I chose pharmacy as a career to understand how medications work and to be part of a team that helps people. After working in hospital and retail settings in Oregon, Idaho and Hawaii, I have learned that the most important part of my job is to give clear, understandable information and to listen. I believe the biggest weak spot in pharmacy, both hospital and retail, is not giving the patient enough time to make sure some drug categories don't get doubled up and others don't get accidentally forgotten. After hospital or ER discharge and when multiple doctors are involved in a patient's care is when this can happen. Also, few providers have the time to make sure which medication in a drug class has the best copay with a patient's insurance. The result is better health but not at the best price. Finally, it's not rocket science to coordinate refills, but the customer is usually unable to get a pharmacist's full attention at a store and the technicians usually aren't trained in simple fixes. Taking care of yourself should be made as easy as possible for you to do; that's my goal.