scope:

The health care and pharmacy environments have changed substantially since the first edition of this book. Developments include the new Medicare prescription benefit, a growing emphasis on medication safety, and the dynamic technology driving safety in organized health care settings. Exploring these recent modifications, Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works, Second Edition encompasses all aspects of pharmacy, from the various roles of pharmacists to particular health care-related events to career-planning information.

The book first focuses on the core of pharmacy, providing an overview of the field and a chapter dedicated to pharmacists. After an examination of how drug products are developed, used, and priced, it discusses the important topics of pharmacy technicians, information technology, pharmacy automation, and pharmaceutical care. Subsequent chapters cover the various areas where pharmacists work, including in community, hospital, home health care, and government pharmacies. The book concludes with chapters on the pharmaceutical industry and career planning. Each chapter features learning objectives, summaries, discussion questions, exercises, Web sites of interest, and references.

Pharmacies have evolved from the corner drugstores of old. To help navigate the modern field of pharmacy, this text provides a well-written, organized introduction for new pharmacy students, pharmacy technician trainees, and practitioners.