What can my one voice do to forward the profession of pharmacy?

I have helped dozens of other pharmacists begin building their own consulting businesses.  I like to believe that those in the Pharmapreneur Community are all devoted to moving the profession forward and creating new opportunities for the Pharmacist of the Future!

I began recognizing that raising all of our voices together may just be powerful enough to make a real and lasting change!

I realize that most of you are very busy with your own lives, but to give you a bit of support, I’ve come up with a list of a few things that other pharmacists could easily replicate.

I am committed to freely sharing the best information that I come across on MTM and clinical services through this blog, the Pharmacy Times column and on the Pharmacy Podcast Show, but then I realized that most of that information is written for pharmacists who already agree with me.

I have been “preaching to the choir” so to speak.

In 2016, I want to focus my efforts on educating other healthcare providers on the value of pharmacist-led clinical services. 

This year, I am actively building my network of physicians and other healthcare professions in order to educate them on upcoming opportunities for physician/pharmacist partnerships.  One way that I am working to do this is by writing guest-blogging articles for popular physician websites.

Not everyone has the chance to be in front of so many, but I do feel that everyone has the chance to make and impact on their network.

Speaking out and educating others is the only way that others will grow in their understanding of pharmacists as clinical educators.

• Speaking with physicians and group practices

Early in my career, I was afraid to speak up when doing rounds with the physicians that I worked with.  As I became more comfortable in my clinical role, I began to speak up more during rounds.

Now I am actively building my network of physicians in order to help educate them on upcoming opportunities for a physician/pharmacist partnership.  One way that I am working to do this is by writing guest-blogging articles for popular physician websites.

• Speaking with my family and friends about MTM

Letting my personal network know what my goals are, why clinical pharmacy is important and how they can support me.  You can’t get upset about not having support if no one knows what you are working towards.

Create conversation starters on social media.  I share a lot of my “pharmacist stuff” on my personal Facebook page, not to boast, but to subtly let my friends and family know that I want them to ask me more about my consulting business.

• Speaking in my community at events/health fairs/meetings

This is something that I really want to focus more on in 2016.  Local Rotary clubs, senior centers, etc. are always looking for great speakers.  If you need a starting point, email me and I would be glad to send you a sample of my slides and statistics.

Health fairs are a great place to gain attention for your services.  Even a simple brown bag, with the option to sign up for your new program that will follow up on the brown bag with a full CMR for the patient.

If you are like myself, you may have trouble promoting yourself and your business.  

Approaching your “marketing” from a new angle can help ease the sleazy salesperson feeling.  I truly enjoy educating people about the many services that a consultant pharmacist can offer.  Education is a professional way to market your services and share your passion for pharmacy.

If you are interested in learning more about marketing your pharmacist-led clinical services and building your own consulting business, join the Pharmapreneur Newsletter today!