A group of student pharmacists and faculty from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) showed up to Harrisburg on March 24, 2010, to demonstrate how pharmacists can save healthcare dollars and improve public health outcomes.
The day began with a continental breakfast in the East Wing Rotunda of the Capitol followed by screenings, displays, and information provided by Pennsylvania’s seven schools of pharmacy. PCP students provided information to attendees on Diabetes Management.
In addition, the other pharmacy schools in attendance provided legislators and the community with information on the following topics: medication reviews, hypertension, poison prevention, immunization awareness, smoking cessation, and collaborative practice in the community Setting.
Participants met individually with legislators and staffers to discuss important issues of the profession focusing on the need for providing fair audits, mandatory mail order and preserving the patient’s freedom of choice, collaborative care and expanding scope of practice, and eliminating the age restriction on pharmacist provided immunizations. This important opportunity for pharmacists to have their voices heard and to stress the significance of issues facing pharmacy today was a crucial step in advancing the practice of pharmacy.