Idaho State University Pharmacy Day at the State Capitol
By Lindsey Hunt & Andrea Winterswyk
Student pharmacists at Idaho State started their semester
with a busy week preparing for “Pharmacy Day at the Capitol”. This event was
planned and implemented in collaboration with the Idaho State Pharmacy
Association, and was the first pharmacy legislative event held at the Idaho State Capitol
in over eight years. More than 40 students and 14 pharmacists gathered on the 1st
floor of the Idaho State Capitol Building on January 20th to showcase pharmacy
in Idaho.
There were six different posters about various areas of
pharmacy presented to legislators and the community by pharmacists and
student pharmacists. A total of 40 flu shots were given, 57 blood glucose test performed,
42 blood pressures measured and 20 blood cholesterols checked through our
various APhA-ASP Patient Care Projects. In addition, student pharmacists provided educational
information about prescription drug abuse, smoking cessation, poison prevention, over-the-counter and natural drug safety, and meth awareness. It
was estimated that over 250 people attended the health fair, including many
legislators.
Keys to the success of this legislative event included the
following:
-120+ letters were sent by student pharmacists to 105
legislators requesting their attendance at the event
- Pharmacist involvement and attendance from all
corners of the state.
- Student pharmacists used social media and posted flyers all
over downtown Boise to promote the health screening portion of the event.
- Presentation of previous advocacy efforts,
including Pharmacy Week Coffee Sleeves and Postcards to Legislators.
- Students worked closely with the leaders of Idaho State Pharmacy Association to make this event successful.
- All four classes of student pharmacists were
represented at the event.
- Organizers of the event personally asked
PGY1/PGY2 Pharmacy Residents in the area to help students create and present
the posters about their specific professions.
By working with the state associations and student pharmacist leaders,
Idaho State University was able to raise awareness and advocate for our
profession on Pharmacy Day 2014. The
success of this event was due to the great support from student pharmacists and
pharmacists in Idaho. Later in February, student pharmacists from ISU will be speaking
with members of the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees to discuss
pharmacy school, postgraduate options, and the significant and potential role
of the pharmacist in Idaho’s changing health care system.
About The APhA-ASP
APhA-ASP Region 7
The American Pharmacist Association is the oldest and largest professional organization for pharmacists in the country. The Academy of Student Pharmacists is held within APhA and is comprised by student pharmacists throughout the nation who are still taking classes at their respective colleges of pharmacy. APhA-ASP puts a strong emphasis on patient care initiatives, advocacy for the profession, and overall training to become a professional in the field of pharmacy.
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