"What pharmacists do and what they will do is shifting," said Kenneth M. Hale, assistant dean of OSU’s College of Pharmacy. "When I was a young lad, the American Pharmacists Association had a code of ethics that said pharmacists couldn’t counsel patients. Now, it’s unethical not to. The clear line between doctors and pharmacists has changed." The need to fill prescriptions has been partially addressed by technology improvements and the use of pharmacy technicians. But that hasn’t helped with increasing pressure on pharmacies to become more involved in helping patients manage their drugs, especially elderly patients who might take several medicines, said Dr. David Knapp, dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland. "Every hour of every day, dozens if not hundreds of prescriptions are coming across the counter," Knapp said. "They are trying to do that while at the same time counseling patients, calling physicans, helping diabetic patients manage eight or 10 medicines, teaching parents how to help their child use his new asthma inhaler." To train more students to become pharmacists, 20 pharmacy schools have opened in the past five years, including one at the University of Findlay. The Northeast Ohio College of Medicine Board of Regents approved a program at that school this month. Classes will begin in 2007.