|
|
 |
||||||||||
|
|
One in every three people in California is Latino; California has more individuals who speak Spanish at home than any other state. As California’s population continues to diversify, the need for culturally and linguistically sensitive healthcare becomes more critical. Pharmacists are often the first point of access to healthcare and are thus well positioned to provide culturally appropriate care to Latino patients. Building pharmacists’ capacity to better serve diverse populations is a worthy investment. Culturally sensitive communication in the pharmacy improves patient satisfaction, patient compliance, patient health, and helps reduce disparities in health status and access. Pharmacy Access Partnership supports service to Latino patients in California’s pharmacies through training and promotional materials. Cultural and Linguistic Competency Training Program Effective Communication with Latinos: Discussing Reproductive Health Issues, a continuing education training program for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, strives to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients regarding reproductive health issues. The program focuses on five topics: Latino cultural and linguistic competence, Latino culture and Spanish language issues including techniques for using an untrained interpreter, patient referrals, and resources/additional services. The program includes a 23-minute training video, accompanying syllabus (PDF-720K) and quick reference card (PDF-64K). The program was accredited for 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for California pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through the Pharmacy Foundation of California. To request a copy, contact Pharmacy Access Partnership at 510-272-0150 or email . This training program is available for use at minimal cost to universities and state pharmacy associations outside of California. Family Planning Promotional and Educational Materials: En Español Pharmacy Access Partnership is working with chain and independent pharmacies to increase educational and promotional opportunities around family planning in the retail pharmacy setting. By prominently grouping and promoting over-the-counter contraceptive supplies with educational materials, pharmacies not only have the opportunity to better meet consumer needs and to play a more active role in community education and health promotion, but to also increase sales and capitalize on margins in this category. Currently, family planning promotional materials are implemented in participating chain and independent pharmacies throughout California. Materials will also be developed and made available in Spanish for pharmacies that serve a large Spanish-speaking population. If you are interested in FREE educational and promotional materials in Spanish for your pharmacy, contact Nicole Monastersky Maderas at 510-272-0150 or . Pharmacies Partner with Pharmacy Access Partnership at Local Health Fairs During Binational Health Week (October 13-21, 2007) For the third year in a row, Pharmacy Access Partnership partners with pharmacists and pharmacy staff to participate in local health fairs during Binational Health Week 2007 by distributing educational materials on reproductive health issues and services including pharmacy access to emergency contraception. The participation of pharmacies and pharmacists at Binational Health Week activities and is an especially important reminder that pharmacies are a viable point of service for healthcare, especially for the Latino community. Visiting a pharmacy and talking with a pharmacist are common practices in many Latino cultures and in some neighborhoods, pharmacists often serve as primary care providers. Pharmacists in the U.S. are presented with numerous opportunities to impact the health of their Latino clients. For a listing of activities during Binational Health Week and for more information please visit www.binationalhealthweek.org. View the 2007 poster (PDF-236K). View the 2006 poster (PDF-216K). View the poster for 2005 (PDF-2.9MB).
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
