Pharmacists Prepare for Patient-Care Roles during Biological Attack

WHAT: Session at American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 37th Annual Midyear Clinical Meeting to feature a simulation conducted by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Response and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The simulation will demonstrate the set-up and operation of a point of distribution site (POD) to treat meeting attendees "exposed" to anthrax.

Pharmacists staffing the POD will take medical histories, assess special needs, dispense medication, and provide counseling for "symptomatic" patients. The exercise scenario will demonstrate the intricacies and challenges involved in distributing a large amount of drug product to a large number of people in a short time frame.

WHEN: Dec. 10, 2002

WHERE Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta

WHO: Featured speakers include:

* CDR Matthew Tarosky, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Consultant, Office of Emergency Response, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services* Susan Gorman, Pharm.D., DABAT, Associate Director of Science, National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention* Russell K. Hulse, M.B.A., Director of Pharmacy Services, Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City* William L. Fritz, M.S., FASHP, Associate Director for Clinical Services, University Medical Center, Tucson, Ariz.

ASHP is the 30,000-member national professional association that represents pharmacists who practice in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, home care, and other components of health care systems. ASHP, which has a long history of medication error prevention efforts, believes that the mission of pharmacists is to help people make the best use of medicines. Assisting pharmacists in fulfilling this mission is ASHP's primary objective. The Society has extensive publishing and educational programs designed to help members improve their professional practice, and it is the national accrediting organization for pharmacy residency and pharmacy technician training programs. For more information, visit ASHP's Web site, www.ashp.org.