Pharmacists are healthcare providers on the front lines in the war against opioids abuse. They have an important role in helping patients understand the risks and responsibilities of prescription opioids. Often, they encounter prescription forgery, requests for early refills and dose increases, and patients who claim to have lost their medications. Having to tell a patient that he can’t fill a prescription could result in anxiety, fear and misunderstanding on both sides.
Because the pharmacist point of view is so important in this crisis, the Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC) is presenting the third annual The Blues Café to discuss general opioid information, safe prescribing and legal requirements. The Blues Café will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1800 S. Governor Street, Evansville.
The event is an opportunity for health professionals, social service providers, government agencies and the public to engage with a panel of professionals, including Kimberly P. France, RPh, JD, who will answer questions and provide local and national resources for the community.
This event is FREE and includes lunch. Registration is required; please visit www.usi.edu/swi-ahec.
Lunch is sponsored by the Community Action Program of Evansville (C.A.P.E). Continuing education will be provided through the University of Southern Indiana Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning.*
For more information, call Kerseclia L. Patterson, academic outreach coordinator at SWI-AHEC at 919-632-8419 or email kpatterson@usi.edu.
Southwest Indiana AHEC began as a regional center in 2008, and it is hosted by the University of Southern Indiana in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. It is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training and retention of a diverse health workforce for underserved communities.
