On National Check Your Meds Day, observed annually, the role of pharmacists comes into sharp focus. This initiative is aimed at bringing awareness to the critical importance of medication management. CarelonRx demonstrated its strong commitment to patient care by actively participating in this year's event, offering free medication reviews to members of the public.
Zeenia Gilani, PharmD — a Pharmacist Consultant at the Clinical Pharmacy Care Center with CarelonRx — shared her enriching experience from the event. “As pharmacists, we are always eager to interact with our patients. We are the most accessible provider profession where patients can come ask health-related queries without appointments. When I was presented with the opportunity to participate in the program, it felt like a great opportunity to interact with our plan members, as well as members of the general public, to educate them on the importance of their medications and address any medication concerns they may have,” Dr. Gilani stated.
The event was marked by meaningful interactions between pharmacists and patients. CarelonRx made it a point to use this occasion to engage deeply with individuals, providing them with vital information related to their medications. “I had a great conversation during one particular patient interaction,” Dr. Gilani recounted. “The patient asked important medical-related questions and was very receptive to the advice I was giving, showing a tremendous amount of trust in us as pharmacists. She was very appreciative that we had such a program and was happy to have participated.” This level of patient engagement underscores the trust and reliance placed on pharmacists in the healthcare system.
National Check Your Meds Day also aims to address the complexities involved with multiple medications. “Medications and disease states are complex. Patients can be on multiple medications, see multiple providers at a time. Medications have side effects, drug interactions, and sometimes counteract each other,” Dr. Gilani explained. This complexity often leads to confusion and potential hazards if medication regimens are not properly managed. Through this program, CarelonRx provided critical services to review and organize patients' medications, ensuring their safety and well-being.
The role of a pharmacist extends beyond just dispensing medications. They play a crucial role in ensuring that patients adhere to their medication plans, manage side effects, and reduce unnecessary medications. “Having someone who has the expertise to go over your medications and medication-related concerns on a regular basis can help improve adherence, can help reduce or manage side effects, may decrease pill burden due to possible duplications, and in turn be a huge step towards leading a healthy life,” Dr. Gilani noted. “Having patients understand the importance of their medications and the impact they have on their health is key.”
The involvement of CarelonRx on National Check Your Meds Day demonstrates our commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and patient health. With our active participation, at CarelonRx we have attempted to highlight the indispensable role of pharmacists in the healthcare continuum. As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for accessible, patient-centered pharmacy services becomes increasingly evident, and organizations like CarelonRx hope to lead the way in making that vision a reality.
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