If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that opportunity favors the prepared. Everyone closed 2019 with the hopes of a new year, in 2020 but things turned out very different than most of us expected.
Looking at a country like Estonia (they actually have the highest literacy rates in the world 99.8%), they had a goal to have all the elementary schools transition to e-learning by 2020 (99% of government services are online). So when the pandemic hit they were okay. School continued as normal. Opportunity prepared.
As a young aspiring Pharmacist or newly graduated one I would proffer the same advice. The pharmacy career is nothing like it used to be 10, 20, 30 years ago. You need to look at the profession with fresh new eyes.
Think of the future, where do you envision healthcare and pharmacy practice at that will be in 10, 20, 30 years. Take note of the answers you provide because these should steer your career choice specialization. I imagine a world where medication orders are filled by robots, medication drops done to patient homes by drones, Telemedicine is a normal thing and actually going to hospital or pharmacy for a routine check or minor ailment is not common anymore.
Imagine a world where we continue to live with COVID-19 as we are now. So that means telemedicine, telehealth takes a far superior role than previously anticipated. Are you prepared to offer your services in this way?
We must build up our digital literacy and no I don’t mean being able to post on social! This is the time to exploit all the data in terms of courses that are within our reach.
With the onset of pandemics and reduced need for travel (working from home, schooling from home, grocery home delivery) this maybe a venture that needs to be considered more seriously in the years to come. Acceptability will increase among Kenyans as well.
A lot of pharmacists will tell you that they think telepharmacy is a job killer but it is actually quite the opposite. It allows for value based care and allows for increase in scope of the pharmacist practice, offer more comprehensive patient care, and overall improve patient satisfaction rates.
Additionally, traceability is much improved as all of the records are online, if a batch needs to be recalled you can trace exactly when and where a patient received their medicines. Profitability for a pharmacy and technician team usually stands at approximately 75-100 scripts per day. If you are considering setting up this type of venture ensure you do a comprehensive market research and a solid business plan (am available for consults!!)
The future of healthcare is in technology advancement. Just today as I write this article a company has received approval to release into the market a fully artificial heart for patients with end stage heart failure who require a heart transplant. As pharmacists we need to adapt and educate ourselves on how to deal with such a patient.
A few years back we didn’t have many Pharmacist practicing in the medication therapy management field, oncology pharmacy or nuclear pharmacy.
The role of the pharmacist has evolved and continues to evolve. We are moving from dispenser centered roles to patient centered roles. Also looking at the patient in a holistic manner. Further, the technology in healthcare has advanced beyond any means comprehensible just a few centuries ago. Pharmacists have therefore been promoted to advance themselves to new fields. These days patients consult google before and after hospital visits and at times determine their own path. Is this risky? Yes but that is the reality of the times. About 80% of pharmacists are practicing the hospital and community pharmacies and with the advent of health technology, this role is threatened.
Another growth area is time management. Good time management enables you to work smarter – not harder – so that you get more done in less time, even when time is tight and pressures are high. Failing to manage your time damages your effectiveness and causes stress.
We all get the same 24 hours in a day (unless you know something I don’t!) yet it seems some other people get so much more done. The key to this is in good time management. Being busy is not the same as being effective, in fact the opposite is usually true. We need to shift our mode of working from multi tasking to focus tasking.
Multi tasking was long believed to be a better way of working but studies have proven that its contrary to the truth. Multi tasking only makes you lose focus and start and stop may projects and at the end of the day nothing is completed.
Focus tasking means you work on one task at a time to its completion. Granted interruptions will occur, however, minimize as much as possible. Studies have shown that it takes approximately 15-20 minutes for you to regain focus after an interruption.
We must also practice our soft skills. Communication skills, management skills
One thing that always comes out evident is the need for balance. Work life balance, because there is a you that exists more than in the role that you are doing or performing at work. That YOU needs happiness, joy (and this doesn’t mean constantly smiling all the time, there will be sad times but after that you know you head back into your state of joy). Check out the happiness index.
Lots of people can come in and give tons of advice but for me I think take it but always think of what your passion is. That one thing that drives you, you wake up in the morning, its what you think about, even if you had to do it for free you would still do it. That thing, the one thing, your one thing. Once you find that my dear friend you are golden because nothing will stand in your way, you will accomplish your goals and tasks. And you will be fulfilled and trust me I have come to discover this is the joy in life. Being fulfilled.
If you are a female (sorry guys) pharmacist (or any other healthcare cadre for that matter), I urge to join our mentorship circle (www.werbinti.org), here you get to meet like minded women with goals to inspire and empower other women, you will go on a journey of self-discovery (beyond your wildest dreams!) and you become a leader of note in your field.
As Isaac Newton once said, If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. I like to paraphrase it slightly to ‘we are great because we stand on the shoulders of giants’.
All this to say, Preparation is key, time management, personal and professional development, and finally work life balance. Try to establish your one thing. What is that one thing that you love to do? This should guide you in your career growth and career path establishment. In my experience, my one thing, mentorship, has always been the driver of all the choices I made, my experiences and the jobs I chose or the companies I chose to work for. As you go about doing interviews for various organizations this year, think about your goals (short term, long term goal, life goals), your values, you one thing and see whether the organization you are joining aligns with those.
Being miserable or unhappy at work stems from working in a place where your values do not align with the organizational values and going to work becomes a daily struggle between self and environment.
‘There is beauty in offering people opportunities to explore and expand. Work should not limit people’s personal lives. Its remarkable when the people around you grow, because they expand you too. Community has a miraculous compounding effect.’ (Vishen Lakhiani)
So lets support one another to grow and expand and you will be amazed at how the pharmacy realm in Kenya and beyond can grow. In our work, we impact life directly and I think there is nothing more fulfilling than that!
By Dr Judith Getugi- Kerini
COO SysPharma