October recognizes American Pharmacists

October doesn’t just bring cooler weather, football season and pumpkin flavored everything. This month recognizes American Pharmacist Month.

Many individuals outside of health professions are unaware of services that pharmacists are trained and certified to provide.

Stephen Fuselier, a sophomore marketing major said, “I didn’t know that pharmacists where trained to give shots, check blood sugar, or blood pressure. Honestly, I thought they just simply fill prescriptions all day long.”

After explaining just a few of the services pharmacists can provide Stephen replied, “It’s nice to know that I can go to a pharmacist and get medical advice without having to always make a doctor’s appointment.”

Currently, one of the major developments in pharmacy has been the proposed legislation for provider status. Because pharmacists have more medication education and training than other health professionals, there has been a strong push for the advancement of provider status in Congress by students and practicing pharmacy.

September marked 191 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and 28 co-sponsors in the Senate who pledged their support of the provider status legislation bill Pharmacy student, Hannah Holbrook said, “Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals. You can walk into almost any pharmacy and see a professional with a doctorate level of education without an appointment. “

Pharmacists can measure blood pressure and blood sugar, teach those how to draw up and inject your insulin. They can also assist with meal planning and smoking cessation, etc.

“Know your medicine, know your pharmacist,” said Holbrook. Moreover, health studies have proven that patients who know their pharmacist are significantly more compliant with their drug therapy regimen.

Healthcare and patient care can be improved by asking a health physician or pharmacist about any medical concerns.