by Kathryn Sill, Public Relations Writer
This semester, third-year professional pharmacy students from the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy are getting involved with patient counseling through a service called medication therapy management (MTM).
The program, which partners with community pharmacies in the Miami Valley, allows students to teach patients how to manage their medicine through one-on-one meetings.
During the meetings, which typically last 20-30 minutes, students act as consultants for patients. The students will discuss patients’ unique health situation and ensure that they are adhering to their proper medication dosage and schedules.
Cedarville students Brittany Santee (Alliance, Ohio), Ashley Smith (Cedarville, Ohio) and Nathanael Smith (Cedarville, Ohio) are in charge of organizing the MTM service visits.
Santee and seven other students serve at Walgreens in Cincinnati and Springfield while the Smiths serve at Rite Aid in downtown Dayton.
“MTM looks at the patient as a whole, so that we understand all facets about the health care of that person,” said Nathanael Smith.
The program allows students to gain hands-on experience and complete part of their 100 required hours of their practice training program, while lessening the time burden on professional pharmacists at the retail locations.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
The program, which partners with community pharmacies in the Miami Valley, allows students to teach patients how to manage their medicine through one-on-one meetings.
During the meetings, which typically last 20-30 minutes, students act as consultants for patients. The students will discuss patients’ unique health situation and ensure that they are adhering to their proper medication dosage and schedules.
Cedarville students Brittany Santee (Alliance, Ohio), Ashley Smith (Cedarville, Ohio) and Nathanael Smith (Cedarville, Ohio) are in charge of organizing the MTM service visits.
Santee and seven other students serve at Walgreens in Cincinnati and Springfield while the Smiths serve at Rite Aid in downtown Dayton.
“MTM looks at the patient as a whole, so that we understand all facets about the health care of that person,” said Nathanael Smith.
The program allows students to gain hands-on experience and complete part of their 100 required hours of their practice training program, while lessening the time burden on professional pharmacists at the retail locations.
“I plan to work in community pharmacy in the future, and my experience with MTM has had a huge impact on this decision,” said Ashley Smith, professional pharmacy student. “It has broadened my perspective and increased my awareness of how a pharmacist is able to positively influence an individual’s medication management.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.