Ali Mourad
Jule Wallis
Eng 3010
18 September 2010
Pharmacy Discourse
People use communication as a tool to express ideas and interact with one another. As
they take on roles in life they develop ways of communicating with different people. How they
use language and cultivate acceptable forms of speaking and writing in secluded groups who
share similar thoughts and ideas define discourse. Each discourse community is specific and
unique to its members. There are discourse communities all around us and we participate in more
than one whether it be socializing with friends, spending time with family or being a student.
These communities make people more functional and productive while allowing individuals to
hold a bound sense of purpose and goal in mind. Discourse communities allow professionals to
collaborate and advance within their fields. With our aspirations to achieve a position in a
particular discipline, there come preset expectations for our methods of communication and
interaction that we must conform to. This is an exceptional concern for pharmacists who in many
respects rely on discourse for their entire career. Pharmacists need to be analytical drug and
communication specialists in every aspect of their profession, utilizing speech, reading, writing,
and research in their discourse
It is difficult to understand the inner workings of pharmaceutical discourse
without experiencing it first-hand or being formally introduced. Interviews with Dr. Hanley
Abramson and Dr. David Edwards from the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College
of Pharmacy & Health Sciences have helped me to establish ground in pharmaceutical discourse.
Dr. Abramson is an experienced researcher and professor who has completed numerous
publications. Dr. Edwards shared with me his knowledge in pharmacy practice and clinical
research. With these experts’ first hand experiences in both academic and professional pharmacy
settings, I was able to gain perspective in the different types of work pharmacists do. I gained
valuable insight to the research and retail applications of discourse in pharmacy.
Prior to researching pharmaceutical discourse, I followed the perception that pharmacists
only communicated verbally and did not do much scientific writing. I came to the realization that
when most people think of a pharmacist they visualize someone reading a prescription and
dispensing drugs even though this is far from the truth. Most people are oblivious to what goes
on behind the counter and in research institutes. My interview subjects are well established in
pharmacy and have a great deal of understand of what happens in all aspects of the
pharmaceutical realm. Pharmacists have responsibilities in conducting research, being current
with advancing drugs and medical application, administering medications, monitoring patient
information, and being on track with physicians and other members of the health field. No one
really thinks about the time and effort taken in completing research reports, drafting manuals or
writing publications. Practicing pharmacists are expected to be current with new drugs by
referring to clinical papers, professional journals, drug company technical documents, and online
sources. I was astounded to find out about the communication skills, research techniques, and
writing methods involved in pharmacy both academically and professionally.
Each type of discourse community is exclusive to those who are qualified to participate in
the field of study. Those who are interested in science and have desire to communicate and help
people are encouraged to meet the qualifications of the discourse community. According to Dr.
Edwards, an individual becomes a pharmacist by graduating from an accredited pharmacy
program and passing requirements set by the state board. There is a large amount of dedication
and work involved. This is because of the level of professionalism required for pharmacists. Part
of the curriculum involved in becoming a pharmacist requires courses in ethical standards.
Pharmacists follow a code of ethics that they must abide by to protect the confidentiality and
well-being of patients. Pharmacists are highly educated and distinguished as role models in most
communities because they exhibit qualities that most strive to achieve. Pharmacists provide care
to patients, promote public health, and educate patients. An important expectation for
pharmacists is the manners in which these professionals conduct themselves. Pharmacists are
expected to behave professionally at all times. Some pharmacists choose to wear a white lab
coat, which gives them an authoritative appearance in the pharmacy. It also suggests a sense of
cleanliness and organizational structure. The attire and appeal of the pharmacy gives the
profession a justified look compared to the outside view of the world, which is not so structurally
intact and at often times shows its corrupt avenues. People inheritably judge by appearance,
encouraging pharmaceutical practices strive to be neat, clean, and as efficient as possible. It all
reflects the level of professionalism and the way patients are treated is of upmost importance.
Those who are interested in professional behavior, organized structure, helping people, and
involvement in science are not encouraged to join this community. Anyone who can find interest
in the field and is willing to study and partake in the norms and values of a pharmacist is
welcome.
Pharmaceutical discourse is not limited to only pharmacists. Members of the health and
science communities are valuable participants. According to Dr. Edwards, pharmacists
communicate professionally with physicians, technicians, and nurses depending on where the
pharmacist practices (Personal Communication Sept 14 2010). Pharmacists need to be able to
effectively communicate with physicians and nurses in order to properly administer medication
to patients. The interaction between physicians and pharmacists is imperative for avoiding
mistakes and potentially threatening a patient’s life. Pharmacists rely on doctors to properly
diagnose a patient and prescribe treatment. Pharmacists are more knowledgeable about drugs and
their abilities. Dr. Edwards further stated that “medication use continues to be one of the most
important aspects of treating human disease and being able to help patients and advise physicians
and nurses as to the best options for drug treatment is important.” Pharmacists are able to
recommend drugs that are more beneficial to the patient. Dr. Abramson explained to me that if a
physician makes a mistake while prescribing medication, the pharmacist is there to scrutinize
every drug. The pharmacist is aware of whether the right drug is being prescribed if there will be
interaction between drugs, and if the dosage is correct (Personal Communication).
Communication between pharmacists and other member of discourse is important for the safety
of the person consuming the drug.
