Make the most of American Pharmacists Month

Abstract

This October, show pride in all that you and your pharmacy colleagues do to keep patients and communities healthy. American Pharmacists Month (APhM) is a great time to celebrate pharmacists’ contributions in keeping with the theme “Know Your Pharmacist—Know Your Medicine.” Student pharmacists across the country will hold APhM events on campus and in the community to raise awareness about pharmacists’ accessible patient care services. “We will be participating in an event called ‘Healthy Halloween’ at Sligh Middle School [in Tampa, FL] to teach students how knowledgable pharmacists are on a variety of topics through games such as ‘sodium shakedown’ and ‘sugar meltdown,’” said Matthew Noble, president of the APhA–Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP) chapter at University of South Florida. Student pharmacists at Union University “will be hosting a full week of advocacy events and specialized social media campaigns,” said Tiffany Rice, APhA–ASP vice president of policy. “We do not practice pharmacy to seek gratitude for our services. However, we would like to raise awareness about the functions we perform.” As you celebrate APhM, visit www.pharmacistsprovidecare.com to stay on top of key legislation affecting pharmacists at the federal level. The website also features tips on how to advocate for pharmacist provider status recognition under Medicare. Along with sending letters and e-mails, making phone calls, and inviting lawmakers to visit practice sites, pharmacists and their allies can also inquire about acting in an advisory capacity to their elected officials. Let your representatives know that you are a resource for information on health care, the opioid crisis, business, and many other topics. APhA has continued its work to not only advance provider status but also ensure that pharmacists’ unique perspective is represented in today’s most critical health care conversations. In a letter to Elinore McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, new assistant secretary at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, APhA recommended making pharmacists eligible for Drug Addiction Treatment Act waivers, which help enable the provision of buprenorphine in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in settings not registered as opioid treatment programs. APhA also commented on the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis Force’s Draft Interim Report, urging the members to consider in its final report pharmacists’ involvement in mandatory education, MAT, naloxone access, prescription drug monitoring programs, and privacy laws. The comments also emphasized the importance of provider status, safe disposal of unused medications, and enhanced communication among members of the health care team. The final report is expected to be released this month. APhA will again partner with student pharmacists and local pharmacists to administer influenza vaccinations and conduct health screenings at the fifth annual Capitol Hill Health Fair on October 11. The event is aimed at encouraging congressional leaders to support the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592/S. 109) and to further establish the pharmacy profession’s leadership presence on the federal level. The health fair is open to lawmakers, congressional staff, and members of the public. APhA will tweet a pharmacy fact every day of APhM. Check it every day, retweet, share, and encourage your patients to do the same. It’s not too late to make your own APhM plans. Visit www.pharmacist.com/aphm and consult APhA’s planning guide for ideas. And don’t limit yourself to just 1 month—use the guide to plan promotions during APhM and throughout the year.