Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - (Page 4) 4 DRUG TOPICS FEBRUARY 4, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Of Interest to Students Can you explain pharmacy to an eighth grader? T. Joseph Mattingly II, Pharm.D. Student ast semester I had the opportunity to give a tour mon areas like community and hospital pharmacy of the University of Kentucky College of Phar- practices. I had to remind myself not to overload her macy to my 14-year-old cousin who asked me to with too much information, but to provide adequate help her with a job shadowing project for school. I descriptions of some of the possibilities in the profesfelt proud that she wanted to spend time learning sion. about my profession and I wanted it to be a great exAs our discussion continued, I repeatedly referred perience for her to share with her eighth-grade class. to pharmacists as the medication experts, because I Prior to her visit, I spent a great deal of time contem- wanted to make sure that message was conveyed. It is plating two important questions: What does a phar- important to relay a consistent message and to remacist do? How do I explain member that what you say it to an eighth grader? will reflect on the entire proHow would you answer Every pharmacist and pharmacy fession. Just answering the those questions? It seems question at an eighth-grade that anyone in the media student must be prepared reading level doesn’t cut it. would be quick to show a to answer a general question Not only are eighth graders picture of the counting tray very bright, they are impresand a person in a white coat about the pharmacy profession sionable and open to all standing there putting a label at any moment and in front kinds of information. I tried on an amber vial. While it to articulate in a clear way may trouble some pharma- of any audience. the medication expertise a cists that we are portrayed in Doctor of Pharmacy possessthat way, can you really blame the media for finding es and the role a pharmacist plays within the healththe short and simple way to get their point across? care team. Conveying a clear and consistent message With a broad question like ‘What does a pharmacist in an effortless way will increase the likelihood that do?’ there are really no boundaries to the answer, but the information will stick. it must be put into words that would make sense to Every pharmacist and pharmacy student must be someone who may have no clue what goes on in prepared to answer a general question about the pharhealth care. What is the probability that anyone in macy profession at any moment and in front of any the eighth grade knows the meaning of medication audience. We need to continue to repeat the same therapy management, medication reconciliation, or medication expert message whenever we are prompteven Medicare Part D? By having the ability to define ed and speak directly to our audience. Do not assume pharmacy in an easily understandable way, we will be that every person listening has a working knowledge able to reach a larger audience and get our message of the profession. If we really want to change the peracross more effectively. ception and promote the profession, we must be able When my eighth-grade cousin asked me why I to communicate our message at any level, whether wanted to become a pharmacist, I simply responded you are speaking before members of a Congressional that I want to help people. I continued to explain that Committee or in front of your child’s class for career as medication experts, pharmacists are able to help day. people understand how their medicines can affect their lives; pharmacists work with doctors to make THE AUTHOR is an MBA Candidate (2009) at the University of Kentucky sure that patients are receiving the best care they can College of Pharmacy and Vice Chair of the American Pharmacists Association’s ASP National Standing Committee on Communications and get. I went on to talk about how pharmacists are able the APhA-ASP Chapter President. to work in a variety of different settings and I did my best to explain in more detail some of the more com- L www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 Medication Errors: A Plan for Quality Can You Explain Pharmacy to an Eighth Grader? Latest News Roundup Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 (Page 1) Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 (Page 2) Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Medication Errors: A Plan for Quality (Page 3) Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Can You Explain Pharmacy to an Eighth Grader? (Page 4) Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 5) Drug Topics - February 4, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 6)
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