And there are "automated dispensing cabinets" that reduce the pharmacist's load, Hulse notes. With pharmacist approval, those are boxes controlled by the pharmacist to which nurses have direct access. Nurses provide the contents to certain patients as needed and prescribed.

Hands-on health care

Pharmacists are still busy with three tasks:

• Checking every prescription that leaves the pharmacy to be sure it is correct.

• Reviewing a patient's records (including nonprescribed remedies such as herbs and food supplements if possible) to guard against troublesome interactions.

• Counseling the patient about all aspects of the medications in his regimen, including the need for compliance and possible side-effects.

"We're the most accessible health-care professionals in the world," said Young. "And we don't get paid for our counseling."

Increasingly, in hospitals, pharmacists are part of the hands-on medical team treating patients, working on the floors directly with doctors to determine what medications would best serve patient needs. That has increased the demand for pharmacists, Hulse notes, but it has also improved patient outcomes. And saved money.

"The best therapy is often the most cost-effective, but you have to have the pharmacist there to make certain that happens. We've had success with that, and it's true in most hospitals. It improves outcomes and helps control costs."

The talent pool

Most Utah pharmacists are homegrown. In 2000, the UMEC study found that 70 percent of the state's practicing pharmacists received training at the University of Utah, with another 10 percent from either Idaho State University or the University of Wyoming.

The U. college of pharmacy, which accepts up to 50 candidates a year, gives preference to Utah applicants. Those who complete their U. training and participate in local "preceptorships" are likely to stay here to practice, said James Jorgenson, director of pharmacy services for the University Hospital and Clinics and associate dean for clinical education in the college.

The education component has changed with the proliferation of medications. Starting this year, a doctorate, rather than a bachelor's degree, is required for entry-level pharmacists, adding at least two years to the training and making the decision more complex for many students. Many programs around the country initiated the new requirement all at once and so had no graduating class for a couple of years, said Jorgenson. "We decided to phase it in." From now on, all U. pharmacy grads will exit with a doctorate in pharmacy.

The U. pharmacy school faces challenges. Faculty is harder to find these days. "We have one opening, and we'll be recruiting this spring," said Jorgenson. With pharmacy schools across the country posting vacancies of 6,500 — and climbing — the task is daunting.