What is missing in today's world of medication information?

In this age of managed care, few physicians have enough time to stay abreast of every medication available, and its cost. Thus, patients do not always benefit from the medications best suited to their overall health and/or financial concerns.

We pharmacists often view our position more in terms of control than collaboration. We may tend to be more bent on compliance, than on developing ideal working relationships with physicians.

Health care organizations may also be more concerned about costs and compliance than collaboration, resulting in insidious financial waste.

Many training sessions and educational media fail to capture and retain the interest of professional participants, who respond best to interactive training methods and enthusiastic presenters.

• Patients
  

  Counsel concerned patients and their families about medication benefits vs. risk and effective ways to control costs of medication therapies.

  
  
• Physicians and Case Managers
  

  Aid health care providers by reviewing cases and make recommendations to physicians and/ or case managers who might lack adequate time to stay abreast of medications, their effects, and costs.

  
  
• Pharmacists
  

  Help pharmacists fine-tune their liaisons with physicians, with a goal toward increased patient satisfaction. Provide mentoring services.

  
  
• Managed Care and Other Health Institutions
  

  Devise strategies for institutions and HMOs seeking to minimize costs, while enhancing patients' well-being.

  
  
• Professional Health Care Associations
  

  Work with professional associations and other educational entities to develop seminars and media that engage the participant's interest, and maximize knowledge retention and improve understanding of medication.

  
  
• Pharmaceutical Industry
  

  Assist pharmaceutical companies to conceive innovative approaches to professional marketing and education.

  
  
• Public and Private Agencies
  

  Advise government and private agencies overseeing health care policies; on protocols or systems that will streamline medication delivery, management and utilization, while at the same time, optimizing patient health.

  
  
• Legal
  

  Serve as an expert witness to attorneys with court cases involving medication related matters.

  
  
• Health Care Consumer Advocacy Groups
  

  Advising consumer healthcare advocacy groups to improve public awareness related to better use of medications and the delivery of medication information to the patient and their family.