Pharmacists estimate that of the 1.6 billion prescriptions written every year, half are taken incorrectly. Among the elderly, who take many more medications, about 55 percent are taken incorrectly. Some people believe that if one dose is good, two must be better, and they take too much. The UNMC American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy is sponsoring a free public activity as well as student events on-campus. They also will have information available about the role pharmacists play in disease prevention and management.
People can also ask questions about their medications.
The students also will be available to answer questions on how to store medications safely, what questions to ask pharmacists and which non-prescription medicines should not be taken with prescription medication. Pharmacists are an important resource for preventive care and managing health problems like diabetes and high cholesterol, said Sara Burda, UNMC pharmacy student. Pharmacists help eliminate unnecessary costs by improving medicine use. Pharmacists now are playing a more collaborative role with physicians in deciding how best to treat patients. Pharmacies also are expanding their roles within the health care delivery system from a profession focusing on preparation and dispensing of medications to one that promotes a range of patient-oriented services to maximize the medicine s effectiveness.