Fleming College

Students in Fleming College’s Pharmacy Technician program will next week celebrate Pharmacist Awareness Month with health information displays and free health checks for the college community and the public. It’s the first time a Pharmacy Technician program will participate in Pharmacist Awareness Month.

Five different student booths will be set up each day, March 5-7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sutherland Campus main foyer, 599 Brealey Dr., Peterborough. Students at each booth will be working with a registered health care professional. Members of the public are welcome to visit the campus for any of the displays or health checks. The schedule is: 

Tuesday, March 5

• Asthma Inhaler and Device Demonstration: How to use your inhaler correctly.
• Heart Attack Risk Factors: How to reduce your risk of heart attack.
• Holistic Health Information
• Skin Care Demonstrations and Proper Sun Protection
• Allergies and How They Can Be Diagnosed and Treated

Wednesday, March 6

• Compliance Packaging and Medication Safety: How to ensure you or your family members are taking their medication appropriately and safely.
• Demonstration and Information about Specialty Pharmacy Compounding: Compounding unique dosage forms to meet specific patient needs such as allergies and sensitivities, autism, and compliance issues.
• Health and Nutrition Education
• Asthma Education and Device Demonstration: Get the most out of your Inhaler!
• Veterinary Compounding and Treatments: Did you know that Pharmacy Technicians can compound unique dosage forms for your pet?

Thursday, March 7

• Heart Health Analysis and Free Cholesterol Testing: Have your cholesterol checked by a registered health care professional.
• Massage Therapy Demonstration and Wellness
• Smoking Cessation Therapy Demonstration and Education: Learn the latest strategies for quitting smoking and how to appropriately use today’s products.
• Infection Control and How to Stop the Spread of Infection
• Meds Check and Personal Medication Reviews: Receive a full medication review and consultation!

“We celebrate Pharmacist Awareness Month to ensure Canadians know pharmacists are there to help, in more ways than they know,” said Amanda Mushynski, Coordinator of Fleming College’s Pharmacy Technician program. “There are many health-related issues pharmacists can work through with patients, without appointments or wait times.

“The Fleming College Pharmacy Technician students have worked diligently to plan an event that will allow them to work in partnership with registered health care professionals to deliver beneficial health care demonstrations and education to the community,” said Mushynski. “The event has also allowed the students to develop their project planning, communication skills and intra-professional skills while giving back to the community. With the recent changes to the scope of practice in pharmacy, our students are aware of the importance of having strong intradisciplinary skills. Upon graduation, pharmacy technicians will be required to collaborate and work well within integrated health care teams.” 

She added: “The Fleming College pharmacy technician students are very proud of the profession they have chosen and are excited to celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Month.”

NOTE: Members of the media are invited to attend the college on Tuesday, March 5 between 11 a.m. and noon, or Wednesday, March 6 between noon and 1 p.m. to view the displays and demonstrations, and speak with Ms. Mushynski and her students. Media are also welcome to attend at any time throughout the event.

About the Pharmacy Technician Program at Fleming College
Pharmacy Technicians are an essential part of a health care team. They provide services related to: preparing, labelling and providing medications, interacting with patients and a variety of health care providers, medical device training, managing inventories, and assisting in the provision of pharmaceutical care and pharmacy services.

Pharmacy technicians are registered with the Ontario College of Pharmacists, and the Pharmacy Technician program at Fleming has been awarded the status of Provisional Accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs, which allows graduates to write the national pharmacy technician qualifying exam. Careers in this field include working for retail pharmacies, compounding pharmacies, pharmacy software companies, research and clinical trial programs, radio-pharmaceutical programs, third-party insurance companies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, or government. 

About Pharmacist Awareness Month
March 2013 is Pharmacist Awareness Month, when pharmacists across the country reach out to make Canadians aware of the services they offer to improve their patients’ health. Pharmacists are the health care provider most prepared to understand the best use of medications. They can help patients learn to take medications properly, suggest alternate medications to avoid dangerous interactions and explain potential side effects.

Many Canadians don’t realize that pharmacists across the country can offer more than medication expertise and advice. They have the education, knowledge and skills to offer a wide variety of health care services. For example, in Ontario, pharmacists can now administer injections such as the flu shot, and renew, change and adapt prescriptions.
For more information on Pharmacy Awareness Month, please visit .

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Community Development and Health, Continuing Education, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Justice and Business, Skilled Trades and Technology, General Arts and Science, and Visual Arts. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 63,000 alumni.

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For more information:                 

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca