Meet Joshua Beane

Josh Beane is a 4th-year pharmacy student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) and is doing a rotation at Rx Outreach for five weeks to learn how mail-order pharmacies work and gain valuable experience providing pharmaceutical care to patients. Josh took a moment to answer a few questions.  

Why did you decide to become a pharmacist?

There are two pharmacists in my family. Learning from their experience, I wanted to do something that directly and quickly helps people. There are not too many opportunities to get easy access to a doctor in the medical field, but you can always see a pharmacist. I wanted to be on the front lines helping people when they needed it most.

You have pharmacists in your family.  Do you have a sense of how the role of pharmacists has changed? 

I think there’s been a shift in thinking of “fast pharmacy” and prescriptions needing to be done in 5 minutes or the pharmacy is letting you down, and while efficiency and being able to get your prescriptions in a timely manner are important, the real role of the pharmacist is ensuring the optimal care is given. Checking allergies, fill history, contacting doctors for clarification or recommending changes, are all means of making sure the medication being given to the patient is safe and the most effective option available. This takes time to prevent medication errors and the potential of doing harm to the patient. It takes a bit longer, but there is a lot more than just putting pills in a bottle going on behind the scenes to make sure you are safe.

That is interesting because pharmacists have a huge responsibility in patient health and are experts in medicine. 

I would recommend people thinking of pharmacists how you would a medical doctor. Pharmacists are doctors but often aren’t viewed in the same way, but they have years of education and experiential knowledge on the medications and disease states the patient may have. It is important that people know that it is a good thing to always ask questions if they feel unsure about anything, and the pharmacist should be there to make them feel comfortable and informed on their treatment. Pharmacist also have the best interest of the patient in mind and truly want to help, so if the patient feels something is wrong (price/dose/medication changes) let the pharmacist know and they will explain why the changes occurred or be able to contact insurance or the prescribing doctor to find a resolution.

What has been most rewarding?

It is hard work but worth it when someone is genuinely relieved after my help. Even after an exceptionally long shift, I goes home knowing that someone may be (metaphorically or literally) breathing easier because of help I could give them.

What do you want people to know about Rx Outreach?

I appreciate how Rx Outreach sends out prescriptions at low prices without coupons or waiting for sales. The facilities are very efficient and even though some equipment may be a bit older, it works the same way as costly hospital pharmacy fulfillment centers.

When I first saw the prescriptions moving through on the conveyor belt, I thought about how every medicine bottle lightens a burden. Someone somewhere will breathe a small sigh of relief when the medicine lands on their doorstep. This is the pharmacy I know that is entirely online and serves all 50 states.

Thanks to Josh for his time and insights.  We’re confident that patients will not just be comforted by his knowledge and technical skills, but also his compassion and care for their well-being. We wish him success as he graduates as a PharmD. (Doctor of Pharmacy) in May.