This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

It is obvious that Eric Browning ("Automate pharmacies," May 13) cares for his wife. My pharmacist colleagues and I care for her, too, and want to optimize the outcomes she receives from her drug therapy. Knowing the diagnosis for which drug therapy is being prescribed is critically important for pharmacists to ensure optimal drug therapy outcomes. This information is not used by pharmacists to "second guess real doctors and specialists" but to ensure that the right drug, at the right dose has been prescribed.

I recall early in my career a prescription written for what appeared to be Feldene "for allergies." The handwriting on the prescription was difficult to read. Feldene is a drug for arthritis, and having knowledge of the diagnosis (allergies) prompted a call to the prescriber who clarified that the prescription was actually for Seldane. Knowing the diagnosis prevented this patient from receiving the wrong prescription.

Rather than simply "counting pills and putting them in a bottle," contemporary pharmacists are critical members of interprofessional health care teams and are highly valued for their drug therapy expertise. One of my colleagues at the University of Utah School of Medicine frequently expresses the opinion that, "No physician should practice medicine without a pharmacist."

I hope Mr. Browning will take the opportunity to develop a relationship with his local pharmacist and enlist their expertise in solving his wife's health care problems.

Daniel M. Witt, professor, vice chairman, University of Utah College of Pharmacy

Salt Lake City