With the looming implementation of the Affordable Care Act many job classifications within the healthcare field are undergoing reclassification. Job descriptions are being expanded, roles are being looked at differently, and everyone's trying to figure out how the system will deliver healthcare more effectively at a reduced cost.

Pharmacist jobs are no exception. Since the healthcare reform measures were passed in 2010 there have been rumors that the role of the pharmacist would be expanded well beyond what is today. Pharmacists and advocacy groups fully expect the position to become an integral part of the healthcare team regardless of whether a patient receives treatment at a hospital or private practice.

Transition Already Occurring

According to the American Pharmacists Association (APA) the transformation of pharmacist jobs has already begun. They cite the flu vaccine as just one example. As of this past spring there were more than 170,000 pharmacists qualified to administer the flu vaccine, easing the workload on doctors.

Even more important is the idea of pharmacists becoming medication managers rather than simply drug dispensers offering a little bit of advice along with a prescription. Pharmacist jobs are now taking on the role of being direct counselors in order to help patients manage their medications better. That even includes consulting with doctors who may not understand the implications of a patient taking multiple drugs.

Pharmacists the Best Judges

As one of the industry's biggest advocates, the APA also maintains the pharmacist is the best qualified to make judgments about medications. The training a pharmacist goes through in order to practice makes him the only healthcare professional who can truly claim expertise in the area of medications. Who better than the pharmacist to be given the role of directing the use of medication?

Under that mindset pharmacist jobs become more than simply filling prescriptions. They also involve interviewing patients to see how they're doing, if they've had any reactions, and if there any questions or concerns. The efficacy of a given prescription should also be determined by the pharmacist, at least in part, because he knows what a given drug is supposed to do.

The Future Wide Open

Politics aside, it's fascinating to sit back and watch the Affordable Care Act unfold before our very eyes. Not only is it transforming pharmacist jobs, is transforming just about every facet of healthcare delivery and payment. It's opening the future to all sorts of transformation we've yet to even consider. It will be interesting to witness.

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy will be happy to know that the future includes a projected job growth of about 22% over the next eight years. There are pharmacist jobs available at hospitals, national pharmacy chains, department store pharmacies, and even mom-and-pop pharmacies.

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