South University School of Pharmacy faculty and alumni have diverse careers in the field. Ambulatory pharmacy is one of many paths they may choose. Pharmacists in this role work outside hospital settings, collaborating closely with patients and healthcare teams to ensure medication effectiveness, manage chronic conditions, and improve health outcomes.
For example, our Pharmacy professor Dr. Mackenzi Meier works in the Savannah, Georgia area at the Good Samaritan Clinic and St. Marys Health Center. At these clinics, Dr. Meier provides free services to uninsured and lower-income patients. One of her top responsibilities is helping patients manage their diabetes. During appointments with these patients, she checks their blood sugar and A1C to determine if medication changes are needed.
As an ambulatory pharmacist, each day varies based on your patients and their needs. To learn more about this career, let’s see what a day could look like for someone in this role.
Morning: Patient Visits, Medication Reviews, and Team Meetings
The day often starts with the ambulatory pharmacist reviewing their upcoming patient schedule. Patients at clinics, outpatient facilities, or other non-hospital settings rely on their pharmacists for expert guidance on managing medications, especially for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
9:00 AM - Medication Reconciliation: The first appointment may be with a patient recently discharged from the hospital. The pharmacist conducts a medication reconciliation—a detailed review of all the medications the patient takes. They look for duplications, dangerous interactions, or dosage discrepancies, and coordinate with a physician to adjust prescriptions if needed.
10:00 AM - Patient Counseling: Next, the pharmacist might meet with a patient starting a new therapy for diabetes or another condition. The session involves patient counseling: explaining how the medicine works, potential side effects, and what to expect. Educating patients is a big part of pharmacy practice and helps patients better manage their conditions.
11:00 AM - Team Meetings: After morning consultations, the ambulatory pharmacist might meet with a team of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. These discussions focus on patient cases, including reviewing treatment plans for patients with multiple chronic conditions or those requiring specialized care. Pharmacists offer their expertise to help optimize patient outcomes, perhaps suggesting adjusting prescriptions or dosing schedules.
Lunch Break: A Time to Recharge
After a busy morning, the pharmacist takes a lunch break. Before their next appointment, they may catch up on emails, reply to questions from patients or healthcare providers, and review the latest pharmaceutical research.
Afternoon: Clinical Interventions and Follow-Ups
1:00 PM - Clinical Interventions: The afternoon kicks off with a patient having complications from poorly controlled blood pressure. Based on the patient's lab results and overall health profile, the pharmacist recommends a different medication regimen. They also share strategies for remembering to take the medicine, like pillboxes or phone reminders. Interventions like these are crucial for preventing hospital readmissions and managing long-term conditions.
2:30 PM - Chronic Disease Management: One of the main responsibilities of an ambulatory pharmacist is managing chronic diseases. The next few hours might be spent seeing patients with conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), high cholesterol, or heart failure. The pharmacist reviews their progress, adjusts medication doses, and gives advice on lifestyle changes that complement drug therapy. Regular follow-up appointments help keep patients on track with their care plans.
4:00 PM - Wrapping Up: After a full day of seeing patients, the pharmacist finishes and double-checks their documentation. If they haven’t already, they update electronic records with details of medication changes, clinical notes, and treatment adjustments made during the day. Thorough record-keeping ensures continuity of care and keeps the healthcare team informed.
The day winds down by responding to any urgent communications and preparing for the next day's patients.
Why Choose Ambulatory Pharmacy
Ambulatory pharmacists fill the gap between clinical care and a patient's home life. By educating and guiding patients and monitoring their conditions, these pharmacists increase prescription adherence, reduce medication errors, and contribute to a higher quality of life for their patients. Their work is essential in preventing complications, reducing hospital readmissions, and promoting wellness so that patients lead healthier lives.
South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
Graduates are required to sit for and pass the national certification exam and obtain a state license in order to work in the field. (Exam names vary by program) Please refer to the State Professional Licensure Determination and National Certification/Licensure section of the University catalog for program and state specific information. South University cannot guarantee each graduate will pass the required licensure examinations. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University. Students must pass the required licensure to work in their respective field.
