October is American Pharmacist’s Month

Photo By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño | Staff Sgt. Marckia Wilson, 379th Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician, prepares an intravenous injection to be administered to a patient on the inpatient care ward Oct. 4, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Pharmacists and technicians are responsible for ensuring appropriate critical care medications are made using aseptic techniques in the IV hood. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)  

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR

10.11.2016

Story by Senior Airman Janelle Patiño 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

Per the American Pharmacists Association, the month of October is American Pharmacist’s Month. It is to acknowledge the invaluable contributions that pharmacists and technicians make to patient care in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics and other healthcare settings.



Here, the 379h Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron pharmacy clinic provides 24/7 medication access to all active duty, guard and reservists deployed or stationed here, Camp As Sayliyah and any transient Aeromedical Evacuation patients from across the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility.



“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with other health care professionals to provide optimal medication outcomes when it comes to patient care,” said Maj. Dekontee Traub, 379th EMDSS pharmacist. “We help aid in providing drug recommendations, appropriate drug dosages, drug interactions and patient counseling about the medication prescribed and dispensed to our military members and help get them back to the fight quicker.”



In addition, the pharmacy clinic also provides medication access to command sponsored family members over the age of 14 and processes more than 670 new prescriptions and dispenses more than 900 go and no-go medications weekly to aircrew.



“The pharmacy here is unique as we are capable of providing outpatient, inpatient and emergency services,” said Staff Sgt. MarcKia Wilson, 379th EMDSS pharmacy technician. “We also prepare military members for forward deployments by dispensing approximately 80 biological and chemical warfare kits and 40 anti-malaria prescriptions each week.”

• Date Taken: 10.11.2016
• Date Posted: 10.11.2016 08:34
• Story ID: 211676
• Location: AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA