{"id":8389,"date":"2024-01-21T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-21T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8389"},"modified":"2024-01-21T19:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T19:30:00","slug":"pharmacists-critical-to-veterans-health-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8389","title":{"rendered":"Pharmacists critical to Veterans\u2019 health care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-01-21T19:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Although their interactions are often brief, it\u2019s the work behind the scenes that the 164 pharmacists at Bay Pines VA<\/a> do that makes an impact on Veterans.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt about it, pharmacists are critical to health care,\u201d said Chief of Pharmacy Dr. Idi Idiong, pictured above. \u201cThey make valuable contributions that help improve safe medication use, advance patient care and improve cost efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, the team provided 1.3 million prescriptions to Veterans across southwest Florida. This included 900,000 prescriptions to outpatients and 400,000 prescriptions to inpatients.<\/p>\n

The team directly supports all of Bay Pines VA\u2019s facilities, which include C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, Lee County Healthcare Center and seven VA clinics, in addition to the State Veteran\u2019s Nursing Home in Port Charlotte, Florida.<\/p>\n

Providing patients education about each medication<\/h2>\n

In addition to providing medication to Veterans, they are also difference makers in prescribing resources and supporting patient education about each medication prescribed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re experts on the thousands of medications, and we work to educate patients on how each medication works in the body and the way to use each one safely and effectively. We take this responsibility seriously because Veterans look to us for answers, and there\u2019s nothing more rewarding than when we\u2019re able to provide them with this important information to assist with their health care journey,\u201d Idiong said.<\/p>\n

When Idiong and her pharmacists are not educating Veterans, they welcome opportunities for increased responsibility in their personal and professional lives.<\/p>\n

Proud of high score from Veterans<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe train eight pharmacy residents and several pharmacy students annually. Many of our pharmacists have earned advanced board certifications, which means they are highly knowledgeable in their practice area. This reflects such a strong commitment on their part to ensure Veterans receive the best care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Idiong added that her team\u2019s commitment is making a difference and Veterans are letting them know. \u201cFrom November 2022 through October 2023, we obtained a 92.4% trust score rating for outpatient pharmacy, which exceeded the VA national average. We are so proud of this score because it comes directly from Veterans. We are focused on increasing that this year because they deserve our very best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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