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Pharmacy Manager - Career Profile |
Career OverviewMost pharmacies assign not only a director but one or more managers to provide leadership and business initiative to the pharmacy’s activities. Like pharmacy directors, pharmacy managers are trained pharmacists, usually with several years practical experience and an interest in overseeing business practices and implementing quality improvement.
Pharmacy managers tend to have a wide scope of influence and a range of responsibilities, not only to the individual pharmacy to which they are affiliated, but also to the wider community that the pharmacy serves.
Incumbent upon most management level positions are day-to-day operations of programs within the pharmacy. This may include organizing and planning events and schedules, selecting and training staff, evaluating pharmacy services, and supervising pharmacy staff to ensure. Their principle goal is to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
The pharmacy manager must be resourceful and adaptable to a variety of situations. They typically work closely with a team of pharmacy staff, including pharmacists and pharmacy clerks, under the pharmacy director.
The manager may develop and oversee the implementation of policies for patient care, such as record keeping, prescription tracking, and general assisting. They may also provide counseling to patients who have specific questions about prescriptions or conditions that may require over-the-counter medication.
Whilst most pharmacy managers are employed in commercial settings, many also serve very specific groups, such as outpatients, managing outpatient clinics. In most circumstances, pharmacy managers are called upon to organize, prioritize and schedule work assignments for a group of staff, to communicate with both patients and staff about medical issues.
They must generally oversee the maintenance of recordkeeping systems and procedures, and set fundamental policies for counseling patients, dealing with emergency situations, and reviewing medical and technical information relative to the distribution of pharmaceuticals.
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Career RequirementsThe minimum qualification for pharmacists is graduation from an accredited school of pharmacy amounting to a doctor of pharmacy degree. Pharmacists must also have a valid license to practice in their state; pharmacy managers are required to keep this license current.
Most positions for manager pharmacists look for at least three years experience practicing as a general pharmacist and some positions require advanced degrees, including masters or doctorate level degrees in sciences or business management.
Candidates must typically demonstrated familiarity with computers and pharmacy related software so that they can undertake basic tasks to maintain records and update prescription information.
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Job OutlookThe demand for pharmacy managers is expected to increase over the next decade. The job outlook is positive because the elderly population of the United States, one of the fastest-growing population segments, is also one of the largest consumers of pharmaceuticals.
Most management opportunities are expected within the larger institutions, including hospital pharmacies, where there are more general pharmacy staff and more tasks to be coordinated and managed by a qualified candidate.
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Career TrackPharmacy managers have a variety of environments in which they can work. They can work as administrators for community pharmacies or they can find employment with institutions and agencies, including hospitals, the military, schools, V.A. hospitals, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Indian health programs.
In community and hospital pharmacies, advancement to managerial positions is generally easiest for those who have worked within the institution. With advanced degrees, through most other organizations, it is possible to advance to teaching, administrative, and research positions, depending on individual interests.
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CompensationThe compensation for pharmacy managers varies across the field. Most earn between $70,000 and $100,000 per year. Earning are high in most cases, because pharmacy managers are sometimes required to work long hours during the week, and be flexible to work nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
Despite the potential for a large work load, most pharmacy managers do receive benefits such as disability insurance, retirement benefits, medical benefits, and paid vacation time, allotted annual. Job security is also relatively good given the nature of the work.
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