Just Breathe

by Matthew S. Duprey, P3 student pharmacist, Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; president, WSU-SSHP

This past year, the Wayne State University-Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy implemented a new asthma education project in the metro Detroit area. The idea of a previously informational organization moving into patient care seemed to be a challenge for our group, but we knew that it was time to show community members how pharmacists in health-systems can be valuable in their health management. We developed a training program with Dr. Sheila Wilhelm, associate professor of pharmacy practice. Then, we were able to teach patients in the community the importance of using their inhalers, as well as inform them of the difference between controllers and rescue inhalers. Through a series of health fairs, we were also able to teach hundreds of patients with the assistance of demo inhalers and a vitalograph. Not only did this allow students to expand on their consultation skills and therapeutic knowledge, it engaged the community to consider health-system pharmacists as valuable resources in health care. That can help us all breathe a little easier.

This piece will also be published in the July 2012 edition of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists newsletter, the MSHP Monitor.