Pharmacists ply their particular practice in a variety of places including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and drug stores. Pharmacists can specialize in any of the various areas of practice that include but aren’t limited to: hematology and/or oncology, nutritional support, drug information, pediatrics, and a host of other specialties.
A pharmacy, which was once known as an Apothecary, is the place where most pharmacists practice their profession. Generally it is a community pharmacy which is often owned by the practicing Pharmacist.
Community pharmacies are most usually a retail storefront with the pharmacy in a part of the store where the pharmacist dispenses medications. The dispensary is subject to pharmacy legislation with the usual requirements for storage, compulsory texts, equipment, medications and various other regulatory items specified in legislation. Once upon a time it was the job of the pharmacists to stay within the dispensary concocting and dispensing the medicines. Now there is an increasing trend towards the use of well-trained technicians so the pharmacist can spend more time communicating with patients.
It is also a part of the regulations that pharmacies have a pharmacist on-duty at all times when they are open. In many areas it is also required that the owner of a pharmacy must be a registered pharmacist although this requirement has been revoked in many places. Many places such as supermarkets now include a pharmacy as a department of the store.
