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Pharmacy Awareness Week 2001
March 5-11
This year's theme is Pharmacists care, no matter where.

You've just been told that you need to have routine surgery. You will stay in hospital overnight, then be sent home to recover, accompanied by a morphine pump to help you manage your pain. Sounds frightening, but it is not an uncommon situation in Canada's health care system today.

As you plan ahead and make arrangements for your surgery and recovery, such as booking time off work, cancelling commitments in the community and lining up post-operative care and support, don't forget to plan to visit with your community pharmacist to discuss your medication needs. Involving your pharmacist-the drug expert-in your care will make sure you get the most from your medicine.

During Pharmacy Awareness Week 2001 (March 5-11) pharmacists are reminding Canadians that, whether they are at home, in hospital or nursing home, at the outpatient clinic, or when moving between settings, "Pharmacists care, no matter where". This year's campaign focuses on the pharmacist's role in providing continuous care to patients which, among other things, helps avoid medication errors, such as duplicate prescriptions, when you are under the care of more than one doctor.

How you, the patient, can help
Before you go to the hospital, talk to your community pharmacist:

• Make sure you know all the medications you are taking, and why you are taking them.
• Ask for a list of all your prescription medications. Make sure it shows the exact dose of each medication that you take, as well as how often you take it. Add to the list any nonprescription drugs, herbal and natural health products and vitamins you are taking. If you take medication regularly, it's always a good idea to have such a list on hand anyway, in case of emergency.
• Bring the list to the hospital with you and present it to the admissions staff so they can place it in your chart. Make sure your caregivers know the list is available.
• Ask about the medications you are already taking. You should know if they will be continued while you are in the hospital.

Once you are ready to be discharged, your hospital pharmacist can help you make the transition from hospital to home. Here's how you can help:

• Ask to speak with the hospital pharmacist before you leave the hospital.
• Make sure you understand how to take your medicine properly before you go home.
• Be certain about whether you are to continue taking medications you were taking before your admission to hospital.
• Tell the hospital pharmacist, doctor and nurse the name of the community pharmacy you regularly use.
• Ask for a list of medications you are taking and give it to your doctor and community pharmacist.
• Plan to make contact with your community pharmacy as soon as possible after your discharge from hospital.

The benefits of working with your pharmacist are far-reaching. An increasing number of Canadians are taking medication to control one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma. Taking your medications properly allows these conditions to be managed, helping you feel better and minimizing long-term complications. New and advanced medications are becoming available every day. More medications are becoming available over the counter without the need for a prescription. When it comes to taking medicine properly and safely, the right information is essential to your good health. Talk to your pharmacist.

Your health checklist
Your pharmacist can help you make the best choices for your health. Here are a few other important steps you can take to help you enjoy better health:

• Choose a pharmacy that meets your needs and continue to use only that pharmacy.
• Keep your pharmacist up to date on any prescription, nonprescription or herbal or natural health products (NHPs) you are taking.
• Ask your pharmacist to help you select nonprescription medications or herbal and NHPs.
• Take your medications as directed.
• Talk to your pharmacist if you are unsure about how to take or store your medications or if you are having any problems with your medications.
• Never leave the pharmacy before you know the answers to all your questions.

Pharmacy Awareness Week is brought to you by your pharmacist and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS), the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI), the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP).

For more information about Pharmacy Awareness Week, contact Janet Bécigneul, National Pharmacy Awareness Week Manager, at (613) 523-7877 ext. 267, or e-mail paw@cdnpharm.ca.
Visit us online: www.pharmacy-awareness.com.