Professional experience shared with Pharmacy Services students

By the Üsküdar University Health Services Vocational School (SHMYO) Pharmacy Services program, a 'Pharmacy Technicians and Technologists Day Career Event' was organized. During the event, the operation of hospital pharmacy, drug safety processes, and career planning were discussed, while students had the opportunity to meet with industry representatives. The event highlighted patient safety and drug management processes in hospital pharmacies. The importance of career goals, internship experience, and foreign language proficiency in recruitment processes was also emphasized. 

The event, held in the Yuşa Hall of Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus, hosted Bircan Değerli, Recruitment Officer at Acıbadem General Directorate, and Pharmacist Suna Telefoncu, Responsible Pharmacist at Acıbadem Kartal Hospital.

The event was moderated by Instructor Berhan Özdemir Eroğlu, Head of the SHMYO Pharmacy Services Program. 

Pharmacist Suna Telefoncu: “Hospital pharmacy is built on serving inpatients”

Pharmacist Suna Telefoncu, Responsible Pharmacist at Acıbadem Kartal Hospital, spoke about the operation of pharmacies in hospitals. Telefoncu said; “Unlike community pharmacies, the operation in a hospital pharmacy is entirely built on serving inpatients. Here, instead of patients and their relatives, work is coordinated with internal hospital stakeholders such as nursing services, quality unit, logistics, purchasing, and billing departments. While responsible pharmacists, pharmacists, technicians, and support staff work in the pharmacy, all employees are provided with orientation and professional training after starting their jobs. For drug safety, principles of planning, precaution, organization, and control are adopted. Pharmacists check physician orders, evaluating the patient's weight, drug interactions, allergy status, and treatment suitability. Approved medications are prepared by technicians using a double-check system and delivered to inpatient floors.” she stated.

“Patient safety and medication management processes are kept under control”

Telefoncu stated that stock and medication management are of great importance in hospital pharmacies; “Medications are stored in shelf systems according to specified layout plans, while high-risk, cold chain, or narcotic drugs are kept with special security procedures. Medications prepared with the unit dose system include information such as drug name, dose, expiration date (SKT), and lot number. Additionally, secure drug storage systems, accessible only to authorized personnel, are used with devices like Alstore and Pixus. Weekly stock counts, antibiotic usage rates, medication error notifications, and spoilage rates are regularly monitored, keeping patient safety and medication management processes under control,” she said.

Bircan Değerli: “It is important for them to be able to express the skills they have acquired”

Bircan Değerli, Recruitment Officer at Acıbadem General Directorate, explained the planning in the interview processes. Değerli stated; “In interview processes, it is primarily observed whether the candidate's career plan aligns with hospital pharmacy and Acıbadem's operational structure. While evaluating whether the candidate aims for a community pharmacy or hospital pharmacy, it is emphasized that the recruitment process is based on mutual compatibility. Furthermore, candidates are primarily considered for employment in hospitals close to their residential areas to ensure ease of transportation. For new graduate candidates, experiences gained during internships, observations made in hospital or community pharmacy settings, and their ability to express the skills they have acquired are among the important criteria,” she said.

“Training opportunities supporting foreign language development are offered”

Değerli stated that foreign language proficiency is of great importance in professional and personal development; “Due to pharmacological terminology largely being in English and Latin, English proficiency provides an advantage in hospital processes. Additionally, international transfer opportunities are offered for employees planning careers in Acıbadem's hospitals abroad. Therefore, while candidates aiming to work abroad are expected to have a good level of English proficiency, the institution also offers training opportunities supporting the foreign language development of its employees,” she stated.

The event concluded with a group photo session after participants' questions were answered.