Jim and Edna

Jim and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out.

When the medical director became aware of Edna's heroic act, he immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital as he now considered her to be mentally stable. When he went to tell Edna the news he said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient. I have concluded that your act displays a sound mind.

The bad news is, Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself right after you saved him, with his bathrobe belt in the bathroom. I am so sorry, but he's dead."

Edna replied "He didn't hang himself. I put him there to dry."

Part-Time Job Vacancy for Pharmacy Students

We are a licensed community pharmacy located at Desa Sri Hartamas,Kuala Lumpur.

We are looking for pharmacy students in your school to join our company as part-time pharmacy assistants.

Our company pays RM 6.00 per hour for successful candidates.Our pharmacy opens from 10.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Sunday.Interested students could discuss with us the working hours that suit his/her free time.

I am a registered pharmacist with 20 years' working experience. I am
confident that the successful candidates will have an enriching
working experience in our pharmacy that complements what they learn at school.

We are most grateful if you could disseminate this information to
the pharmacy students in your school. Please let me know should you have
further enquiries.

Regards,

Chau Ken Soon
Pharmacist / Manager
Pills & Potions Pharmacy Sdn Bhd
( Co: 685930-T)
34 ( Ground Floor ) JLN 27/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: 03 23001139
HP: 012 2105034


I want,I want but I feel I would definitely fail the interview cause I can't speak chinese.Sigh.............I will face and try my best to overcome this barrier.Jia you,jia you,jia you

Concisely explain how you would overcome barriers in communication (environmental, personal, patient, administrative, financial, time).

I strongly believe a good communication is important in ensuring quality healthcare delivery to the patients. There are many factors that can be barrier in communication but how would I overcome the barriers?

A non conducive environment such as at the dispensing counter which sometimes can be noisy affect my interaction with the patients. I would prefer to have an open counter and a private room as the counter acts as a barrier which prevent me from having a more personal and private communication with the patients.

My personal factor can also hinder me from having an effective communication with the patients such as lack of information on the latest medication. Learning does not stop upon graduation but it should be a lifelong learning.

Besides, I must be sensitive with the patients I am dealing with such as the patient’s religion, education background, and language spoken. I should communicate using simple and jargon free language understood by the patients.

Administrative factor can influence communication such as failing to have proper Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). SOP serves as guidelines for pharmacies to ensure smooth service delivery to the patients. Improper SOP leads to miscommunication with other co-workers.

In addition, I must be aware of the patient’s financial state before making any recommendation. A poor patient might not be interested to listen to my recommendation on certain medication.

Lastly, a sufficient time should be allocated when dealing with the patients. A rush explanation can lead to certain important information being missed out.


250 words

The use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the delivery of healthcare produces more disadvantages than advantages

It is undeniable that the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has influenced our life tremendously. In light of this development, some believe that the use of ICT in the delivery of healthcare produces more disadvantages than advantages. How true is this assertion?

In my opinion, I would agree with this assertion with a minor exception. It is true that patients can obtain information on health related matters by accessing the internet without leaving the comfort of their home. However, there is a huge drawback. Convenient as it may sounds but not everyone have the privilege to go online. The use of ICT in the delivery of healthcare benefits mostly the urban ICT literate users.

In addition, the purchase of drugs from the internet can lead to misuse of drugs. It can be purchased by anyone for various other reasons besides for medication such as drug addiction. Similarly, misuse of drugs can also be attributed to wrong interpretation of information obtained from the website. Patients might suffer from adverse effect of drugs which might lead to long term damage or death.

Lastly, the use of teleconsultation can lead to wrong diagnosing of patient’s ailment. Long distance diagnosing is discouraged as it lacks personal touch and close observation from the physician involved. Besides, it requires ICT literate healthcare workers to handle the teleconsultation devices.

The use of ICT in the delivery of healthcare has a bright prospect in the future but personal touch is always the best for the patients.


250 words

What are the key roles and responsibilities of the pharmacist in healthcare?

Historically, pharmacists are associated as someone working behind the counter, packaging drugs to be dispensed out to the patients. However, the roles of pharmacists are no longer limited to the boundary of the dispensing counter but have revolutionized into a more patient oriented. So, what are the key roles and responsibilities of pharmacists in healthcare?

Pharmacists have taken a greater role in patient’s education concerning the medication they are taking. The medication’s information is more often than not wrongly understood by the patients. Therefore, pharmacists are responsible to educate the patients on the medication, the possible side effects, the interaction among various drugs and make some recommendation to the patients.

Pharmacists are also involved in monitoring the health and progress of patients in response to the drug therapy. They work closely with other health professionals such as the physicians and the nurses on the drug selection, delivery, dosages, interaction and the side effects of the medication. This aid the patients in the process of recovery.

Lastly, despite the various new roles of pharmacists, the dispensing role of pharmacists has been given a new breath to further maximize the quality of health delivery to the patients. Pharmacists will counsel the hospitalized patients on the use of drugs and on their use at home when the patients are discharged. This is followed by subsequent follow up to evaluate the outcome of the drugs prescribed.

As a conclusion, pharmacists play a vital role through the medicine and information they provide.


247 words

Why should pharmacy be considered a profession?

Being a physician, lawyer or an accountant has long been seen as a respected profession. They are known as professionals by the society. In relation to this, why should pharmacy be considered a profession? There are few points of argument that can be considered to support this statement.

Firstly, pharmacists are governed by a professional body. In Malaysia, it is known as the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia. The name of the professional body varies in different countries but the objectives of its existence are the same, namely recognition of pharmacy degree, registration of pharmacists and conducting inquiries on complaints of unethical practices. Therefore, the quality of services provide by the pharmacists are maintained in the best interest of the public.

Besides, pharmacists ought to comply with the code of ethics set by the Pharmacy Board. The code of ethics are intended to serve as a guideline for pharmacists on their roles and obligations towards their patients, health professionals and society base on moral obligation and virtues. Upon graduation, pharmacists will take the oath of pharmacist with the promise to abide the code of ethics during their pharmacy practice.

Furthermore, pharmacists are drug experts. Pharmacists have a unique knowledge and skills in regards to the preparation and clinical application of the drugs. Over the years the roles of pharmacists have become more service oriented. Pharmacists provide a variety of pharmaceutical services, patient’s education and treatment of minor ailments.

Pharmacy is indeed a profession but more importantly it is a noble vocation.


250 words