Many of us are familiar with picking up a prescription at a pharmacy. Behind the scenes is a complex operation involving trained professionals. In this episode of Jobman Caravan, host Bill Terrell dives into the field of pharmacy. After viewing this episode, viewers will learn about the diverse roles of pharmacists in community and hospital settings, the education required, and the various career paths available. It's a jam-packed episode full of information still relevant today for anyone seeking this career path.
Pharmacy involves preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing drugs. This profession has been in practice for hundreds of years. Today's pharmacists are members of healthcare teams, which include physicians, nurses, and public health officials. Their specific duties depend on their specialties and where they are employed. Three types of pharmacists are introduced in this episode.
Community Pharmacy: Bonnie Frinks, a community pharmacist, explains how her job consisted of filling prescriptions and the importance of providing the best services by making sure patients receive the proper medication.
Hospital Pharmacy: Frank Woods, a pharmacist at the Veterans Administration Hospital, fills prescriptions and prepares I.V. medication for patients in the hospital. A hospital pharmacist may make rounds with physicians, counsel patients and advise physicians on orders that have been written for patients.
Retail Pharmacy: Marion Jamison, owner of Jamison's Pharmacy, explained how he needed to obtain the necessary licenses for his business. Securing the right personnel who are honest, dependable and had good interpersonal skills was important. As an owner, he has to be knowledgeable about prescriptions and stay on top of record keeping.
If interested in a career in pharmacy, a strong background in math and chemistry is encouraged. Pharmacy is often a five-year program with two years of pre-pharmacy and three years of pharmacy. After completing the five years, internships of 1500 hours are required. To practice in South Carolina, one must take the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy examination.
Hosted by Bill Terrell, Jobman Caravan garnered SCETV its first Emmy Award in 1969, just one year after the show premiered. The show was groundbreaking and educated audiences about career opportunities and job interview techniques, traveled to a different town every week with a mobile TV unit, and featured popular musical acts.
Side Note
Interested in learning more about pharmacy, the following South Carolina schools have pharmacy programs:
Did you know that Jamison's Pharmacy still serves the community of Orangeburg, South Carolina? Learn more - Jamison's Pharmacy is a staple in the Orangeburg community (WLTX).
