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As pharmacist roles continue to expand, ambulatory care pharmacists are becoming an essential part of healthcare initiatives in hospital- and community-based outpatient clinics. Patients with chronic health conditions often take multiple medications and need special assistance in managing their prescriptions, administering medications, and monitoring labs or vital signs. Ambulatory care pharmacists manage medications and work closely with physicians and other healthcare team members to educate patients and promote health and wellness.
If you’re a pharmacy student or pharmacist, you may be wondering where to find ambulatory care pharmacist jobs and how to break into the field. After becoming licensed as a pharmacist, there are a few different ways to pursue a career in ambulatory care. In many cases, a pharmacy residency or ambulatory care certification is preferred by employers.
Continue reading to learn more about ambulatory care pharmacy and how to become an ambulatory care pharmacist.
What is an ambulatory care pharmacist?
Ambulatory care pharmacists are an integral part of the healthcare team that focuses on comprehensive medication management for patients with chronic health conditions. They may be able to interact with patients directly or remotely. The main goals of ambulatory care pharmacists are to improve patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and increase patient satisfaction. As medication experts, pharmacists can work in a variety of ambulatory care settings, such as:
- Primary care clinics and medical offices
- Hospital outpatient centers
- Surgery centers
- Dialysis centers
- Community outpatient clinics
- Rural health clinics
- Indian Health Service clinics
- Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers
- Self-insured employer clinics
- Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH)
- Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)
The patient-centered healthcare model has called for collaboration with the healthcare team to make comprehensive treatment decisions. Physicians and other healthcare providers may refer patients to ambulatory care pharmacists for medication management and other patient needs. The duties of an ambulatory care pharmacist may include:
- Reviewing patient medication lists for accuracy, efficacy, and safety
- Educating patients on side effects, drug interactions, and drug administration
- Advising patients on general health concerns, such as healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits
- Reviewing patient lab values or vital signs to evaluate how treatment is working for them
- Assessing patients’ risk for disease complications and making recommendations as needed
- Making sure patients have access to medications
- Recommending and administering vaccinations
- Referring patients to other healthcare professionals or social workers for assistance
Depending on the state, ambulatory care pharmacists are able to have an expanded scope of duty under collaborative practice agreements with physicians. Pharmacists may also be able to order lab studies, assess patients’ health conditions, and adjust, initiate, or discontinue medications.
What are the requirements to become an ambulatory care pharmacist?
Becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist starts with graduating from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and getting licensed as a pharmacist. Completion of a residency is a common preference or requirement by many organizations that offer ambulatory care pharmacist jobs. It is recommended to complete at least one year of postgraduate training (PGY1) after graduating from pharmacy school. However, some programs may offer a PGY2 residency for pharmacists to advance their clinical knowledge and skills in an ambulatory care setting.
Pharmacists can also get certified in ambulatory care by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). Getting board certified typically involves completing a residency or four years of post-licensure practice experiences, with at least half of that time spent engaged in ambulatory care pharmacy services. Then, pharmacists must obtain a passing score on the BPS Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Certification Examination.
Ambulatory care pharmacists should have sharpened communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills to excel in this career path. Having these skills can be useful for a successful career in long-term patient care and chronic medication management in an ambulatory care pharmacy setting.
Ambulatory care pharmacist salary and job outlook
Ambulatory care pharmacists tend to make slightly more than pharmacists who work in other industries. The median annual salary for pharmacists who work in ambulatory care is $131,790, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for pharmacists, in general, is $128,570. The ambulatory care pharmacist salary can vary depending on the state and job location.
The job market for pharmacists is expected to grow by 2% from 2021 to 2031. With slow growth expected in available pharmacist jobs over the next decade, it may be competitive to get an ambulatory care pharmacist job. Still, with the expansion of pharmacist duties and the growing importance of medication management for an aging population, the demand for ambulatory care pharmacists should remain steady.
Tips for becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist
One of the best ways to be a top candidate for an ambulatory care pharmacist job is to complete a residency. Completing a residency in ambulatory care shows a high level of competence in the industry.
Other ways to stand out include completing an internship or volunteering at an outpatient ambulatory care clinic. Completing pharmacy school APPEs at ambulatory care clinics can allow you to network with ambulatory care pharmacists. If you’re a licensed pharmacist, you can look for jobs at smaller clinics as a way to get some experience. Having experience can open the door to getting certified and working at a larger organization. You can learn more about ambulatory care pharmacy through various resources, including the ASHP Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners and the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
