Pharmacists have a key role to play in healthcare, but it has little to do with dispensing drugs. Instead, pharmacists will become key players on patient-centered medical care teams. “Physicians are not good at medication management. Pharmacists are,” said Roger Merrill, MD, chief medical officer of Perdue Inc. “Pharmacists are good at drug interaction. Pharmacists are a trusted source of healthcare advice. And pharmacists provide value.”

Pharmacists are particularly good at medication counseling, Dr. Merrill told students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy during the annual Francis Balassone Memorial Lecture. “And when progressing into disease management, you are not stepping on anyone’s toes.”

I love my pharmacist who is found at the local, privately owned corner drugstore. I walk in and am immediately greeted by name. He also knows my children’s names, and my husband’s name, despite the fact we all have different sir names. Unfortunately the days of the personal one-on-one attention is lacking with the big chains. This statement from ModernMedicine reveals what a valuable team member the pharmacist is and how medication management should be handled in the future.