MEETING 6

The Drugstore

We are still building a contextual framework for health care and the health
professions. In this section there are many opportunities to learn about drugstores,
pharmacists, and prescriptions. This material has value to you as an individual as
well as to your patients. You will be introduced to procedures, recounting
(telling), and explaining. Reading comprehension exercises focus on specificity
and are grounded in safety-in-practice concepts for health professionals.

Reading Selection 1-7

Read the following in its entirety. Many words may be new to you.

DRUGSTORES AND PHARMACISTS

In the United States and Canada, prescriptions are filled by a pharmacist at a

drugstore. In other countries the drugstore may be referred to as the chemist’s or
the pharmacy. Sometimes Americans and Canadians say “pharmacy,” too. The
drugstore sells more than simply medication. It also has merchandise for health
and home care, cosmetics, greeting cards, snack foods, and various other novelties
and sundries. The business focus of a drugstore is to sell health and wellness
products and merchandise.
Pharmacists are highly educated professionals with university degrees that
include clinical practica. The total amount of time to become a pharmacist is 6 to
8 years. A pharmacist dispenses medication ordered by a doctor; however, he or
she also sells over-the-counter medication (OTC). Pharmacists are client-focused.
They spend a good deal of time in communication with client, teaching and
informing them about medications and their safe usage.
There are no drugstores in hospitals. A pharmacy is located within the
hospital and the hospital pharmacists dispense the medications for all patients
based on the written or verbal orders of a doctor. Health professionals working
within the hospital often call these pharmacists for advice or clarification on
medication orders.

READING EXERCISES
As you read through this text, you formed an opinion about its purpose and
learned some specific terms. Let’s try them now in some exercises
Understanding the General Meaning
1) What is the goal of this text?
2) Take a moment to think about what you have just read. What genre do you
think it portrays? Explain.

Building Vocabulary
As you read the text, you noticed that some words were highlighted. Write them
here and define them by yourself or with the help of a teacher or peers. These
words will appear again later.
When they do, check your answers. Were you right? Were you able to
comprehend their meaning simply from reading the text?
Determining Meaning
from the Context. To build vocabulary, study the following words or terms taken
from this text. Discover all you can about them by looking at them in context.
Then, choose the correct meaning. Finally, take a look at how these words or
terms expand in English.
1. Filled (verb, past tense)
In context:
a) I got my prescription filled at the pharmacy.
b) My tire was low, so I filled it with more air.
Meaning: The word filled can best be described as meaning
a) to re-supply or return to original level
b) put pressure in or on something
c) ate too much
d) the job of a pharmacist
Word expansion
a) I was filling the patient’s prescription when the phone rang and
interrupted me. (verb, past tense continuous)
b) What do you want me to fill? Both prescriptions? (verb, infinitive)

2. Referred to (verb)
In context:
a) I was referred to the pediatrician after my baby was born.
b) Miss Harris is the teacher, but she prefers to be referred to as Janine.
Meaning: The term referred to can best be described as
a) suggesting a new way or new opinion be gotten or used
b) looking something up in a textbook
c) asking about resources
d) none of the above
Word expansion:
a) Can I please have a referral to physiotherapy for treatment, Doctor?
(noun)
b) I am going to refer you to the eye specialist, Miss Abramowski. (verb,
infinitive)
c) In reference to your comments earlier, I would like to say that I was not
involved in that activity. (idiom)
3. Degrees (noun, plural)
In context
a) Doctors have science and medicine degrees from a university.
b) You earn a diploma in high school and a degree in a college or
university.
Meaning:
In this case, degrees can be described as
a) temperatures
b) measurements on a scale
c) documents of achievement
d) signs of graduation
Word expansion:
a) Is he a degreed psychologist or simply a counselor? (slang use of noun
as an adjective)
b) When did you obtain your degree? (noun)
c) Keep this medication at room temperature or above 32 degrees
Fahrenheit. (noun)

4. Dispenses (verb)
In context:
a) The psychologist dispenses good advice.
b) The pharmacist dispenses medication and advice.
Meaning:
The verb dispenses can best be defined as
a) gives out, passes out, or provides
b) sells
c) counts and measures
d) something only a pharmacist can do
Word expansion:
a) A dispensing optician is a person licensed only to prepare your eyeglass
from a prescription. (adjective)
b) When dispensing medication, you should not be distracted. It’s a safety
issue. (verb, present tense continuous)
c) She dispensed the medication at the hospital pharmacy, but she told me
I can get a refill for my prescription at my local drugstore. (verb, past
tense)

5. However (conjunctive adverb)

In context:
a) I wanted to go to university; however, I didn’t have the money.
b) I wish I could take a holiday now; however, I have to work to save
money for it first.
Meaning:
In this context the word however can best be described as
a) unfortunately
b) not possible
c) in spite of Word expansion: However is a conjunctive adverb and does
not expand.

6. Over-the-counter (noun phrase, adjective)

In context:
a) Some drugs require a prescription, but others can simply be bought
over-the-counter.
b) I can go to the local drugstore and buy certain medications without ever
speaking to my doctor or pharmacist. These are over-the-counter
medications.
Meaning:
The term over-the-counter can best be described as meaning
a) drugs that do not require a prescription and can be bought freely in a
store
b) drugs you must ask the pharmacist to pass you over his or her counter
top
c) drugs that you need a prescription for Word expansion: a) Do you know
the difference between OTC and controlled drugs? (abbreviation)

Sentence Completion. Complete the following sentences to the best of

your ability, expanding your use of the new vocabulary.
1) A very large company that manufactures medications is referred to as
a_____________________ company
2) Many people do not take their medications as________________ .
They miss a dose or stop taking them too soon.
3) 3) My neighbor always buys her allergy medication______________.
It doesn’t require a prescription.

SPEAKING EXERCISE Return to the Building Vocabulary exercise. Find

a partner. Take turns reading each of the six main words and the “in
context” sentences out loud to each other. The Pronunciation Hints box
below will help.