KEYWORDS:
Pharmacists, Public Health, Emergency Preparation, Partnerships, Surveillance

BACKGROUND:
Pharmacists' access to the public enables them to play a significant role in community emergency response and preparation. These roles include surveillance, education and counseling, distribution and administration of vaccines and medication. Pharmacists can serve as extensions of the public health system.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To describe roles pharmacists can play with emergency preparedness in their communities and to share models being utilized across the country.

METHOD(S):
APhA, practicing pharmacists and members of the public health community have increased activity levels in immunizations utilizing the practice settings and knowlege base of pharmacists. Responding to recent events and the need for preparation for community emergencies, public health departments and local pharmacists have collaborated in developing comprehensive action plans. For this presentation a survey will be conducted to determine the level of collaboration and identification of best practices.

RESULT(S):
Reports are being compiled and will be ready for presentation at the NIC that will provide information regarding ways that pharmacists and public health departments are collaborating in emergency preparedness and response, including vaccine delivery and surveillance, handling and storage, etc.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Pharmacists can be a valuable community resource and are vital elements to achieiving success through the obtainment, distribution and monitoring of the community's health.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe how to develop and involve pharmacists in an interdisciplinary response and planning program.
2. Describe ways to utilize community pharmacies for gathering surveillance information.
3. Describe models being utilized by public health departments involving pharmacists.