Michigan Pharmacists Association believes in making sure that patients receive health care that is safe, effective and economically cost efficient.  Pharmacists are the medication experts, and their professional medication therapy management services ensure that patients receive the best health care outcomes and obtain the best results from their medications. As a patient, you can take the initiative to ensure your health by relying on your pharmacist’s expertise.

Listen to this podcast, "Pharmacists Can Make the Difference," where a pharmacist counsels a frustrated mother about appropriate antibiotic use and symptomatic relief options for her son's cold. It was created by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD).

View this booklet titled "Pharmacists and Your Health Care" to learn more about how pharmacists can help you and improve your health.

Patient Care and Pharmacist Involvement

• Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers
• Pharmacists are the medication experts
• Pharmacists are in nearly every community (rural, urban and suburban), including hospitals, long-term care settings and other medical institutions
• Pharmacists provide patients with medication therapy management services that improve patient health care outcomes and reduce overall health care costs
• Pharmacists can provide general health screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol levels, diabetes and other conditions, helping patients to be proactive with their health
• Pharmacists provide vital immunizations to keep their patients healthy and safe

Cost Effective Care

• Pharmacists are able to assist individuals without insurance in obtaining cost effective medications every day
• Patients taking medications correctly prevent additional visits to physicians and emergency rooms

Enhanced Patient Safety

• Pharmacists identify medication duplications and interactions, thus preventing unnecessary and costly emergency room visits or hospitalization.
• Pharmacists are trained experts in medication safety and medication use and are committed to ensuring that patients’ experiences with prescription and
  over-the-counter medications are safe and effective.  Pharmacists are also
  involved throughout the course of patients’ treatments, both at home and in health-systems.

Be sure to ask your pharmacist these questions to get the most from your medications:

• What is the medicine for?
  
• How do I take it?  How long do I take it?
  
• What are the possible side effects?  What do I do if I experience them?
  
• Is this medicine safe to combine with other medicines or dietary supplements I am taking?
  
• What food, drink or activities should I stay away from while taking this medicine?

The following are things you can do as a patient to increase their likelihood of safe and effective medication use:

• Pharmacists encourage you to take an active role by maintaining an accurate list of medications for your health care provider.
• When you are aware that you have any allergies to medications, share this information with your doctor and pharmacist.
• Report any symptoms as soon as possible, even if you think they are unrelated to your medication.
• Take the time to learn the names, dosage and schedule for taking your medications.
• Tell your pharmacist how you are taking the medication, particularly if it is different from the written directions.
• Ask your pharmacist to write down information for you so you can reference specific instructions later if you forget them.
• Clarify directions for taking a new medication by repeating them and allowing your pharmacist to confirm.
• Question anything you don’t understand that looks different or not right.  Ask for clarification on changes (e.g., pills look different, dosage strength is different, directions for taking are different) to your medication refill.