Illinois congresswoman’s pharmacy visit opens eyes, doors
Illinois Republican Judy Biggert spends day at local pharmacies,
comes away a strong supporter of profession in health care reform.
On August 5, Rep. Judy Biggert (R–IL) visited Dominick’s
Pharmacy and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in the Chicago area to learn
more about pharmacist-provided comprehensive patient care services.
Biggert is a member of the GOP-led Health Care Solutions Working Group,
which works to provide solutions for health care reform. An article on
pioneerlocal.com stated that Biggert hoped to use the pharmacy visits to
“look at all facets of health care and find ideas she could
introduce to health care legislation.”
Sonali Kshatriya, PharmD, Residency Director for Dominick’s
Pharmacy, and Elizabeth Seybold, PharmD, Pharmacy Care Manager, led the
community pharmacy tour, pointing out areas specially designated for
patient interaction—encouraged by Dominick’s accessible,
open layout—and patient consultation, screenings, and
immunizations.
Biggert participated in a blood pressure screening and was privy to
demonstrations of vaccinations, diabetes, hypertension, and bone density
screening programs. Kshatriya and Seybold described their preventive
health program, Healthy Measures, which uses self-motivation and
rewards, such as health premium discounts, to improve overall
wellness.
At the hospital location, Biggert met with Jack Durley, director of
pharmacy, and clinical pharmacists Michelle Smith and Glenna Hargreaves.
They explained the institution’s medication reconciliation process
and discussed how anticoagulation therapy is monitored. Through these
programs and others, the pharmacists at Hinsdale Hospital have made more
than 21,000 drug therapy recommendations to physicians this year alone,
the pharmacists told Biggert.
Pharmacists at both locations urged Biggert to advocate for
pharmacist inclusion in health care reform legislation, mentioning
several pressing issues that currently affect the profession. Lack of
recognition as providers, they explained, hinders payment for provided
services and compromises funding for further programs. Pharmacists asked
Biggert to support the designation of pharmacists as providers under
Medicare Part B; they also asked for her support in obtaining federal
funding of specialty pharmacy residency programs and federal loan
forgiveness through the National Health Services Corp. Biggert asked a
question about health information technology and was told that ready
access to patient medical records is an essential tool to pharmacists,
as it prevents medication problems and assures that patients have
optimal drug therapy, both in terms of outcome and cost efficiency.
The visit was deemed a success by all parties involved. A media
release provided by Dominick’s representatives read,
“Congresswomen Biggert indicated her strong support for health
care policies that build on the many important roles pharmacists already
play in controlling health care costs while improving the accessibility
and quality of care. The pharmacists were delighted with her comments
and echoed their appreciation of her support for health care reform that
included their ideas.”
Related resources on www.pharmacist.com
Beth Farnstrom (bfarnstrom)
Posted August 21, 2009, 11:00 am EDT
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