Although many casual observers think of most retail pharmacists as introverted people who work behind the prescription counter and never smile or talk to anyone all day, when the workday is over and they can relax, they can be a pretty social bunch. I've attended hundreds of pharmacy conferences over the years and have had the opportunity to trade my pharmacy "war stories" with many of my colleagues in a relaxed social setting away from the madness of their workplace. I can assure you that when patients aren't asking when their prescription will be ready while the phones are ringing off their hooks, many retail pharmacists welcome the opportunity to swap ideas and stories. Get a bunch of pharmacists, pharmacy students, or pharmacy technicians together in a room, and in a few minutes the shoptalk becomes a spirited, and sometimes confrontational, combination of humorous and serious discussions about our profession. Now pharmacists don't have to wait for a formal invitation to a social event to meet other pharmacy professionals to share ideas; all they need is a computer and some free time. With one click of the mouse, they can enter the exciting world of PharmQD, a new online social network developed especially for all pharmacy professionals.
Social networking has really taken off and, by most estimates, will continue to grow. The number of social networking sites has nearly doubled since 2006, and according to a report from Netpop Research, LLC, communicating through social networks consumes approximately 32% of all the time spent online by computer users. It is estimated that 105 million American broadband users (76%) now contribute to social media. Don't you think it is about time that pharmacists had a social network they can call their own? We do, and PharmQD is that site. And while PharmQD contains all of the elements of other popular social media sites, it goes well beyond other traditional social networks by offering pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians continuing education lessons, job searches, pharmacy news, professional forums, an opportunity to post their own blogs, and much more.
And if you think social networking is strictly a U.S. phenomenon, think again. According to a Nielsen Company report, social networking is global, with recent growth spurts noted in Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Social Web sites are also very popular in many other countries, including Brazil, Japan, France, Australia, and China, where 92% of some 243 million broadband consumers contribute to this form of social media. This means you have the opportunity to communicate and share your thoughts with other pharmacy professionals worldwide.
And if you believed that social networking was only for the teen set, you would be wrong. According to Nielsen, as social networks become more mainstream their audience grows older. Globally, the greatest growth is coming from people aged 35 to 49, with the age-group shifting continually upward.
Most importantly, PharmQD is your social network. Whether it's talk of best practices or best restaurants, PharmQD offers something for everyone aligned professionally to pharmacy. It's fun, and it is free. Register today at www.PharmQD.com and become part of the excitement that will be sure to unleash your social side.
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