Page 23 - RxBound Winter 2015 Extended
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Shaping the future of pharmacy practice through advocacy:
Meeting with Congresswoman Judy Chu
By Shawn Healer, PharmD ’17 and Sara Khuu, PharmD ’17 Dean Robinson began with some background information on
HR4190, and explained its importance in improving access
As the shortage of primary care physicians continues to grow and its role in reducing long-term medical costs associated
relative to the millions of additional citizens who are covered with chronic conditions. Congresswoman Chu was interested
under the Affordable Care Act, so do the difficulties in how this bill would change pharmacy practice. In response,
associated with gaining access to healthcare services. This is it was pointed out that everything that the bill proposes is
especially true for those in medically underserved already in the pharmacist’s scope of practice and education.
communities. Often times, this lack of access to essential Dr. Law added that roughly 116 members of congress have
services leads to more emergency room visits and an increase already signed on as co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill. During
in healthcare costs. The bill HR4190 allows pharmacists, in the meeting Congresswoman Chu asked why it took so long
coordination with other health care providers, to address for us to ask her to be a co-sponsor. After the laughter
many of these issues in underserved communities by subsided, you could almost see the sigh of relief as it became
increasing early access in cost-effective settings to medication clear that Congresswoman Chu was on board, and one more
management and other services that improve the quality of co-sponsor of this important legislation. The meeting
care. The bill would enable pharmacists to provide patient concluded with a quick photo, and a huge thank you to
care services that are consistent with their education, training, Congresswoman Chu for fitting us into her busy schedule.
and legal scope of practice.
The event was a success and another step toward furthering
In an effort to see this bill pass we met with the US Represen- pharmacy’s important role in patient care. Members of
tative (CA-27th Congressional District), Congresswoman Judy Congress in all districts are always happy to meet with their
Chu on October 9, 2014, in her Pasadena office. This meeting constituents, and events just like these are taking place across
included Daniel Robinson, PharmD, FASHP, Dean, WesternU the country. We encourage all pharmacists and students to be
College of Pharmacy, two second-year pharmacy students Sara active in contacting their representatives to help shape the
Khuu and Shawn Healer, and Victor Law, local pharmacy future of pharmacy practice.
owner and member of the State Board of Pharmacy. The meet-
ing began with a brief introductions and some reminiscing Photo above: Shawn Healer, PharmD ’17, Victor Law, RPh, Judy Chu, Daniel Robinson,
over the many years of successful collaboration on many po- PharmD, FASHP, Dean, College of Pharmacy, and Sara Khuu, PharmD ’17.
litical issues between Dr. Law and Congresswoman Chu.
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 21
Meeting with Congresswoman Judy Chu
By Shawn Healer, PharmD ’17 and Sara Khuu, PharmD ’17 Dean Robinson began with some background information on
HR4190, and explained its importance in improving access
As the shortage of primary care physicians continues to grow and its role in reducing long-term medical costs associated
relative to the millions of additional citizens who are covered with chronic conditions. Congresswoman Chu was interested
under the Affordable Care Act, so do the difficulties in how this bill would change pharmacy practice. In response,
associated with gaining access to healthcare services. This is it was pointed out that everything that the bill proposes is
especially true for those in medically underserved already in the pharmacist’s scope of practice and education.
communities. Often times, this lack of access to essential Dr. Law added that roughly 116 members of congress have
services leads to more emergency room visits and an increase already signed on as co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill. During
in healthcare costs. The bill HR4190 allows pharmacists, in the meeting Congresswoman Chu asked why it took so long
coordination with other health care providers, to address for us to ask her to be a co-sponsor. After the laughter
many of these issues in underserved communities by subsided, you could almost see the sigh of relief as it became
increasing early access in cost-effective settings to medication clear that Congresswoman Chu was on board, and one more
management and other services that improve the quality of co-sponsor of this important legislation. The meeting
care. The bill would enable pharmacists to provide patient concluded with a quick photo, and a huge thank you to
care services that are consistent with their education, training, Congresswoman Chu for fitting us into her busy schedule.
and legal scope of practice.
The event was a success and another step toward furthering
In an effort to see this bill pass we met with the US Represen- pharmacy’s important role in patient care. Members of
tative (CA-27th Congressional District), Congresswoman Judy Congress in all districts are always happy to meet with their
Chu on October 9, 2014, in her Pasadena office. This meeting constituents, and events just like these are taking place across
included Daniel Robinson, PharmD, FASHP, Dean, WesternU the country. We encourage all pharmacists and students to be
College of Pharmacy, two second-year pharmacy students Sara active in contacting their representatives to help shape the
Khuu and Shawn Healer, and Victor Law, local pharmacy future of pharmacy practice.
owner and member of the State Board of Pharmacy. The meet-
ing began with a brief introductions and some reminiscing Photo above: Shawn Healer, PharmD ’17, Victor Law, RPh, Judy Chu, Daniel Robinson,
over the many years of successful collaboration on many po- PharmD, FASHP, Dean, College of Pharmacy, and Sara Khuu, PharmD ’17.
litical issues between Dr. Law and Congresswoman Chu.
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 21
