As a senior, your relationship with your pharmacist is more important than you think. When you go to a traditional pharmacist, you may receive your medications and a suggestion for a vaccine. However, a clinical pharmacist who has a relationship with both you as a patient and your physician can help make recommendations that could improve your health and well-being.

With that in mind, here are a few key reasons to consider working with a clinical pharmacist rather than simply visiting your local pharmacy.

Increased Trust

At a traditional pharmacy, you may or may not know the pharmacist at the counter who greets you and provides you with the medication you need. You may not know their educational background and may not feel like you can trust them on their word when they provide you with information. That isn’t the case with a clinical pharmacist. A clinical pharmacist will establish a patient-pharmacist relationship with you, so you can expect to speak to the same person every time. They know your medical history and can provide you with an in-depth insight into your physicians’ prescriptions.

Greater Recommendations

While a traditional pharmacist may provide you with the option to get a vaccine or not, a clinical pharmacist can provide you with greater medical recommendations based on your medical history.

For example, you might decline a flu vaccine from a traditional pharmacist because you may not think you would benefit from it. However, your clinical pharmacist may recommend you get the flu vaccine because, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, older adults are six times more likely to experience complications from the flu.

With that knowledge, you may be more likely to get the flu vaccine and less likely to experience complications of the flu. In fact, a study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that up to 41% of those receiving pharmacist care received a flu shot compared to the 10% of those not receiving pharmacist care.

You’re also more likely to receive specified recommendations from a clinical pharmacist. For example, if your physician knows that your family has a history of cancer, your pharmacist consultant can recommend that you get screened more periodically, which can help you catch any potential cancer sooner rather than later.

If you’re interested in the advantages that a clinical pharmacist can offer you, such medication management and other senior care resources, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced and professional team at Our Care Solutions LLC. Our resources for senior care are second to none, and you can rest assured when you choose to work with us that we have your best interests at heart. Contact us today to get started!