APhA Member News
A minute with …
Hong Nguyen, PharmD
Pharmacy practice coordinator
Ralphs Grocery Company (Kroger), Compton, CA
APhA member since 2008
“Being a member of APhA has been valuable to my career because it has allowed me to connect with pharmacists all over the nation. We are able to ask questions, share ideas, and thoughts in our Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The training programs that are offered through APhA have helped me become a better and more confident patient care provider.”
How has APhA helped you establish meaningful connections?
Through different SIGs, I have been able to connect with other pharmacists in all different practice areas. I attribute the meaningful connections I have had through APhA to the Annual Meetings. I have met so many different people (i.e., student pharmacists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, pharmacists, professors) and have learned something from each person I have met.
How does APhA help you thrive in your everyday practice?
All the training programs (immunization, medication therapy management, and diabetes management) that I have attended through APhA, I still use today. The knowledge I gained is used in my everyday practice. I also receive the newsletters, which continue to keep me updated with hot topics in pharmacy.
What excites you about the profession of pharmacy?
Pharmacist roles and responsibilities continue to advance. Community pharmacy is my passion, and you can see how much more pharmacists can do—prescribing immunizations, birth control, and for UTIs under state protocols, not just through collaborative practice. More and more patients are coming to their pharmacists first, the most accessible health professional.
Can you share a meaningful story about a time you interacted with a patient? Perhaps a time you felt you really made a difference for them?
When I worked at Fred Meyer (another Kroger Division in the Northwest) as a clinical staff pharmacist (CSP), I saw a lot of different patients through our health coaching programs. One patient in the diabetes coaching program was seeing another CSP, then he was transferred to me because I took on this store. His diabetes was not in control (blood glucose readings ranged from 150 to 400) and he was on insulin, but he was always afraid of increasing his dose because he was too afraid of getting hypoglycemia.
As we began to build our relationship through monthly meetings, he was able to open up and trust me. We were able to increase his insulin slowly to better manage his diabetes. He even opened up to getting vaccines—it took almost a year to prove to him that the shingles vaccine was highly recommended to him. It shows that if you are able to build that relationship with your patient, truly listen and understand them, they will listen to you as well. He was one of my toughest but most memorable patients, and thankful for the visits.
Members in motion
Former FDA Chief of Staff Susan C. Winckler, RPh, Esq., will assume the role of CEO for FDA’s Reagan-Udall Foundation on May 1, 2020
“Ms. Winckler brings a depth of experience to the Foundation that will enable her to carry out the mission of the organization in a highly effective manner,” said Ellen V. Sigal, PhD, chair of the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Before she was FDA’s chief of staff, Winckler served as president of Leavitt Partners Solutions, a health care strategy firm.
AMA, APhA, ASHP issue joint statement about COVID-19 medications
On March 25, 2020, the American Medical Association, APhA, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists issued a joint statement in response to reports on inappropriate ordering, prescribing, or dispensing of medications to treat COVID-19. The statement highlighted the important role of pharmacists, physicians, and health systems in a community’s reaction to emergencies and natural disasters. Read the full statement at https://apha.us/jointstatement.
Did you know?
APhA’s 15 on COVID-19 CPE series
APhA hosts a series to help you separate fact from fiction and rumor from hypothesis so that you will have the answers you need to educate yourself, your colleagues, and your patients about COVID-19. You can register and access previous episodes at www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus/resources-training. All episodes run 15 to 20 minutes and are approved for CPE for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Stories from the front lines
“I was at the register when a patient approached to pick up his medications. His English was poor, as he spoke primarily Spanish, but he did his best to explain his situation. He was just at the emergency department. This man was a new patient, and we could not find his insurance information in our system, but his medications came to about $40. When I asked for his insurance, he did not understand. With technology on my side and a computer in front of me, I googled Spanish terms so that I could better communicate with him. By doing so, I learned he did not have insurance, and I then began to look up discount cards to reduce the cost of his prescriptions. He was taken aback that I took the time to look up the Spanish translations so he could understand what I was saying. I knew he appreciated it and noticed his demeanor change as he felt much more comfortable in the situation. I was able to save the patient money on his medications, but the bigger accomplishment was making him feel comfortable with the situation and medications he was leaving with. Even though it was a little harder to communicate with him, it was necessary to take that time to ensure he knew what his medications were for and that we cared about his health.
Stephanie Schwartz, 2021 PharmD candidate, Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Johnson City, NY