Patient Care Projects

For a brief overview of each Patient Care Project in the form of a worksheet, click the links in the title of each PCP below.

Or CLICK HERE to download all of the PCP Worksheets!

Women’s Health
This patient care project focusing on health issues pertaining to women. The events aim to educate and raise awareness of these issues within the community both on-campus and off-campus.  To best serve the community, we collaborate with other CAPS groups to provide information about smoking cessation, diabetes, cardiovascular health, etc.  This year’s events included birth control seminars at the campus sorority houses, a science fair for children, health fair collaboration and a booth at the Southern Women’s Show.
Contact: Amanda Woods (amanda_woods@unc.edu),  Courtney Slough (cslough@email.unc.edu)

Smoking Cessation and Lung Health
The Smoking Cessation and Lung Health Committee did a variety of activities last year such as policies with the smoking ban on campus, counseling at various health fairs and holding pit sits at the union. In addition to this we planned fun events like the Great American Smokeout and Kick Butts Day. This year we plan to continue the above events but with more focus on patient care. It is a great opportunity to practice your counseling skills as you will learn about smoking cessation during your first year of pharmacy school. We will also counsel patients on lung health as many people have respiratory issues due to second hand smoke. Also, 3 out of 4 want to quit, but it’s difficult for tobacco users to quit on their own and most people benefit from help and support to overcome their dependence. This is a great way to learn, spread awareness and most of all help people quit!
Contact: Kristen Bradley (knbradle@email.unc.edu) and Jessica Nomina (jnomina@email.unc.edu)

Heartburn Awareness
Heartburn awareness challenge is a national campaign for pharmacists and pharmacy students in APhA.  More than 50 million Americans suffer the symptoms of heartburn more than twice a week. Patients with uncontrolled heartburn have problems enjoying life, sleeping and eating their favorite meals. At UNC Chapel Hill we get out into the community and educate our fellow hot dog and nacho loving friends about how to control their heartburn and improve their quality of life. The big yearly event for us is going to the NASCAR race in Charlotte, where we are able to inform the patrons about heartburn and help them improve their symptoms. In the past years we held seminars at elderly centers and were somewhat successful in convincing the older population that there are better options than a vinegar mixture their grandmother always told them about. We also do heartburn screenings at health fairs in conjunction with blood pressure screenings, and this gives us an opportunity to talk one-on-one with patients, which is excellent counseling experience. We also have attended football tailgates to talk to patrons about their common heartburn problems.  Our big school wide event is a chili cook-off where students, faculty, and staff compete for the winning chili and learn about heartburn at the same time! Heartburn is a big problem and this year we really want to be aggressive in raising awareness in our community. We need to spread the word about how to manage symptoms, so members of our community can live healthier more active lives.
Contact: Taryn Shelley(Taryn_Shelley@unc.edu) and Lisa Feagin (lisa_feagin@unc.edu)

Operation Diabetes
Operation Diabetes is the biggest patient care initiative within CAPS.  Its focus is not only on patient education but also to help in catching potentially pre-diabetic patients and encouraging healthy lifestyle changes.  Some of the activities have included the Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk and Juvenile Diabetes Walk as well as joining with other committees at the State Fair, flu clinics and Women's Health Expo. Due to the widespread prevalence of diabetes, we are hoping to join with other outside organizations and begin new endeavors as well for this upcoming year to extend our outreach.  Lack of knowledge on the basics of diabetes will not hinder you because a PowerPoint will be made available on blackboard for review so drop all inhibitions and join this wonderful patient care initiative!
Contact: Sharon Martin (Sharon_Martin@unc.edu) and Courtney Tate (Courtney_Tate@unc.edu)

Operation Heart
Operation Heart is a new patient care project that will allow you to learn more about the world of cardiology through interactive forums hosted by patients, faculty, and staff and also through hands-on patient care projects events.  We regularly hold blood pressure screenings at local pharmacies, giving students the opportunity to talk to patients about cardiovascular health and we usually end up answering question about the medications they just picked up too.  If you have an interest in cardiology and want to learn more about what this field can offer you and even get some hands on experience then come and take part in our special interest group!
Contact: Amanda Peters (akp@email.unc.edu) and Jesse Fletcher (jmfletch@email.unc.edu)

Operation Immunization
The goals of Operation Immunization are to educate and promote awareness about the importance of immunizations, and to provide opportunities for students to assist with or administer vaccinations. We aim to target several different patient populations and geographical areas, including our local Chapel Hill community, greater Triangle area, Spanish-speaking population, geriatric and pediatric populations, and even our own pharmacy and other health care professionals and students. Fall projects include the postcard campaign, flu shot administration at the Student Health Action Coalition clinic and the State Fair, and several other promotional and clinical events. Spring projects ideas focus on community outreach opportunities, including education about the importance of vaccines. Immunization certified and non-certified volunteers are always needed and appreciated! There will be many different sub-committees this year providing ample opportunities for leadership. If you have a new project idea or would like to chair a certain project please do not hesitate to contact us!
Contact: Whitney Davis (Whitney_Davis@unc.edu) and Ashley Chiasson (Ashley_Chiasson@unc.edu)

Generation Rx
Generation Rx is a new initiative of APhA and focuses on drug abuse prevention.  The goals of this patient care project are educating young students about drug abuse prevalence and prevention, educating patients on proper drug disposal, and raising community awareness of the growing medication abuse problem.  This is a great patient care project for PY1s to get involved because it involves limited drug information knowledge.  This past year we presented to two 8th grade classes about drug abuse problems, provided information at a SHAC Well Child Clinic, handed out skittles on campus promoting proper drug use during exams and helped with a medication take back day during poison prevention week.  Being a new patient care project, we are excited about incorporating new ideas and projects into this coming year.
Contact: Rebecca Garcia(re6eccag@email.unc.edu) and Stephanie Craycroft(scraycro@email.unc.edu)

Project AGE (Advancing Geriatric Education)
Our group investigates how pharmacists can best serve the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the population.  Each year Project AGE coordinates the annual Aging in Stride 5K walk/run to raise funds for local elderly citizens in need, and participates in various service projects that allow us to serve seniors in our community.  Some of these activities include MTM sessions, delivering spring baskets to seniors, hosting a tea party at a nursing home, and helping older folks sign up for Medicare Part D plans. We also invite pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in the geriatric field to share their experiences at Project AGE meetings.  Whether you have a soft spot for the elderly or just want to learn more about this unique population, Project AGE is a great group to be a part of.
Contact: Cassandra Baker (cassandra_baker@unc.edu) or Pete Graham (pete_graham@unc.edu)

International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF)

APhA-ASP is the member organization representing the United States to IPSF. As a member of APhA-ASP, you are a member of IPSF. IPSF is a worldwide federation of student pharmacist organizations. The goal is to encourage cooperation to improve the profession of pharmacy on an international level. Fall projects include education about the Student Exchange Program and collaboration with SNaPhA on the HIV Awareness Forum. Spring projects include education about the annual World Congress Meeting, the International Food Potluck to raise funds for Pharmabridge, and collection of OTC products for the Honduras trip. IPSF at UNC was reinstated in 2010-2011, so expansion of the program is encouraged for the next liaison. Other possible projects include the Stop TB Campaign and Pharmacy Profession Awareness Campaign.

Contact: Caitlin Frese (frese@email.unc.edu)