Learn more about the duties, practice settings, typical workdays, and educational opportunities, as well as personal advice from pharmacists in this practice area.
What is palliative care pharmacy?
Palliative care (PC) pharmacists promote patient care by providing pain and symptom management expertise for patients with severe, life-limiting illnesses, promoting improvement in quality of life and comfort.
Where does a PC pharmacist work?
A PC pharmacist can work in an inpatient hospital setting or outpatient palliative care.
What does a typical workday look like?
A palliative care position requires work with the palliative care team and pharmacy department, and within the institution as a content expert. The pharmacist may see patients on a daily basis and fill in the remaining time with education, policy development, and medication monitoring of high alert opioid therapies.
Daily team responsibilities may include attending rounds and team meetings, checking PDMP on consulted patients’ ordered opioids, providing pain/symptom management therapy recommendations, performing follow-up monitoring, assisting the team with pain and symptom issues, and making informal recommendations provided upon request from medical residents.
Pharmacy department responsibilities may include educating pharmacy staff, precepting pharmacy residents and students, daily monitoring of high-alert targeted opioids such as methadone/buprenorphine or fentanyl patches, evaluating naloxone usage, and VERGE reporting (medication error reporting system).
Institutional responsibilities may include serving as Chairman of the Pain Management Committee, developing policies and procedures, developing order sets, educating on pain management, performing P&T Committee responsibilities, completing yearly medication use evaluation, and implementing cost-saving initiatives.
What educational opportunities are available for pharmacists in this area?
- The ASHP Foundation Pain Management Traineeship is a great way to get hands-on practice and learn from experts and mentors.
- ASHP offers a Pain Management Certificate program, which can provide more information and training in this field.
- There are formal training opportunities through advanced degrees such as the
- Master’s Program in Palliative Care available at the University of Maryland
- Master’s Program in Pain Management available online at Tufts University
How can I learn more about this career path?
- Access ASHP’s dedicated Resource Centers to learn more palliative care and pain management.
- Join the ASHP Section Advisory Group on Pain and Palliative Care, where you can also follow the Advisory Group discussions on ASHP Connect, under “Communities.”
- You can also explore associations that are dedicated to this field, such as SPPCP, the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists.
Member Career Profiles
Maria C. Foy, PharmD, BCPS, CPEPharmacy Care Coordinator, Palliative Care
Abington Jefferson Health – Abington, PA
What interested you in pharmacy and this career path?
“After completing my non-traditional PharmD, I had an opportunity to train in the ASHP Foundation Pain Traineeship in 2008. My experience learning various aspects of pain management and palliative care solidified my interest in this area. As an expert in medication management, a PC pharmacist can make an impact in relieving a patient’s suffering and improving their quality of life for their remaining time on this earth.”
What advice do you have for someone interested in this career field?
“Not everyone can handle the emotional component of serious illness/end-of-life care. However, those who work in this field will agree that making an impact on the suffering of others is important and purposeful work. I hear so often, “How can you do this work?” For me, the ability to impact another person’s life when they are the most vulnerable is very fulfilling and rewarding.”