The Torch, Spring/Summer 2010

26 TORCH | Spring–Summer 2010 DENIS LARKIN | ISTOCKPHOTO than 30,000 non-prescription medications currently on the market in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the population receives at least one medication per year, and almost 40 percent of people receive four or more medications. Only about 50 percent of patients take their medications appropriately, and 96 percent fail to ask any questions about how to use their medications. At least 1.5 million preventable adverse medication events occur in North America each year, at an estimated cost of $136 billion annually. The complexity of these events has increased with the rise of alternative therapies, as one out of every four people uses them incorrectly. For every 10 people who take a prescription, one person will seek medical attention because of an undesired medication effect. A 1995 study demonstrated that $76 billion each year could be saved and 120,000 deaths prevented if pharmacists were used to a greater extent within the health care system. Given these statistics and projections, pharmacists may be one of the most significant contributors to resolving the national health care dilemma. Many citizens may not even recognize the advantages of having an easily accessible health care resource in their communities. Will the national health care reform plan affect the need for pharmacists? The new legislation includes provision of MTM services to patients, creating an opportunity for pharmacists to play a greater role in patient care. Pharmacists could be reimbursed for their assessment and medication management of patients. Based on the past 20 years of research, the more pharmacists play an active role in a patient’s assessment of medication effectiveness, the more counseling and discussion will occur regarding medication use. In turn, patients will learn important strategies to improve health, leading to a reduction in health care costs and hospitalizations. In the Asheville Project — where pharmacists were proactive in engaging patients — health care costs did not increase for an entire decade, something that is hard to imagine in our current system. The model demonstrated improved care, reduction of costs, and a more efficient use of resources. A Platform for Service As the field of pharmacy continues to expand, we will see a rise in the need for well-trained, forward-thinking pharmacists. To help meet this demand, Cedarville University launched its school of pharmacy in fall 2009 to prepare students to implement innovative health care models. In effect, our students will be equipped to play significant roles in reducing health care costs and improving patient care. This motivation on the part of our faculty and students stems from a desire to serve God in a way that changes the world. Rather than being driven by peer recognition, monetary rewards, or even professional satisfaction, our deep love for God compels us forward. Four themes characterize the direction of Cedarville’s school of pharmacy. The first is Christ-centered service . Believing that every Christian is called to serve others as a reflection of Christ’s example and commission, the faculty encourage each student to view his or her role as an opportunity to touch lives, not just earn a paycheck.