Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy has recently created a series of videos to promote the “Script Your Future” campaign, a national push to encourage prescription medication adherence.
The first video focuses on the importance of taking medications as scheduled. It gives viewers several convenient ways remember to take medications on time.
The second video focuses specifically on diabetes and the effects it can take on one’s body.
You can get involved and help support the School of Pharmacy in this campaign by viewing these two videos and “taking the pledge to take your meds” by electronically signing. At the end of the campaign, five schools will be recognized nationally and receive grant funds as reward for having the highest number of signups.
“Script Your Future is here to help people manage health problems such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure or high cholesterol,” according to scriptyourfuture.org. “When you learn that you have a long-term health problem, one of the most important ways you can manage your condition is by taking your medicine as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional.”
The School of Pharmacy is participating in this campaign with the aim of raising awareness of the fact that one out of three people never fill their prescriptions. Nearly 45 percent of the population has one or more chronic conditions that require medications — yet nearly three out of four Americans do not take their medications as directed, and more than one-third of medication-related hospital admissions are linked to poor medication adherence. This all leads to a $290 billion cost to Americans each year, according to the School of Pharmacy.
“In addition to raising awareness we are also working to provide free health screenings at various events we are hosting,” says Rithy Tamba, administrative assistant to Nancy Kawahara, PharmD, MSEd, associate dean for assessment and professional affairs, LLU School of Pharmacy.
“We have the entire student body involved with this campaign, but it’s really the student organizations that worked the hardest,” she adds. “I also want to give credit to Amanda Golay, third-year pharmacy student, as she took the lead on this year’s campaign and has done an amazing job with her efforts.”
In addition to the videos, students have participated in events at a retiree home in Riverside to talk about medication management as well as providing blood pressure and bone density screenings. Another event took place at the Riverside Free Clinic, where students provided free health screenings to the public while incorporating discussions about medication adherence.
To learn more, be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
- On Feb. 19, students will be hosing a booth at the Redlands Market Night specifically to discuss medication adherence as well as providing blood pressure and bone density screenings.
- On Feb. 26, students will once again be at Redlands Market Night distributing fliers to promote awareness of medication adherence.
The student organizations in the LLU School of Pharmacy supporting this campaign are their chapters of the American Pharmacist Association, California Pharmacist Association, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, California Society of Health Systems Pharmacist, National Community Pharmacists Association, Student National Pharmacist Association, Rho Chi, Phi Lambda Sigma and Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International.