Pharm 511: Community Outreach Service

Winter Quarter 2009

Debate Topics
Topic

Background

Debate Positions

1. Role of
advocacy

The majority of pharmacists who

are in school and the majority of
those who graduate from pharmacy
school do not become engaged in
professional advocacy efforts.

a. Argue that its OK to let other

people get involved, but not you.

2. Professional
voice

3. Pharmacists
name

4. Personal beliefs

5. Setting
boundaries

6. Choosing a
customer base

7. Role of PhRMA

b. Argue that its Not OK to NOT

get involved in professional
advocacy
Many people would argue that
a. Argue why its OK that these
pharmacists have given up too
corporations take the burden off
much of their professional voice
your back
when they are employed by large
b. Argue why these corporations
corporations.
do not represent you, your
profession and your patients best
interests
More people know the name of
a. Argue that its not really
their hairdresser than those who
important and that its OK because
know the name of their pharmacist. pharmacists dont have the time.
b. Argue that its critically
important to have your patients
know your name.
Some pharmacists will not dispense a. Argue that pharmacists have the
some legal, clinically appropriate
right to refuse these medications
medications because they feel these even if not dispensing them may
medications violate their personal
cause harm to the patient
beliefs.
b. Argue that the patients needs
outweigh the pharmacists right to
refuse
Sometimes when a pharmacist
a. Argue that this is the standard of
cant help a patient (i.e. closing up care in pharmacy and why its OK
at end of day, out of stock, etc.) the b. Argue that this is not OK
pharmacist/tech just tells the
patient that they cant help them
and tells the patient to come back
another day or to look elsewhere.
Sometimes low-income, elderly,
a. Argue that this is just the way
mentally challenged, non-English- things are and why business
speaking or some other group of
success depends on courting the
pharmacy customers are frowned
better paying, more capable
upon by pharmacists
customer.
b. Argue that this is not OK and
how youre going to change this.
PhRMA (the drug manufacturers
a. Argue that this is a good thing
lobbying group) often financially
and brings needed support to these
supports patient advocacy groups.
organizations
b. Argue that this is not a good

8. MTM services

9. Third class of
drugs
10. Medications to
end life
11. Interpersonal
violence

12. Personal
business
boundaries

13. Community
service

14. Changing
behaviors

thing and why

MTM services are being touted as a a. Argue why the majority of
great opportunity for pharmacists
pharmacists do not get engaged in
and their patients.
these services and why you are not
going to get involved
b. Argue why this is not acceptable
and how you will make
pharmacists begin to provide
MTM services.
Behind the counter medications,
a. Argue why this would be good
rd
the so called 3 class of drugs, is
for patients and pharmacy
being explored again by the FDA
b. Argue why this is not such a
good idea
WA state has voted to allow certain a. Argue why a pharmacist should
patients to acquire medications to
participate in this process
end their life.
b. Argue why a pharmacist should
not participate
Interpersonal violence (IPV) affects a. Argue why pharmacists should
one out of 4 women and 1 out of 8 be involved in screening patients
men.
for IPV in their pharmacy practices
and community health screening
events
b. Argue why providing this
unpaid service is not feasible for
pharmacists/pharmacies
Youve been asked to take on a
a. You just want to put in your 8
managers position at your place of hours a day filling prescriptions
work.
and go home. Argue to your
district manager why this is OK
b. Argue why taking on this
position will be good for your
pharmacy, your profession and
your patients.
Youve been encouraged to
a. Argue why and how this could
volunteer at a community advocacy be an great opportunity to provide
service center that doesnt provide
patient and pharmacy advocacy
or promote healthcare services.
b. Argue why it would be better for
pharmacy and for patients to only
focus on healthcare advocacy
organizations
You have provided basic, quick
a. Argue patients will appreciate ad
dispensing services to your patients benefit from this new service
for quite some time, you have now
be asked to initiate a new MTM
b. Argue that patients will be
service that will involve
offended by this new relationship
interventions concerning your
and will reject your efforts to
patients late refills
police your prescriptions.