Management (MTM); and student pharmacist-administered immunizations as new standards of practice in the profession of pharmacy are set in motion.