Pharmacist Presentation!

Thanks so much to Jim Avarett for coming to speak to us today for our Pre-Pharmacy Club Meeting!

Here are some notes from the presentation that we were able to enjoy in case you weren't able to make it:

• Pharmacy School
• Learned how to make lotions and shampoos, a little old school!
• Early 1900s, most drugs came from plants and were compounded 
• Powder papers:
• get powders, mix them up according to a formula, fold them up and give them to a patient to take in a drink or something (another old way to deliver medication)
• Old philosophy -- administer a type of poison and hope that it kills the bad stuff and doesn't kill you!
• Interning in a hospital
• A fun part about working in a hospital: Pneumatic tube delivery system to transport medicine throughout the hospital
• Unit Dose Machine - helped to cut down on waste in hospital
• Manual unit dose system: has a pre-print label and you can give people individual doses that can be re-administered to another patient if unused.
• Working in a clinic
• Decentralized pharmacy -- allowed pharmacists to be on the floor and saved lots of time because pharmacist was able to be on the floor and could communicate directly with the doctor if there were any issues.
• The nurses had lots of questions and could speak directly to the pharmacist
• Order input
• Technicians are able to stock a 24-hour supply of medication
• Order input is a big part of your time when working in a hospital pharmacy
• Need to analyze prescription when it comes in to the pharmacy -- any drug interactions, if it is the right dose, get to see the lab tests to see if the patient is improving or if there needed to be any changes.
• Working at BYU
• Change environment to retail -- a large part of working in retail is patient counseling
• Required by law now, give them information on why they are taking the drug, answer any questions
• Be aware of drug seekers! May try to forge a prescription, need to consult with a doctor
• Need to be aware of confidentiality -- very important in retail
• Knowledge of drugs in pregnancy
• Polypharmacy counseling -- maintain a drug profile record of all your patients, there are many chances for harmful interactions
• Need to be especially aware of interactions between natural products because they aren't regulated

Kaplan Practice Test

Mark your calendars, everyone!

I just got an email from Josh over at Kaplan, who wanted to let everyone know that the free PCAT practice test offered through Kaplan this semester will be on:

SEPTEMBER 24 at 9:30 a.m.

It will be held in the Tanner Building here on BYU Campus.

Registration information will be coming soon. This is a great opportunity to test out your skills for the PCAT and to see what areas you will need to study!

PharmCAS: Before You Begin

Are you starting to think about beginning your PharmCAS application? Great idea! Here are some tips from the PharmCAS website about what to do before you begin your application:

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICANTS

This checklist is intended to help you prepare your application, but is  not intended to be a 

substitute for the full application instructions. The PharmCAS application is only one step in 

the pharmacy admissions process. You must meet all PharmCAS and school requirements 

before your application will be processed and reviewed. 

• Read all PharmCAS instructions carefully. 
• If you wish, you may print your copy of the PharmCAS Application Instructions. 
• Create your PharmCAS login account immediately to obtain your PharmCAS ID number.  
• Use the "PharmCAS Transcript Request Form" to arrange for ALL of your OFFICIAL transcripts to be received PharmCAS office by the application deadline! If you do not submit the transcript request form with each your transcript, your application file may be delayed in processing.
• Enter  ALL of your U.S. coursework on your application using personal copies of your transcripts. Do not enter foreign courses. 
• Arrange for your PCAT, TOEFL, and TSE test  scores to be sent directly to PharmCAS, if required by your designated pharmacy schools. PharmCAS will match your PCAT scores to your application based on your PCAT CID. You MUST report your PCAT CID on your application.
• Submit the correct PharmCAS fee to the service by the pharmacy school deadline. Credit card payments are preferred. If mailing a money order, attach the completed PharmCAS 
• Payment Form. PharmCAS does not accept cash or check payments. 
• Review your application for accuracy. You cannot edit your application once it is e-submitted. 
• Print your completed application for your personal records. 
• Arrange for your summer and fall 2010 transcripts to be sent to PharmCAS as soon as they are available. Update your coursework during the Academic Update. 
• Check your email for important messages from PharmCAS.  Periodically check your e-mail spam folder. 
• Login to your application frequently to check the status of your application.   

Good Luck!