UK Pharmacy Students Bring Operation Heart to Central and Eastern Kentucky

Lexington, Ky. (April 22, 2016) — Most people think of a pharmacist as someone who counts pills or measures out medicine — more of a behind-the-scenes provider than someone on the front lines of patient care. In reality, a pharmacist can be a patient's first line of defense against health problems such as heart disease.

When a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that patients had more success regulating their hypertension when their pharmacist was involved in their care, the American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (AphA- ASP) founded Operation Heart so that pharmacy students could facilitate healthy lifestyle behaviors, provide simple health screenings, and educate the public about heart medications.

Within a year of the national program's founding, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) started their first Operation Heart committee. Since then, UK pharmacy students — under the supervision of pharmacists — have held several free local events to screen patients for some of the warning signs of heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and/or high cholesterol.

“The profession of pharmacy is very progressive in finding new ways for positive interaction with patients. Pharmacists can provide immunizations, medication therapy management, medication counseling, disease management counseling and more,” said Natalie Rosario, co-chair of this year’s Operation Heart Committee.

Each year they are encouraged to "dream big" in order to expand the program outside of Lexington, where they reached approximately 726 participants in the first few years. 

In 2012-2013, the group expanded the screenings to the Hazard community in Eastern Kentucky. There, they were able to screen and educate 350 individuals about the health risk of heart disease and the benefits of living a health modified lifestyle.

Over the span of six years, they have been able to screen approximately 1,800 individuals all over Kentucky, targeting high-risk people who are more prone to heart disease.

“Each co-chair has different ideas for goals, but this allows room for growth and development within the committee each year. Having a variety of goals is what has made Operation Heart have such high impact over the last six years,” Rosario said.

This year's committee realized how important it is for mothers of small children to follow through with heart health screenings, but knew that it is impossible for some due to lack of childcare. After teaming up with Chrysalis House, they hosted a family day where the mothers received patient-centered care while program staff entertained their children with activities such as corn hole and coloring.

“Sometimes it is more than a blood pressure reading,” Rosario said. “It's about listening to patient concerns and addressing them with guided help.”

As the years come and go, the committee makeup varies as members graduate and new members join, events grow, and more people are reached, but in the end the University College of Pharmacy has an individual's best interest at heart.

“It is so refreshing to know you have made an impact on someone’s life,” Rosario said.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

Media Contact:  Laura Dawahare, Laura.Dawahare@uky.edu, (859) 257-5307