Role in Health Care Team
For this interview, it was chosen to speak with a fellow peer working as a pharmacist. The role of professionals in this field is continuously evolving since the health care environment is always changing due to the impact of technologies, the greater involvement of patients in the process of care, as well as the increased focus of facilities on cutting costs and improving health outcomes for the population (Blouin & Adams, 2017). When asked about their participation in the health care team, the interviewee mentioned that their role was always expanding because of the significant shifts taking place in the areas of finance and the delivery of health care to the population. With over a hundred million US adults suffering from at least one chronic condition, the need for professional pharmacists is very high (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2018). The expertise of pharmacists is needed to facilitate the management of medication therapy, wellness counseling, services associated with disease prevention, and primary care. The most value offered by pharmacists occurs when they are involved in interdisciplinary teams that are usually documented with the help of collaborative practice agreements.
Defining Professionalism
As pharmacists have a high degree of responsibility when assigning medications to patients, the interviewee mentioned that considers professionalism to be an essential part of work. The pharmacist defined professionalism as a practice of adhering to one’s own values and standards while also following the pre-determined rules and regulations of the work environment. Professional responsibility influenced the work of the interviewee because of the need to be able to practice one’s discipline with empathy, integrity, consideration for the needs of others, and competency. Medication errors, which can occur due to the lack of professional responsibility, can significantly harm patients and lead to improper treatment, which has further implications for the care process.
Are Leaders Stewards of Health Care
The interviewee said that the leaders of a healthcare organization in which they worked were not stewards of health care. Rather, regular employees, such as shift nurses, physicians, managers, and even cleaners, were more involved in the process of caring for patients and reaching positive patient outcomes. In many instances, leaders at organizations were too busy dealing with the financial aspect of work, contacted potential investors and stakeholders to ensure that the facility is running smoothly. While there is a great benefit in these processes, the interviewee said that they would have liked to see more involvement of leaders with patient care in order to understand what the latter go through to manage or maintain their health.
Importance of Leaders for Professional Advocacy
When it comes to the importance of leaders in exercising professional advocacy and influence when working with colleagues, the interviewee mentioned that the participation of leaders was essential. As discussed previously, health care leaders can get caught up in the process of managing facilities and ensuring that everything goes to plan, failing to understand their role in encouraging professional advocacy and using their power to influence the process of care. Therefore, the interviewee said that the participation of leaders was imperative for not only guiding the process of care but also ensuring that all members of the interdisciplinary team understand their roles and responsibilities and move together toward a mutual goal. In order for everyone involved in the process of care, the power and influence of leaders are highly essential because they can positively impact the practice of other members of the team.
References
Blouin, R., & Adams, M. (2017). The role of the pharmacist in health care expanding and evolving. North Carolina Medical Journal, 78(3), 165-167.
Raghupathi, W., & Raghupathi, V. (2018). An empirical study of chronic diseases in the United States: A visual analytics approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 431.