Drug Topics - October 8, 2007 - (Page 37)

www.drugtopics.com OCTOBER 8, 2007 DRUG TOPICS 37 CONTINUING EDUCATION An ongoing CE program of The University of Florida College of Pharmacy and DRUG TOPICS The pharmacist as first responder in disaster relief Sean Leonard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, NOVA Southeastern University, Marcus Droege, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. CE The University of Florida College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education ACPE # 012-99907-190-H04-P E This lesson is no longer valid for CE credit after 10/31/09. very year, a multitude of large-scale natural and human-made disasters strike communities across the United States and throughout the world. Recent notable examples include Hurricane Katrina in 2005, torrential rainfall and flooding in parts of Texas that left hundreds of residents stranded for days without power in early 2007, and numerous and often devastating tornados that claimed several lives and caused severe disruptions in many communities throughout the Midwest. Other examples of potential disasters include earthquakes, wildfires, landslides or mudslides, terrorist attacks, chemical emergencies, and radiation emergencies. Disaster events, then, can happen anywhere and often without warning. Depending on the scope and severity of the emergency, responses to these disasters are coordi- To obtain immediate CE credit, take the test on-line at www.drugtopics.com. Just click on the “Continuing Education” box on the Drug Topics home page, which will take you to the CE site. Log in, find and click on this lesson, and follow the three simple steps. Test results will be displayed immediately and you can print the certificate showing your earned CE credits. nated at the local, regional, and federal levels with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinating emergency responses. Preparing to serve as a first responder involves understanding the vital services that healthcare professionals can provide alongside police, firefighters, and rescue personnel. Pharmacists serve at a critical junction coordinating the influx of medications to the disaster area and ensuring that medications are stored and dispensed properly. Most (but not all) jurisdictions allow for pharmacists to provide essential immunizations and similar treatments, such as tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations. Less acknowledged yet still vital roles for pharmacists include case consultation with other disaster relief clinicians, facilitating medication refills in the days and weeks after the disaster, mobile outreach to provide medications to victims who cannot reach clinics on their own, and providing basic psychological support to victims. The purpose of this article is to present the roles that pharmacists may play in responding to local disasters occurring within their own communities. Because disasters can happen anywhere, it is suggested that any pharmacist may be thrust into the role of first responder in the aftermath of a local disaster, and that it is prudent for all pharmacists to be prepared in advance. This article will also emphasize the “psychological precautions” that should be followed when serving in a first-responder capacity to minimize the risks of clinical errors and/or longterm adverse reactions. Logistical considerations, For questions concerning PRINT CEs, call (352) 273-6275. For questions concerning ON-LINE CEs, call (866) 261-3558. Photo: Jim Shive http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - October 8, 2007

Drug Topics - October 8, 2007 Latebreakers Latebreakers in Depth Letters Rx Care Community Practice JP at Large 150 Years of American Pharmacy Hospital Practice Are You Getting Pharmacy's Message Across? Self-Care Government and Law Legal Q&A The Pharmacist as First Responder in Disaster Relief Technology Update New Products Advertisers Index Statement of Ownership Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - October 8, 2007

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