December Community Medical School

The third in this year’s Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Community Medical School series featured a presentation over prescription safety aimed at older adults by Trista Askins Bailey, Pharm.D., TTUHSC School of Pharmacy assistant professor. Bailey’s presentation examined the history, risks and safe handling of medications, with an emphasis on procedures that should be observed by senior citizens who regularly take one or more prescriptions.

Bailey, who works in geriatric pharmacy, cautioned seniors to consider the “5 W’s” when taking medication:
• What is the medication?
• Why is it taken?
• What does it do?
• When should it be taken?
• What is the follow-up or monitoring that should go along with it?

Bailey also examined the potential interactions of prescriptions with other prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplements, many of which are dangerous. Finally, Bailey answered audience questions regarding dosage, generic drug efficacy and expired medication clean out.

The event opened with a brief presentation by Richard Winn, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians infectious disease specialist. Winn examined this year’s instance of the flu and the limited effectiveness of the offered flu shot.

Related Stories

TTUHSC Names New Regional Dean for the School of Nursing

Louise Rice, DNP, RN, has been named regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus.

A Call for Change: Addressing the Invisible Workload of School-Based SLPs

Tobias Kroll, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, discusses the workloads and expectations of school-based SLPs.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Recent Stories

Research

Collaborative Team Earns Five-Year Renewal Grant from NINDS to Continue Stroke Research

Due to this high level of productivity and potential to create new medications for stroke injury, NINDS recently awarded a new $3 million competitive renewal that extends the grant for an additional five years.

Education

Keep Pushing: PA Alumni Gives Back

Jemimah Omavuezi, DMS, MPAS, PA-C, used her own story as inspiration to create the Omavuezi Scholarship for others.

TTUHSC Names New Regional Dean for the School of Nursing

Louise Rice, DNP, RN, has been named regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus.