Transcript What Can Your Pharmacist Do For You?

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Learn more about your pharmacist’s role in managing your
medications
Understand the importance of a strong relationship
between you and your pharmacist
Understand the importance of medication safety programs
such as the TakeAway program
Learn about the valuable services provided by your
pharmacist, including MTM, immunizations and screenings
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2 years of pre-pharmacy coursework or a
bachelor’s degree
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4 years of graduate courses at an approved
college of pharmacy
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Optional trainings
◦ Residency
◦ Ph.D. program
◦ Board certified specialist
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Wide variety, including:
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Community pharmacy
Long-term care
Research and development
Hospitals/health systems
Veterinary pharmacy
Managed care
Consultant pharmacy
Public health
Nuclear pharmacy
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Your pharmacist plays an important role in
helping to manage your health care by:
◦ Communicating with your physician and health care
providers to optimize your medication therapy
◦ Checking your medications to ensure you receive the
proper drug and dose for your condition
◦ Ensuring you know how to properly use your
medications
◦ Being readily available to answer any questions you have
about prescription or over-the-counter medications
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In the best interest of your health and safety, it is
important to fill all of your prescriptions at the
same pharmacy
Your pharmacist will be able to identify
interactions between your medications with an
accurate and up-to-date list
Frequent interaction with your pharmacist can
serve as the foundation of a strong relationship
with mutual trust, enabling your pharmacist to
provide you with better care
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Pharmacists in the state of Iowa must offer to provide
proper counseling on all new prescriptions to help
patients safely use their medications
Counseling information should address
What the medication is supposed to do
When and how you should take your medication
How long you should take your medication
What effects you may experience while taking the
medication
◦ Other information pertaining to your medication (e.g.,
avoiding certain foods or alcohol)
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Over 475 community pharmacies in Iowa offer the TakeAway
medication disposal program
TakeAway accepts unused or expired prescription and over-thecounter medications and properly disposes of them
◦ Cannot accept controlled substances
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TakeAway program goals include:
◦ Reducing accidental ingestion of medications
◦ Fighting medication abuse
◦ Decreasing the exposure of medications to the environment and water
supply
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MTM services help to identify, prevent, and resolve
medication therapy problems and provide education
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MTM includes many diverse services pharmacists can
provide to patients, including:
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Comprehensive medication review
Patient medication list/pocket medication card
Patient take-home goals and review points
Follow-up with physicians
The goal of MTM is to help patients achieve optimal
outcomes from their medication therapy while
decreasing health care costs
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Many pharmacists in Iowa are trained and
certified to administer vaccinations, which
may include:
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Flu vaccine
Shingles vaccine
Pneumonia vaccine
Whooping cough vaccine
Travel immunizations
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Pharmacists are able to conduct many health
screenings, including:
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Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Thyroid
Blood glucose/sugar
Bone density
Body fat
Hemoglobin A1c (diabetes)
INR (blood thinners)
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What is your pharmacist’s name?
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How many pharmacies do you use to fill your
prescriptions?
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What questions do you ask your pharmacist when you
pick up your medications?
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Has your pharmacist given you a vaccine?
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What preventive health services has your pharmacist
provided to you?
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Do you have a comprehensive list of your medications?
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