Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Learn to Compound...on the Internet?

     I was surfing around looking for some interesting pharmacy related news to blog about when I came across this http://www.criticalpoint.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1.
The skeptic in me immediately thought, "how can you possibly learn how to compound from the internet?" I realize these days you can take online courses in practically everything. I myself have taken several online courses for college, but this strikes me as something that would be more beneficial hands on. I remember in undergrad they offered Biology and Anatomy and Physiology online. For my chosen career path these were not acceptable courses to obtain the credits I needed. I had to take the live lectures and lab. If I had the chance to take the classes online I still would have decided against it.

      I looked around on the site a little and it seems to be a legitamate resource for sterile compounding training. The site  says, "CriticalPoint is the only training company that meets or exceeds all of the training (and testing) standards specified in USP <797>. Our flagship Course in Sterile Compounding plus The Virtual CompounderTM contain 42 lessons designed specifically to teach and reinforce the necessary skills.

All of our courses are written by leading industry
experts (including members of the <797> and NIOSH expert committees), and our courses always include the latest updates to the standards.
CriticalPoint courses are delivered over the Internet, offering convenient anytime/anywhere training. Our engaging, self-paced format makes it easy for your staff to learn and means that new hires don’t have to wait to get up and running. Plus, the testing after each lesson and our unique Virtual Compounder assure that your staff has mastered the required skills. Also, all of our courses are ACPE-approved, so your staff members receive the added benefit of earning up to 42 Continuing Education Credit Hours."

    This seems to me like a good resource for brushing up on compounding skills or reviewing some things you may have forgotten, but unless you work in a compounding facility or have a hood and clean room at your disposable you won't be able to get that hands-on experience. I for one need to actually do something before I grasp it entirely. I know even in PPL we do sterile compounding so rarely I feel like every time is the first time. I will say, though, I would love to play around with critical point's virtual compounder program!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Veterinary Pharmacy

     Now that I've got that NECC debacle out of the way, I'd like to talk about something else I'm passionate about besides justice for companies that overstep their bounds: animals. Every since I was a little kid I have loved animals. Not just the cute and fuzzy ones either, I mean ALL animals. Growing up my dad had snakes and iguanas and I've had my share of "creepy" pets, too. I used to dream that I would grow up to be Dr. Dolittle (the old school Rex Harrison Dr. Dolittle). Maybe I should have been a veterinarian, but I have found a way I can fuse my interest in chemistry and pharmaceuticals with my love of animals: veterinary pharmacy.
     Veterinary pharmacy is a small, but growing field right now. Many veterinary pharmacists work with cattle, pigs and other livestock. They are mostly working large scale providing antibiotics and the like for animals that will end up on the dinner table. I have also seen quite a few veterinary pharmacists that work with race horses and some that work with the companion animal population. There are a very lucky few who get jobs being pharmacists for some of the larger zoos in the country. They work closely with veterinarians to care for and treat exotic species from all over the world.
     Every once in awhile I will look at job search websites for jobs in veterinary pharmacy and I don't find a whole bunch. It seems like this field is still very small, but hopefully it will continue growing. Pet owners now treat their animal companions like part of the family. When these family members become sick they don't go to a regular MD, so why would a regular pharmacist be able to best serve them? I believe in the future animal pharmacists will be more common. They will offer a unique service, because they don't only understand the mechanisms of action and kinetics of a drug; they also understand how it will work on various species. One of the main jobs of veterinary compounders is making sure the drug is delivered in a vehicle that is appealing to the animal. I'm sure everybody has had the unfortunate experience of trying to give a dog or cat a pill they don't want. The University of Florida offers an online class in veterinary pharmacy. I am planning on taking it this fall and hope to learn more about this exciting career path.


Related Links:
http://pharmchem.cop.ufl.edu/electives/vetpharm
http://pharmacy.vethospital.ufl.edu/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690882/
https://vetmeds.org/default.aspx