Pharmacy

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

(Redirected from Pharmacies)

Pharmacy is a healthcare profession and facility where prescription drugs are prepared and dispensed by licensed professionals, known as pharmacists. Pharmacies are an integral part of healthcare systems around the world, serving as the primary point of access to medications for many patients. Some well-known pharmacy chains include CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, but pharmacies can also be found in local grocery stores, hospitals, and even operate as mail order services.

The Century Pharmacy Store , Indonesia

Types of Pharmacies[edit | edit source]

Retail Pharmacies[edit | edit source]

Retail pharmacies are the most common type of pharmacy that the public interacts with. They are found in various locations such as standalone buildings, inside grocery stores, and in large retail chains. Examples include CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.

Hospital Pharmacies[edit | edit source]

Hospital pharmacies are located within hospitals and focus on providing medications for hospitalized patients. They play a critical role in medication management, patient safety, and clinical support services within the hospital.

Mail Order Pharmacies[edit | edit source]

Mail order pharmacies provide an alternative to traditional in-person pharmacies by delivering prescription medications directly to the patient's home. They are often used for maintenance medications that treat chronic conditions.

Specialty Pharmacies[edit | edit source]

Specialty pharmacies provide complex and high-cost medications typically required for rare and chronic conditions. These pharmacies may also provide additional patient support services.

Roles and Responsibilities[edit | edit source]

Pharmacists in these establishments play a critical role in healthcare delivery. Their responsibilities include dispensing medications, counseling patients on the safe and effective use of their medications, providing immunizations, conducting health and wellness screenings, and managing medication therapy.

Education and Training[edit | edit source]

To become a pharmacist, one must complete a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program and pass a series of examinations to become licensed. Some pharmacists also complete postgraduate residencies or fellowships to gain specialized expertise in areas such as oncology, infectious disease, pediatrics, or critical care.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Find a pharmacy in the United States[edit | edit source]

WikiMD's PharmacyFinder
  • Number of pharmacies: There are over 60,000 pharmacies in the US.
  • Pharmacy and drug store sales in the U.S. in 2021 was $324.61bn USD.
  • Number of pharmacies per county: The average number of pharmacies per county is 19.6.
  • Type: 61.5% of pharmacies are chains, 38.1% are independent or regional franchises, and 0.4% are government pharmacies.

Need helping finding a pharmacy in the United States?

Pharmacies in AlabamaPharmacies in AlaskaPharmacies in ArizonaPharmacies in ArkansasPharmacies in CaliforniaPharmacies in ColoradoPharmacies in ConnecticutPharmacies in DelawarePharmacies in FloridaPharmacies in GeorgiaPharmacies in HawaiiPharmacies in IdahoPharmacies in IllinoisPharmacies in IndianaPharmacies in IowaPharmacies in KansasPharmacies in KentuckyPharmacies in LouisianaPharmacies in MainePharmacies in MarylandPharmacies in MassachusettsPharmacies in MichiganPharmacies in MinnesotaPharmacies in MississippiPharmacies in MissouriPharmacies in MontanaPharmacies in NebraskaPharmacies in NevadaPharmacies in New HampshirePharmacies in New JerseyPharmacies in New MexicoPharmacies in New YorkPharmacies in North CarolinaPharmacies in North DakotaPharmacies in OhioPharmacies in OklahomaPharmacies in OregonPharmacies in PennsylvaniaPharmacies in Rhode IslandPharmacies in South CarolinaPharmacies in South DakotaPharmacies in TennesseePharmacies in TexasPharmacies in UtahPharmacies in VermontPharmacies in VirginiaPharmacies in WashingtonPharmacies in West VirginiaPharmacies in WisconsinPharmacies in WyomingPharmacies in DelawarePharmacies in MarylandPharmacies in New HampshirePharmacies in New JerseyPharmacies in MassachusettsPharmacies in ConnecticutPharmacies in Washington DCPharmacies in West VirginiaPharmacies in VermontPharmacies in Rhode IslandMap of USA with state names 2.svg
About this image
Pharmacy Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD