Chiropractic Healing Works

3 Services Offered At A Pharmacy

24 August 2020 by Charlie Berry

Most people think of the pharmacy as a place to pick up prescription drugs. While this is certainly true, there are other services a pharmacy provides that some people might not even know about.

Here are three services offered at a pharmacy.

1. Immunizations

A medical clinic or doctor's office is probably the first place a person thinks of when it comes to getting immunized. However, many pharmacies also provide immunizations. Some of the most common immunizations people can get at their local pharmacy include:

• Influenza
• Hepatitis
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Pneumonia
• Shingles
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
• Chickenpox

Some pharmacies also provide immunizations for those who travel outside the country. These kinds of immunizations include typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal disease, and rabies.

One major benefit of getting immunized at the pharmacy is that there is usually no appointment required. While pharmacies will file a claim for the immunizations, the patient will still need to pay a copay, or whatever kind of payment their insurance plan requires.

2. Medication Management

It's a physician's job to prescribe medication, but it's a pharmacist's job to know if that medication will cause any negative reactions. This is called medication management. In some cases, certain medications should not be taken with one another. For example, when a sedative is taken with allergy medications, it can cause the person to have a slower reaction time.

Some prescription drugs can also interact with certain foods, beverages, supplements, and over-the-counter medications. Drug interactions might also occur when someone has a certain medical condition. For instance, someone with high blood pressure might have a negative reaction when they take a nasal decongestant. A pharmacist can help to prevent these types of negative reactions.  

3. Medical Supplies

Most pharmacies sell a variety of medical supplies. Some of these supplies might be in demand due to medical emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of these types of supplies include:

• Hand sanitizer
• Masks
• Vinyl medical gloves
• Infrared thermometers

Many pharmacies also sell ointments, laxatives, and other specialty medications that don't need a prescription but aren't sold over-the-counter. A pharmacy might also sell herbal supplements, essential oils, and other natural remedies, including CBD oil.

Certain pharmacies can even help patients order durable medical equipment they might need in order to care for themselves at home. This type of equipment includes walking canes, crutches, nebulizers, compression stockings, and oxygen supplies.  

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