Pharmacists to Get A New Title

I don’t usually keep up with politics but the world of pharmacy has some exciting stuff on its horizon. A bill has been introduced into the US Senate that would designate pharmacists under Medicare Part B as healthcare providers. This would allow pharmacists to have an expanded role in communities where health services may be very limited especially to those with Medicare coverage. Additional services they could provide include immunizations, cardiovascular screenings, self-management education, diabetic screenings, and behavioral screenings. This would only be allowed in states where pharmacists have the right to practice these items. I was unable to find the full manuscript of the bill to post but I will once it is released. I believe that pharmacists should be regarded as health professionals, they have so much knowledge that goes beyond just dispensing medication. Pharmacists are at the core of healthy nations.

the waiting game

Is there ANYTHING worse than waiting for big news? No. Since December 31 I have been patiently waiting for the letter that may very much change my life. The first phase of acceptance into pharmacy school. It is all I can really think about, and the only thing my pre-pharm friends and I seem to talk about. Its so nerve-racking that the crew in charge of all of this went through my application and decided if I was good enough. That sentence alone is enough to put me into my panic mode. Lately I've been doing everything I can to AVOID thinking about this letter. Crafting is my current vice, but I'm fresh out of things to create. The letter will not arrive until next week. Its like having an angel and a devil on your shoulders. One side tells you not to get your hopes up, this may not happen, while the other is planning an outfit for interview day. I still haven't picked a side. All I know is I have no plan B, I only have plan A. I want this.

New Generic

The FDA has approved the first generic form of Nexium (esomeprazole). Esomeprazole treats GERD, which is gastroesophageal reflux disease that affects children and adults. While it is great news that this generic has been approved, Nexium is already available without a prescription and for less than $10 dollars at most retail locations. Depending on the coverage of the patient's insurance company, it might be better to continue buying it without the hassle of a prescription.

Me.

I never properly introduced myself, so allow me too.

My name is Ashlyn Riedesel and I am a Pre-Pharmacy Student at NDSU with a minor in Business Administration. Does that sound exhausting? It most definitely is. When I'm not in the library I hang out with friends, watch lots of movies and take an excessive amount of pictures of my dogs :) 

I chose Pharmacy at age 6, seriously. I was watching my uncle and grandpa count medication at their local pharmacy in ND and I knew I wanted to be right there with them. Fast-forward a few years and nine year old Ashlyn dressed as a pharmacist for the what I want to be when I grow up play. There’s a picture out there somewhere (I think). When I reached high school I wasn't so sure about my career path. I thought about architecture, can't draw, marketing and PR, solely based on the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and nursing, because of the natural girl/nurse stereotype all high school girls have. When it came time to apply for college I actually chose Nursing as my major, I wanted to work with babies in the Neo-Natal ICU. Then I started health occupations. My high school offers the program health occupations where students can work in areas all over the clinic and hospital to see which field they like best. It was there that I fell back into love with pharmacy. I followed around the hospital pharmacist Jesse and got to help him with his everyday tasks. I was constantly being challenged mentally and I loved it! He would ask me if I wanted to leave early and I consistently said no, I wanted to learn every thing he had to teach me! I had never seen the hospital side of pharmacy and it was so exciting. So, the day of NDSU orientation I marched up to the table and declared pharmacy as my major, and haven't looked back since. Okay, that’s a lie. When the going gets tough I joke that I should just become a baker instead. But with all honesty, I cannot wait to have the title of Pharm. D. after my name. Goosebumps! 

The Year of the Robot

A pharmacy in Texas is now using a robot to count their prescriptions. The EyeCon will scan the NDC code on the stock bottle, a technician pours out the medication onto the EyeCon and the EyeCon counts the required number of pills and the technician removes the excess. When counting C-2 medication the EyeCon has the ability to take pictures of the pill count to ensure that the correct amount of medication is dispensed. This picture can be viewed again later incase patients are questioning the accuracy of their dispensed medication. It is a pretty neat tool to have in the pharmacy and it is increasing productivity and allowing for fewer technicians.

Voice Your Value!

One of my favorite videos that relates to pharmacy that was made by my organization APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists. It is so funny and I laugh every time!!

Gardasil 9

Good news on the prevention of HPV in young men and women. Merck has created the latest version of the Gardasil shot to include five more types of HPV called Gardasil 9. The vaccination will become available in February 2015. The vaccine now covers 90% of the cancers that can form from HPV, this is up 20% from the previous Gardasil vaccine. The next mission for physicians is to increase the vaccination rates in both men (ages 9-15) and women (ages 9-26). Even if the shot is unavailable in their area, Pharmacists should recommend the vaccination to families.