In order for these professionals from different fields to engage in meaningful and serious
discussion they utilize specific language. The way a pharmacist speaks to colleagues is very
different to the ways he or she would speak to a patient. Dr. Abramson explained to me that
pharmacists are trained to understand complex drugs and their uses which require a vocabulary
almost entirely on its own. Pharmacists use terminology that helps them describe drug properties,
parts of the body, and techniques. This is useful because all pharmacists can understand it as well
as medical professionals and scientists. According to Dr. Edwards, Members of the pharmacy,
heath, science community, and other collaborating efforts meet to in accordance to local,
regional, and national organizations such as the American Pharmacists Association, and
Michigan Pharmacists Association. Dr. Hanley made a conjunction between his experiences
working in a pharmacy and speaking with groups about sport-enhancing drugs. He states, “I have
to be able to bring down the effects they have on the body down to their level.” If Dr. Abramson
were to explain the complications of body enhancing drugs on the body to his pharmacy
students, it would be entirely different than if he were to be speaking to a group of athletes. Not
just anyone would be able to understand the information. Pharmacists need to be dynamic in
their communication abilities.
Dr. Edwards mentioned that pharmacists need to be able to interact with patients.
Sometimes people are unwilling to take drugs, so a pharmacist explains to patients the important
information about drugs and how they need to use them. Pharmacists tell patients how much of a
drug needs to be taken, at what time, and also how the drugs work and what they should try to
avoid in order to avoid problems. At other times, patients may not be able to afford the drugs
they need or their insurance does not cover it. A pharmacist who cares about the patient will look
for alternative treatments. Pharmacists that are located within residential communities provide a
more convenient and social interaction with patients. Often times, local pharmacists are members
of the community that people can trust and look to for advice on medication. The relationship
between the professional and patients is strong and pharmacists are able to communicate with
patients more effectively. In the hospital setting, pharmacists have a more involved role in
patient care. Compared to nurses and physicians, pharmacists are experts in medication therapy.
They are better equipped to counsel patients and verify the proper drug and dosage. For this to be
possible, members of the health sciences need to be current with new drugs and discoveries.
Pharmacists who generally focus on research and the development of new drugs know
that they are working in a continuously evolving field. This type of pharmacist must also make
use of their discourse techniques because their work is part of a collaborative effort. Dr.
Abramson explained that there is a long process involved in drug research and development. He
emphasized agencies such as the Federal Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection
Agency impact pharmacy. Developing and distributing drugs is highly regulated and researchers
need to be able to produce “truck-loads” of paperwork to back them for approval (Personal
Communication). Pharmacists write documents, clinical papers, technical documents, reports,
etc. to validate their drug research and advance in different phases of drug creation. Researchers
communicate their ideas and discoveries to the world through many different forms of media.
This new information helps other members of the health and sciences discourse to treat patients
in the best way possible. The spread of information and ideas is largely done through writing.
Being a researcher himself, Dr. Abramson summarized his process. He reads and gathers
information, correlates information, and synthesizes it into a publication. Dr. Abramson referred
to his bookshelf where he had multiple books he was reading for one publication. He also uses
web databases to find peer reviewed documents. I was surprised to learn that Dr. Abramson no
longer does experiments in the lab. Most of his recent publications are based entirely on
“reviewing the literature.” Writing is not limited to researchers; pharmacists of varying degrees
utilize it.
There are many application of writing involved in pharmacy practice. Some of the most
commonly associated documentations are patient records. Pharmacists keep a track records of
what drugs and dosages have been administered, the doctor who prescribed them and when. Dr.
Abramson mentioned that when pharmacists input what drugs a patient is taking, specialized
computer programs acknowledge the pharmacist if the drugs will interact or harm the patient.
Medical records are also important in case of future ailments, physicians and surgeons would be
able to find out about conditions that may have developed as a result. Pharmacists also write
reports for patients and produce labels that patients can refer to for their medication regimens.
Another important aspect of writing is the process of becoming a pharmacist. In order to
become a member of the pharmaceutical community, a great deal of time must be dedicated to
academics. In order pursue the curriculum, students are expected to complete numerous papers.
Not only is writing a part of grasping concepts but it is also used in the Pharmacy College
Admission Test (PCAT), a standardized test used to determine if students qualify for pharmacy
school. A portion of the test is composing essays to determine analytical skills and knowledge.
Writing helps assess the student’s ability to communicate ideas and think clearly, an important
part of becoming a pharmacist. Upon admission to pharmacy school, students need to use the
American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. After graduating
pharmacy school and being awarder certification, there are several paths a graduate can choose
to take. They can either join a pharmaceutical company, work in a hospital, or do retail
pharmacy. Each type of pharmacist uses writing differently, but essentially they all follow the
same discourse community. They also all share the common interest of helping people.
After conducting these interviews and researching the pharmacy field further, I have
gained valuable insight. I can fully appreciate the use of writing and communication in
pharmacy. Discourse communities are important parts of interacting and advancing in almost any
field. By expanding my knowledge on the principals and standards taught in professional
pharmaceutical discourse, I am more aware of what the future may hold. This opportunity to
explore pharmacy has reinforced my interest and aspirations to one day becoming a pharmacist.