Engaging Community Pharmacists in Emergency Preparedness [CE Module]

Pharmacists have a strong history of serving in emergency preparedness roles, as demonstrated with pharmacist involvement in such recent events as the September 2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent anthrax exposure, Hurricane Katrina and the H1N1 pandemic influenza.1-4 Pharmacists rapidly helped determine proper antimicrobial medications and prophylaxis treatment, as well as provided assistance in education, triage, response integration and policy coordination in both the Sept. 11 and the anthrax U.S. Postal Service attacks.1 In the days before Hurricane Katrina, pharmacists assisted with medication refills, patient care, triage and education, and acted as gatekeepers of emergency rooms, helping with emergency 72-hour refills of maintenance medications, the treatment of non-life threatening wounds, and prescriber and patient education.2-3 Pharmacists have been established as a key stakeholder in emergency preparedness and response. This lesson will focus on expanding pharmacists’ knowledge of ways to become involved in emergency preparedness.