Pharmacy Demand Report (PDR) Occupation Definitions

AACP Article

The Burning Glass Technologies' Labor Insight™ Real-time Labor Market Information tool is utilized to generate the information in the Pharmacy Demand Report. The pharmacist specialized occupations presented in the PDR are generated from the Specialized Occupations within the BGTOCCs that define occupation specializations and provide more granularity in occupation categorization.  For example, the Pharmacist/Pharmacy Director category is split into several specialties, which include Hospital Pharmacist and Retail Pharmacist.  The pharmacist information that will be reported include information generated for the following occupations:

  • Clinical Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works in a clinical setting, directly with physicians and other health professionals, often granted patient care privileges and responsibility of assisting in patient care management. Usually requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
  • Hospital Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients on the proper use of medications. Works within a hospital setting. May consult with physicians about correct dosage and appropriate administration as well as discuss adverse reactions. The types of medications and their dispersal may differ significantly from those handled by retail pharmacists.
  • Other Pharmacist Occupations
    • Compounding Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works for a compounding pharmacy. Specializes in preparation of alternate modes of delivery and forms of commercial medication not available in retail or hospital pharmacies.
    • Informatics Pharmacist: Improves precision and safety of prescribing and administering medications by using technology and data analysis. Draws on both pharmaceutical expertise and computer science to improve patient outcomes. Uses patient information in electronic health records (EHR) to prevent errors, streamline operations, share information and assess the dangers of full medication spread for a patient.
    • Infusion Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works primarily in healthcare facilities. May be directly involved in patient care or consult with healthcare facilities or insurance companies to develop efficient methods of prescription. Specializes in drugs delivered through infusion, using a needle or a catheter.
    • Long-Term Care Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works in a long-term care facility or pharmacy. May be directly involved in patient care, working with physicians and healthcare workers to manage the long-term health of the patients in the facility.
    • Nuclear Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works for a pharmacy or a healthcare facility dispensing nuclear medicines (made from radioactive materials). May be directly involved in patient care or consult with healthcare facilities or insurance companies to develop efficient methods of prescription.
    • Oncology Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients on the proper use of medications. Specializes in managing complex pharmacotherapeutic plans for treatment and prevention of cancer and cancer-related diseases.
  • Pharmacy Director: Directs the operations and management of a pharmacy for a healthcare facility or institution. Manages pharmacists and pharmacy staff. Works with leadership of healthcare facility or institution on drug policy including safety, education, and finances.
  • Pharmacy Technician: Works under the direction of a pharmacist to dispense prescription medications. Serves customers and helps to fill prescriptions. Works in a retail pharmacy or healthcare facility.  
  • Retail Pharmacist: Provides medications to patients and educates patients on the proper use of medications. Works in the pharmacy department of a retail store. Dispenses prescription and non-prescription medications. Manages prescription records and the pharmacy patient database. May consult with healthcare facilities or insurance companies to develop efficient methods of prescription.