An award-winning chapter of University of Nebraska Medical Center pharmacy
students is celebrating National Pharmacy Week in several ways, and wants
to let patients know where they can come to get the best information about
their medications.
Pharmacists are patients best and most accessible medication experts,
said Paula Svoboda, a third-year College of Pharmacy student and president
of the American Pharmaceutical Association-Academy of Students of Pharmacy
(APhA-ASP) chapter at UNMC. When the patient keeps the pharmacist up-to-date
on all prescription and nonprescription medications being taken and asks
important questions, the pharmacists can monitor the patients treatment
and help guarantee a healthy result.
UNMC ASP chapter members are recognizing the importance of the pharmacists
role with several activities during National Pharmacy Week (Oct. 20-26).
Those include:
· The proclamation of National Pharmacy Week at noon on Monday,
Oct. 21. The proclamation prepared by Gov. Mike Johanns will be read by
Lt Gov. Dave Heineman. In addition, Heineman and U.S. Rep. Lee Terry will
make remarks at the ceremony at the College of Pharmacy building.
· Students will give influenza immunizations from Oct. 16 through
Oct. 28 at three Kohlls Pharmacy locations: 84th and Center streets,
50th and Dodge streets and 127th and Q streets. In addition, the
chapter is involved in giving flu shots to UNMC/NHS employees through its
Operation Immunization project. The projects have brought recognition to
the College of Pharmacy ASP chapter at national APhA conferences. Last
year, the students received the national Division AAA chapter achievement
award, along with regional awards for its health screenings.
· On Oct. 26-27, UNMC fraternity Kappa Epsilon and Kohlls Pharmacy
will team up at Westroads Mall. They will provide osteoporosis screening
for $10, as well as free blood pressure screenings. They will be available
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
These activities are in addition to an extensive list of community projects
in which the ASP chapter already is involved. A new twist this fall on
the Operations Diabetes project, Svoboda said, is that students soon will
begin taking the screenings to communities across Nebraska. The students
will travel to West Point on Oct. 26, Ashland on Nov. 23, and to Columbus
and Nebraska City this spring.
Svoboda said the screenings help the students gain experience in their
professional health-care roles. Pharmacists are more than dispensers of
medications, she said. They also can provide medication-counseling services,
including drug regimen reviews and drug interaction checks, coordination
of patient care with physicians and other health-care providers, and monitoring
of side effects.
Theres a lot we can do to ensure the health of consumers of medications,
and consumers should expect a higher level of service from todays pharmacists,
Svoboda said.