Pharmacists prepared to handle community health crisis
http://wane.com/2014/12/16/pharmacists-prepared-to-handle-community-health-crisis/
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Pharmacists across the area are aware of the increased possibility of a robbery now that 5,000 pain patients are without a doctor. We first shared with you police worry that some of those people may turn to crime to get medication they need.
Now, the goal here isn’t to scare people. Allen County Health Commissioner Deb McMahan asked we share this information because an informed community is a healthy community. Because opiods are highly addictive, pharmacists are on alert for anything suspicious.
“This is a really important health issue for the patients, the medical community, and the community at-large,” Allen County Health Commissioner Deb McMahan explained.
Dr. McMahan says the medical community is maxed out and cannot absorb 5,000 patients quickly. That’s why a room full of experts ranging from law enforcement to pain management and mental health professionals are working together.
“We actually just yesterday met with all of the high up managers at the area retail pharmacies because it’s very important that they are aware of what’s going on,” Palliative Care Pharmacist at Parkview Tracy Brooks said.
Palliative Care Pharmacist at Parkview Tracy Brooks is one of the dozen hoping to make a difference. She says that starts with pharmacists being aware of the community health crisis.
“When people walk into a pharmacy we need to treat them like a patient. We need to respect this entire situation.”
At the same time, some pharmacies are implementing their own steps to keep employees and customers safe in case there is a robbery.
“I am making sure that the pharmacist and the technicians remember to treat all patients with unbiased respect and patients need to do the same thing. Pharmacists are trying to do a job and keep everyone safe. There needs to be some allowances that this isn’t going to be an instantly filled prescription. You know drop it off, have the time to come back and get it later in the day.”
Of course, not everyone who takes pain medication is addicted to it or will go to desperate measures to get it. Police and pharmacists say they’re simply prepared in case robberies do spike.
Info for former patients of Dr. Hedrick
- Call your family doctor and schedule an appointment to get a referral to a new pain management doctor.
- Those who don’t have a family physician should go to an urgent care clinic or worst-case scenario the E-R.
- They’ll be able to help get medication needed until patients can see their new pain doctor.
- PLEASE BE PATIENT
If they were that concerned about these pts… maybe they would have done some pre-planning before 5000 pts are thrown into the street… with a medical community that is “maxed out”. IMO… their expression of concern is INSINCERE and UNDER WHELMING… Unfortunately, the consequences and collateral damage of law enforcement’s actions… they will not be held personally responsible.
Filed under: General Problems
State Sen Tallian has tried for decriminalization in the past. This year she’s going to introduce MMJ only, thinking it will have a better chance of passing. It was announced last night.
http://fox59.com/2014/12/17/indiana-lawmaker-plans-to-file-bill-lifting-ban-on-medicinal-marijuana/
http://www.wlky.com/news/Indiana-senator-plans-medical-marijuana-proposal/30272886.
Ya’ll need to have a name for your bill, so the public can get behind a face, make it personal…
In New Mexico, ours is called The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, named for Lynn Pierson and Erin Armstrong (in 1978).
http://www.nmlegis.gov/sessions/10%20Regular/memorials/senate/SM050.html
COMMEMORATING LYNN PIERSON AND ERIN ARMSTRONG FOR THEIR COURAGE AND STRENGTH TO ADVOCATE FOR LEGAL ACCESS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR THE SICK AND DYING IN NEW MEXICO AND RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 13, 2010 AS “MEDICAL MARIJUANA DAY” IN THE SENATE.
Good luck in Indiana!
PainKills2…We’re trying for a MMJ law…..This is our long session this year so chances may be better at getting a bill going for it. I will bet we get MMJ passed BEFORE we get Sunday alcohol sales in this state…I kid you not..no alcohol can be sold on Sunday in the state of IN except if you’re a restaurant or a micro brewery….yeah, ashamed to say our state is that backwards..(insert sarcasm) When the generic substitution laws went into effect back in the late 80s, I believe we were the LAST state to approve it with the 2 line signature prescription pads.
IMO.. as long as Zoeller is AG.. MMJ won’t get anywhere.. and we were last with mandatory generic substitution.. I think it had a lot to do with the tall building in downtown Indy that has that BIG RED L on it … on Mc Carthy St
I remember when you couldn’t buy alcohol in Texas on Sundays. I also remember the one drive-thru where you could buy alcohol without getting out of your car. Wouldn’t it be funny if Indiana decided that people couldn’t buy prescription drugs or cigarettes on Sundays too?
I see Indiana approved hemp… And check out this link from 2011:
http://www.fox19.com/story/15037295/indiana-lawmakers-study-decriminalizing-marijuana
Do you know what happened to the state’s study?
Yeah, looks like marijuana’s going to be tough in Indiana… but if a current Police Chief in Houston can talk about…
You are still unable to purchase hard alcohol on Sunday here in Texas.
I thought you just couldn’t buy it until after noon on Sundays?
…or go to the ER where you’ll be accused of drug seeking and then charged $5000 for the visit!!
Pain patients have learned that there’s no help to be had at the ER, which is just the way the medical industry and the government want it. Restrict access, reduce the supply, make patients suffer — with no alternative plans for other treatments. The DEA’s answer to this alleged epidemic is to make people in pain suffer. After all, suffering is better than dying, at least to the DEA and the medical industry.
And when have pain patients been able to get treatment from “urgent care clinics”? Seriously, I’ve never heard of that.
It’s like when people involved in the medical cannabis program here in New Mexico tell me to take my complaints to the Department of Health — which I have nicknamed “the Black Hole” because there’s no help to be found there. Ditto for the New Mexico State Medical Board.
These articles make it sound like Indiana is facing a potential zombie apocalypse of addicted pain patients. Too bad that state doesn’t have a medical cannabis program.