Hospital Pharmacy

They are experts in the field of medicines and are not only responsible for the dispensing of prescriptions but also the purchase, manufacture and quality testing of all medicines used in a hospital. Many hospital pharmacists are qualified to prescribe in their own right. Pharmacists work closely with medical and nursing staff to ensure that patients receive the best treatment, advising on the selection, dose and administration route. They also provide help and advice to patients in all aspects of their medicines.

In 2013, there were 287,420 pharmacists and 362,690 pharmacy technicians in the United States. Since 2003, the number of pharmacists in the U.S. has fluctuated year to year, but overall has increased approximately 19 %in the last decade. The number of pharmacy technicians steadily increased in the same period, adding over 151,000 workers from 2003-2013.