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National Pharmacy Week How to get the most from your pharmacist Each year, National Pharmacy Week offers the opportunity for everyone to celebrate the practice of pharmacy. Pharmacists provide essential services that lead to better, safer and more cost-efficient health care. National Pharmacy Week 2003 is Oct. 20 through 25. The public is invited to participate in a brown bag medication review held on Monday at the Rutledge Tower Pharmacy or Wednesday at McClennan-Banks Pharmacy.  Throughout the week, students and staff can attend one of the several presentations for continuing education credit, an ice cream social or a barbecue.  National Pharmacy Week 2003 is sponsored by the Department of Pharmacy Services, faculty of MUSC's College of Pharmacy and pharmacy students. Whom should you turn to with your questions about your medicines? The answer should be your pharmacist, but you may not know what your pharmacist can do for you. Your physician and your pharmacist are a powerful team, working to ensure the best selection and management of your prescription and non-prescription medicines. Taking medication properly is one of the best ways to decrease health care costs. Every year, thousands of people end up in the hospital, fail to get better, and spend more money than they should because they did not take their medication properly. Pharmacists are medication experts—they do much more than count tablets and pour liquids. For each prescription dispensed, your pharmacist must check to see that the information provided by the prescriber is complete; that the new medication will not interact with other medications that you are taking; that the medication and dosage are appropriate for your health condition; and that you understand the proper way to store and take the medication. Ultimately, you have the responsibility for managing your health care, but pharmacists can help if you keep them up to date about your health and the medications you are taking. For this reason, it is important to use the same pharmacy for all of your prescription services, especially when seeing multiple health care providers.  You should also check with your pharmacist before taking any non-prescription medication. Even though they do not require a physician’s prescription, these medicines are powerful and, if taken improperly, can adversely interact with your prescription medications or badly affect another health condition. Make sure your pharmacist is aware of your allergies to any medications so that adverse reactions can be prevented. By working together, you and your pharmacist can be sure that your medications are taken safely, effectively, and appropriately to maintain your good health. Pharmacists want you to know that they are always available to advise you about medications. MUSC provides quality outpatient pharmacy services in both the Rutledge Tower and McClennan-Banks pharmacies. For information, visit http://www.aphanet.org/.   Events for Pharmacy Week Oct. 20 - 25 Monday, Oct. 20 “Brown Bag Medication Review” Noon to 3 p.m., Rutledge Tower Pharmacy “New Anti-Emetics in Chemotherapy” 1 to 3 p.m., Room 302, Basic Science Building Tuesday, Oct. 21 “Technician Day” 2 to 4 p.m., Main Hospital, 10th Floor Ice cream social honoring MUSC pharmacy technicians “Deep Vein Thrombosis Teleconference” 2 to 3 p.m., Mc-Clennan-Banks Pharmacy Low Country Pharmacy Association Meeting Registration at 6:30 p.m. Town and Country Inn, Charleston Wednesday, Oct. 22 “Brown Bag Medication Review” Noon to 3 p.m., McClennan-Banks Pharmacy “Bridging the Gap in Medication Safety” 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., COP, Room QF 106 College of Pharmacy Scholarship Ceremony 6: 30 p.m., Room 125 Gazes Auditorium Thursday, Oct. 23 “Ask Your Pharmacist” 10:30 a.m. to Noon, 259 Meeting St. “South Carolina Pharmacy Association Annual Fall Rally” 6:30 to 9 p.m. Baruch Auditorium Friday, Oct. 24 “Ice Cream Social” Noon to 1:30 p.m., Dean's Conference Room, COP Ice cream social honoring MUSC  pharmacy students Saturday, Oct. 25 Operation Immunization James Island, Folly Road Wal-Mart Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.