Among the duties of a clinical pharmacist, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy lists the following:
Assess the status of a patient’s health problems and suggest prescribed medications to meet patient needs
Evaluate progress and effectiveness of current medications
Consult with physicians and other providers regarding medication therapy
Instruct patients on the best way to take medications
Develop proper medication therapy, using their specialized knowledge of medications, including adverse effects and drug interactions.
The clinical pharmacist has higher level of decision-making functions than that of a retail pharmacist. They are directly involved in choosing and dosing of medication, and evaluating their effectiveness for patients. While a retail pharmacist received information already spelled-out by a physician, the clinical pharmacist may be called upon for consultations, to look over patient charts, or even do patient evaluations, in order to recommend a course of action.
The clinical pharmacist influences patient care at three levels. Before dispensing prescriptions, they may be involved in clinical trials, making drug-related policies, and determining prescription guidelines. After dispensing a prescription, they might evaluate and prepare outcomes, communicate and counsel patients, and train patients about the risks and benefits of particular drug therapies.