BackChoosing Your "Pharm" Team
Article Submitted by Nina Musick, Alliance Pharmaceutical, Greeley, CO. She can be reached at 970-378-8907.
Remember the 'good ole' days' when we visited the corner drug store?... Our pharmacist was the go-to person for most of us, the one who knew our family, and one we counted on as a first-line in our medical defense. Occasionally he/she might troubleshoot with our doctor or recommend a different medication, based on his awareness of a drug's side- effect, a potential interaction problem or even a simple financial need. In those 'good ole' days' this kind of practice was common and welcome, for the pharmacist was a key player on our family's healthcare team . Like our physician, we could depend upon our pharmacist for guidance to help keep us well. Remember?
Today we navigate a more demanding and complex experience that is less and less personal. As consumers, we have to be better informed and more responsible in order to meet our unique needs. Seniors comprise 15% of the U.S. population, take one-third of all medicines prescribed, and we cannot afford to remain passive health care consumers. Today we need to be fully aware of all medicines we take, their names, dosages and timing, possible side-effects and interaction risks with other substances, including some foods. We need to distinguish short and long-term prescriptions and we need to be able to report all prescriptions to any health professionals serving us. Overall, we have to personally take charge of our own health or delegate such important responsibility and oversight to an advocate we can trust.
In addition to simple methods to help us keep track of this crucial information, such as handy listings of medicines that we carry with us or post at home, it is helpful to select a pharmacy that provides the old-fashioned, individualized care that we still remember. Although it is altogether rare today, it is still possible to find support with special packaging systems, timed prescription refills, special needs research, ready consultation and even delivery to our doors, the kinds of services seniors should be able to count on. It is never too late to ask for what we need, and to know we can have it now! Remember!